Well, admittedly my methodology has 'some' holes in it. I don't see every single train nor see observations of them all. I can only report the observations I can amass, which are still numerous and I began this process to at least find out information that VIA won't supply - that is just what is the serviceability of their most recent acquisitions! Some of these one-off trips may be repositioning moves, i.e. circulating sets between guard-set duties or maintenance centres. Their serviceability has been improving, actually! That may not be saying much, however. I actually think VIA has improved the way they utilize the in-service Venture sets - two 'doublavay' trains east out of Toronto every morning, two chronically late performers cancelled, and most sets operating on two and sometimes three legs each day.
VIA has 13 Venture sets and 2 guard Venture sets in the Corridor rotation. That is not very many with 31 sets now on the property including 29 in service. VIA is stuck at that 13-set level largely due to CN's crossing speed reductions perpetuated by VIA, not serviceability of Venture sets. Let's all imagine what serviceability would look like if all Ventures on all lines could operate at the speeds they were intended to, and VIA ordered them to, before CN imposed the nonsensical restrictions in October, 2024 and focus on seeing that resolved.
