Local Traffic Restrictions

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TML

Service Attendant
Joined
Jun 23, 2009
Messages
106
Based on information I can gather from VIA's current timetables, no local traffic is permitted between the following stations:

Toronto-Guildwood

Ottawa-Fallowfield

Montreal-Dorval & Saint-Lambert

Quebec City-Charny & Sainte-Foy

Now, with GO Transit expanding service to Niagara Falls within the next 5-10 years, I wonder if they will impose a "no local traffic" restriction between Toronto & Niagara Falls on the Maple Leaf once GO's expansion is complete...
 
I kind of doubt that, unless say VIA decides to drop that train. Two things could happen in that case....

Amtrak could run all the way to Toronto, and carry no local traffic in Ontario ( or might even get permission to carry there partially); or Go Transit could take over VIA Rail's operation on the Ontario portion of the Maple Leaf...
 
There is an important difference in "no local traffic" restrictions.....on one hand, it is to 'protect' the traffic of a local operator on the same route, mandated by government regulation...on the other hand, it is done at the prerogative of the carrier, to limit the 'interference' of local traffic with through traffic......oftentimes, the long-haul carrier's fares are much higher, purposely, to discourage local traffic......

Just compare Amtrak fares on various corridor's with local carrier's on the same routes...even if there are no stated restrictions...
 
Based on information I can gather from VIA's current timetables, no local traffic is permitted between the following stations:

Toronto-Guildwood

Ottawa-Fallowfield

Montreal-Dorval & Saint-Lambert

Quebec City-Charny & Sainte-Foy

Now, with GO Transit expanding service to Niagara Falls within the next 5-10 years, I wonder if they will impose a "no local traffic" restriction between Toronto & Niagara Falls on the Maple Leaf once GO's expansion is complete...
Also, both AMT and GO already serve some pairs which VIA also serves and which aren't restricted as above (e.g. Toronto-Oshawa). Basically the restrictions above are for the "first station out" only (and are more like a few of the close-in Amtrak restrictions, such as WAS-NYP-only trains tending to not take local traffic WAS-NCR or NWK-NYP). Amtrak doesn't make those rules universal, however, so you get oddities like being able to book VA-originating Regionals WAS-NCR.
 
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