mile179kingston-FFYn/CNdgSA@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
2014-07-05 14:37:51 UTC
So says the headline in the Today2 section of my Saturday morning Kingston Whig-Standard. The cars' recent trip to the west coast netted articles like this:
"They'll be calling it the Ritz on the Rails. VIA Rail unveiled its classy new Prestige Class cars during a recent travel and tourism event at Central Pacific Station in Vancouver. The new cars - to run on The Canadian between Toronto and Vancouver - will be phased in over the next year beginning August 19.
Prestige Class cars are Budd-built 1950s streamliners that have been totally refurbished inside. VIA has replaced the traditional look of metal and plastic with dark wood tones, soft lighting and enhanced amenities including flat screen TVs, video players and stocked mini-bars.
Among the cars on display was Laurentide Park, the first fully-accessible sleeping car in VIA's fleet, complete with a wheelchair lift. Each retrofitted Park car - a domed lounge bringing up the rear of The Canadian - will have a bedroom for three with push button controls for room entry, a roll-in shower and washroom, plus ample daytime living space. The new Park car lounges will feature pub-type tables and seats along with a granite-topped bar. new lighting creates an upscale ambience.
The Chateau Denonville has been retrofitted from a traditional sleeper car to one comprised of just six large cabins for two. Each cabin for two in Prestige Class provides 50 per cent more space than the current cabin in Sleeper Plus class. Each unit will have its own shower and bathroom, flat screen TV with video player, windows that are 60 percent larger than the current sleepers and a stocked mini-bar.
Prestige Class cars are designated by a black band above the window line in contrast to the solid blue stripe."
Above the article is another on the 'culinary wizardry' creating five-star cuisine at 110 km/h, by Kevin Hann of the Toronto Sun.
Eric Gagnon
Kingston, Ontario
Just blogged CN's Westray Coal Hoppers at:
http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca
"They'll be calling it the Ritz on the Rails. VIA Rail unveiled its classy new Prestige Class cars during a recent travel and tourism event at Central Pacific Station in Vancouver. The new cars - to run on The Canadian between Toronto and Vancouver - will be phased in over the next year beginning August 19.
Prestige Class cars are Budd-built 1950s streamliners that have been totally refurbished inside. VIA has replaced the traditional look of metal and plastic with dark wood tones, soft lighting and enhanced amenities including flat screen TVs, video players and stocked mini-bars.
Among the cars on display was Laurentide Park, the first fully-accessible sleeping car in VIA's fleet, complete with a wheelchair lift. Each retrofitted Park car - a domed lounge bringing up the rear of The Canadian - will have a bedroom for three with push button controls for room entry, a roll-in shower and washroom, plus ample daytime living space. The new Park car lounges will feature pub-type tables and seats along with a granite-topped bar. new lighting creates an upscale ambience.
The Chateau Denonville has been retrofitted from a traditional sleeper car to one comprised of just six large cabins for two. Each cabin for two in Prestige Class provides 50 per cent more space than the current cabin in Sleeper Plus class. Each unit will have its own shower and bathroom, flat screen TV with video player, windows that are 60 percent larger than the current sleepers and a stocked mini-bar.
Prestige Class cars are designated by a black band above the window line in contrast to the solid blue stripe."
Above the article is another on the 'culinary wizardry' creating five-star cuisine at 110 km/h, by Kevin Hann of the Toronto Sun.
Eric Gagnon
Kingston, Ontario
Just blogged CN's Westray Coal Hoppers at:
http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.ca