NS VIA Fan
Conductor
The Ocean could be in Jeopardy. Scroll down to Item #6 here:
https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/how-many-different-ways-can-you-say-short-term-gain-for-long-term-pain/#6. The Ocean in jeopardy
.....and changes could be coming in November.
VIA will no longer be able to turn the Ocean's equipment in Halifax on the 'Loop Track' at the Halifax Container Terminal that it currently uses.
There is a 'Wye Track' at Truro where the train could be turned but it would have to run backwards for 65 miles either before completing the run to Halifax or after departure the next day. The locomotives could run-around and lead the train.....but the cars would be backwards including the 'Park Car' directly behind the locomotives.
At one time.....the Ocean turned on the Wye at Windsor Junction (jct with the Dominion Atlantic Railway)...about 15 miles from Halifax but the connection has been removed. Here's the Ocean running out to the Junction and turning there back in 2006:
Or the configuration of the consist might change depending on what cars are to be used. The Renaissance Coaches face forward only....but Ren Sleepers and Diners are bi-dirctional with half the seats already fixed one-way or the other.
Seats in Budd Coaches can be rotated and I guess a Budd Diner could run backwards but you would have the 'Cabins for One' (old style Roomette) in the Budd Sleepers running backwards. There is a Turntable at CN's Fairview Engine Terminal where the Park Car could be turned but probably cost prohibitive to get one car out there and back to the VIA Station......and how receptive would CN be?
Or just replace the Park with a Skyline Dome. When the Atlantic Limited ran across Maine (the CP version not VIA's) the Skyline had flip-over seats as the car was not turned in Saint John
VIA could also just decide to terminate the Ocean in Moncton where a Wye is available.....and passengers take a connecting Intercity Train to or from Halifax. VIA has proposed starting an Intercity service in the Maritimes for several years now and it would run more frequent than the tri-weekly Ocean.
Perhaps this might be the best option. The Ocean is busiest west of Moncton especially in the sleepers....and this would give the coach passengers out of Halifax additional service.
I ride the Ocean often but don't see having to connect in Moncton to a sleeper a big problem and in fact I also ride coach occasionally to Amherst and Moncton.....and having additional frequencies is a plus.
Anyway....several options so stay tuned.....could be interesting come November!
https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/how-many-different-ways-can-you-say-short-term-gain-for-long-term-pain/#6. The Ocean in jeopardy
.....and changes could be coming in November.
VIA will no longer be able to turn the Ocean's equipment in Halifax on the 'Loop Track' at the Halifax Container Terminal that it currently uses.
There is a 'Wye Track' at Truro where the train could be turned but it would have to run backwards for 65 miles either before completing the run to Halifax or after departure the next day. The locomotives could run-around and lead the train.....but the cars would be backwards including the 'Park Car' directly behind the locomotives.
At one time.....the Ocean turned on the Wye at Windsor Junction (jct with the Dominion Atlantic Railway)...about 15 miles from Halifax but the connection has been removed. Here's the Ocean running out to the Junction and turning there back in 2006:
Or the configuration of the consist might change depending on what cars are to be used. The Renaissance Coaches face forward only....but Ren Sleepers and Diners are bi-dirctional with half the seats already fixed one-way or the other.
Seats in Budd Coaches can be rotated and I guess a Budd Diner could run backwards but you would have the 'Cabins for One' (old style Roomette) in the Budd Sleepers running backwards. There is a Turntable at CN's Fairview Engine Terminal where the Park Car could be turned but probably cost prohibitive to get one car out there and back to the VIA Station......and how receptive would CN be?
Or just replace the Park with a Skyline Dome. When the Atlantic Limited ran across Maine (the CP version not VIA's) the Skyline had flip-over seats as the car was not turned in Saint John
VIA could also just decide to terminate the Ocean in Moncton where a Wye is available.....and passengers take a connecting Intercity Train to or from Halifax. VIA has proposed starting an Intercity service in the Maritimes for several years now and it would run more frequent than the tri-weekly Ocean.
Perhaps this might be the best option. The Ocean is busiest west of Moncton especially in the sleepers....and this would give the coach passengers out of Halifax additional service.
I ride the Ocean often but don't see having to connect in Moncton to a sleeper a big problem and in fact I also ride coach occasionally to Amherst and Moncton.....and having additional frequencies is a plus.
Anyway....several options so stay tuned.....could be interesting come November!
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