[Jonny5]

I am confused with this express train thing.
The timetable is the same. But the stations are cut out.

Are they going to run the shorter Siemens trains at the slow order speed, but not stop at the stations with the hopes that station stops would mean a time savings to match this? Cus, if they run the 32 axle stuff on the express, then they don't have the speed restrictions, and they don't need to worry about stopping for stations, which all should mean they would be faster than the timetable.

Alternatively, I was thinking they are doing this to showcase how many passengers would use Alto as a kind of proof of concept.

Either way,I look forward to seeing what this all means once the pilot is done.

The timetables simply haven't been updated yet.
I already had a ticket booked for what is now an express trip, and when I look at the booking it has this warning:

 

[micheal_can]

The timetables simply haven't been updated yet.
I have a ticket booked presently for one and when I look at the booking it has this warning:

View attachment 682531

This clears the mud up slightly. Still not sure of the "why"

 

[Mihairokov]

The timetables simply haven't been updated yet.
I already had a ticket booked for what is now an express trip, and when I look at the booking it has this warning:

View attachment 682531

30-40 minutes earlier than expected should put it right back at the original arrival time if you're lucky.

 

[dowlingm]

I am confused with this express train thing.
The timetable is the same. But the stations are cut out.

Are they going to run the shorter Siemens trains at the slow order speed, but not stop at the stations with the hopes that station stops would mean a time savings to match this? Cus, if they run the 32 axle stuff on the express, then they don't have the speed restrictions, and they don't need to worry about stopping for stations, which all should mean they would be faster than the timetable.

For 50/60, they can run full speed to Brockville irrespective of equipment since they will exceed axle count in any config.

My guess is this is an attempt to under-promise and over-deliver. My other guess is that the collapse in full fare business travel has been catastrophic, given that VIA has the airlines as competitors for those sectors but only has bus competition for intermediate stops.

The question is what happens when they are 4-6 weeks in and have sufficient data to start projecting what the rest of the trial should deliver in arrival times. Do they shorten the published time in order to woo business travellers? Or do they add back a stop or two to retain some intermediate business travellers and get central Ontario MPs/MPPs off their case? And then, what happens when the three months is up? There will be something of a lull for the holidays but once the year turns over and trains are no longer full of people coming home/going back to college, VIA is going to need some way to assure travellers that this pilot was worth something.

Ordinarily I would assume that some intermediate services would be added to the schedule as infill but while equipment might be available, one of the biggest obstacles to doing so is Metrolinx and their LSE works progress. It would be hard to see them accede to any VIA requests for slots while their own commuters are screaming for but not getting express services.