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Screenshot 2025-05-31 at 19.03.36.png

As of today, here is a graphic showing: VIA VENTURES NOT OPERATING for more than two weeks=Red. Undergoing BREAK IN=yellow. Delivered=GREEN) for the 29 delivered sets, data from NOV 18/24-MAY 31/25. Four sets not seen in the past two weeks. The Venture implementation is stuck at 14 trainsets, with two guard consists. That's 50% of the delivered fleet.
 
cplchanb said:
if they seriously cant find a solution in the near term they should really consider combining some sets into 6 or 7 car consists for the time being. this is getting farcicle
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I had that consist-lengthening thought way back in October, 2024 when the speed reductions came in. VIA has said that lengthening sets would cut their fleet by 50%. The closest we will likely get is the operation of 'doublavay' J-trained Ventures which more than exceeds CN's axle limit. VIA has never split or remarshalled a single Venture consist AFAIK.

Another question is whether VIA has done more harm to itself by not only having to ensure CN's grade-crossing warning protection devices are working for 20 seconds minimum, but also that Ventures make 45 mph from the whistle post to the crossing*. VIA crews complain that some crossings are visible for 20 seconds or more from beyond some whistle posts, so this requirement by VIA Operating Practices actually exacerbates CN's already punishing-to-OTP speed reductions. (*Apparently discovered by two VIA guys on the simulator!) Crossing protection operation was not designed to be assessed by train crews approaching it perpendicularly and at speed.
 
To my mind, VIA need to choose between reducing their Siemens fleet consist count and reducing their customer base by an amount it will take years to get back. Start with a few L-2B-4E-L consists (no cabs) to ensure max speed and reliability on highest revenue diagrams, and go from there.
 
dowlingm said:
To my mind, VIA need to choose between reducing their Siemens fleet consist count and reducing their customer base by an amount it will take years to get back. Start with a few L-2B-4E-L consists (no cabs) to ensure max speed and reliability on highest revenue diagrams, and go from there.
Click to expand...

My thinking is keep the legacy fleet going as long as they can.Take the existing Siemens fleet and reconfigure them to be long enough to meet the CN requirements. Then order more of the coaches to make up the rest of the fleet.
 
Today, for the first time, VIA is trying to meet CN's imposed minimum train-length requirement for its new Siemens Venture trainsets by augmenting a test set with the addition of two cars. Total transit length is eight: VIA train No 631 is operating today from Montreal-Ottawa with one each Economy Class* and Business Class** cars from Set 7 added to Set 12. Consist: Cab car 2311-Economy Class cars 2811-2911-2906*- Business Class cars 2706**-2711-2611- locomotive 2211.
Despite VIA's position against operating 'doublavay' Venture J-trains and/or augmenting trainsets, VIA has now tested both. If the latter is successful, it could fill a stop-gap measure as VIA continues to wait for a court ruling to remove CN's requirement (in process in Ontario then Quebec since late-2024, or a Transport Canada decision (data submitted by CN in January, 2025).
This seemed like an obvious option once the October, 2024 speed reductions became oppressively omnipresent at over 300 crossings in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, yet it has taken nearly eight months for VIA to test this option today.
With 29 trainsets on the property, and three out-of-service, 15 of the remaining 26 trainsets are in daily rotation, with another 11 sets undergoing maintenance or out-of-rotation. VIA has not moved beyond having 15 sets in daily use. Therefore, 11 sets are not in daily use. If only three of these gave up four cars each for the augmented consists, that would make six 32-axle stop-gap trainsets!
In the meantime, VIA's Venture-equipped Corridor trains continue to operate 15-60 minutes late due to CN's actions and VIA's inactions, and passengers are finding other travel options that actually suit their plans and meet posted schedules.
 
Trackside_Treasure said:
Today, for the first time, VIA is trying to meet CN's imposed minimum train-length requirement for its new Siemens Venture trainsets by augmenting a test set with the addition of two cars. Total transit length is eight: VIA train No 631 is operating today from Montreal-Ottawa with one each Economy Class* and Business Class** cars from Set 7 added to Set 12. Consist: Cab car 2311-Economy Class cars 2811-2911-2906*- Business Class cars 2706**-2711-2611- locomotive 2211.
Despite VIA's position against operating 'doublavay' Venture J-trains and/or augmenting trainsets, VIA has now tested both. If the latter is successful, it could fill a stop-gap measure as VIA continues to wait for a court ruling to remove CN's requirement (in process in Ontario then Quebec since late-2024, or a Transport Canada decision (data submitted by CN in January, 2025).
This seemed like an obvious option once the October, 2024 speed reductions became oppressively omnipresent at over 300 crossings in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, yet it has taken nearly eight months for VIA to test this option today.
With 29 trainsets on the property, and three out-of-service, 15 of the remaining 26 trainsets are in daily rotation, with another 11 sets undergoing maintenance or out-of-rotation. VIA has not moved beyond having 15 sets in daily use. Therefore, 11 sets are not in daily use. If only three of these gave up four cars each for the augmented consists, that would make six 32-axle stop-gap trainsets!
In the meantime, VIA's Venture-equipped Corridor trains continue to operate 15-60 minutes late due to CN's actions and VIA's inactions, and passengers are finding other travel options that actually suit their plans and meet posted schedules.
Click to expand...
If this works, Via should order more cars for the cannibalized sets. It is time the game ends.
 
Trackside_Treasure said:
Today, for the first time, VIA is trying to meet CN's imposed minimum train-length requirement for its new Siemens Venture trainsets by augmenting a test set with the addition of two cars. Total transit length is eight: VIA train No 631 is operating today from Montreal-Ottawa with one each Economy Class* and Business Class** cars from Set 7 added to Set 12. Consist: Cab car 2311-Economy Class cars 2811-2911-2906*- Business Class cars 2706**-2711-2611- locomotive 2211.
Despite VIA's position against operating 'doublavay' Venture J-trains and/or augmenting trainsets, VIA has now tested both. If the latter is successful, it could fill a stop-gap measure as VIA continues to wait for a court ruling to remove CN's requirement (in process in Ontario then Quebec since late-2024, or a Transport Canada decision (data submitted by CN in January, 2025).
This seemed like an obvious option once the October, 2024 speed reductions became oppressively omnipresent at over 300 crossings in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, yet it has taken nearly eight months for VIA to test this option today.
With 29 trainsets on the property, and three out-of-service, 15 of the remaining 26 trainsets are in daily rotation, with another 11 sets undergoing maintenance or out-of-rotation. VIA has not moved beyond having 15 sets in daily use. Therefore, 11 sets are not in daily use. If only three of these gave up four cars each for the augmented consists, that would make six 32-axle stop-gap trainsets!
In the meantime, VIA's Venture-equipped Corridor trains continue to operate 15-60 minutes late due to CN's actions and VIA's inactions, and passengers are finding other travel options that actually suit their plans and meet posted schedules.
Click to expand...
So i predicted correctly. 🤔 Hopefully that will be able can fill these seats instead of running empty cars
 
cplchanb said:
Well... it could be part of the nation building projects proposal along with the new long distance trains
Click to expand...
Again, unless I'm completely mis-reading the government's view of 'nation building', I'm not sure it's on the same level as energy corridors international trade and national security.
 
lenaitch said:
Re-phrase that as 'the federal government should fund Via to buy more cars' and it will be closer to reality.
Click to expand...

Sure...Yes, lets see the federal government properly fund the Corridor replacement fleet so that it has the trains it needs.

cplchanb said:
Well... it could be part of the nation building projects proposal along with the new long distance trains
Click to expand...

Would be nice if the proper funding for the necessary Corridor replacement fleet, the long distance fleet, and ALTO can be folded into it.

lenaitch said:
Again, unless I'm completely mis-reading the government's view of 'nation building', I'm not sure it's on the same level as energy corridors international trade and national security.
Click to expand...
It would be a stretch, but it might be able to fall under one of those.
 
micheal_can said:
Sure...Yes, lets see the federal government properly fund the Corridor replacement fleet so that it has the trains it needs.



Would be nice if the proper funding for the necessary Corridor replacement fleet, the long distance fleet, and ALTO can be folded into it.


It would be a stretch, but it might be able to fall under one of those.
Click to expand...
Technically the long distance fleet is required federally to continually serve remote communities so there could be an argument that its an essential piece of infrastructure too.
 
cplchanb said:
Technically the long distance fleet is required federally to continually serve remote communities so there could be an argument that its an essential piece of infrastructure too.
Click to expand...
The thing is, none of those 3 things would be a clear place to put it under.
 
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