[Bordercollie]

Maybe it is a bit of a incorrect statement to claim that the train's lengths were carefully arrived at.

But it isn't at all to suggest that their capacity wasn't. Because it was. They thought very long and hard about how many people the trains should carry, and balanced that against staffing factors.

And keep in mind that VIA had been working towards increasing the "operational efficiencies" of the old fleet well before the Siemens trainsets came around. Top-and-tail trains, upgrading many of the F40s to allow for reliable backwards operation, breaking away staffing rotations from equipment rotations....all of those were things that would help them utilize the equipment in a more efficient manner, and thus should have been able to set the stage for service improvements once they got a more reliable fleet into service.

Dan

What modifications were required to allow the F40's to run backwards?

 

[crs1026]

We do know that the Corridor doesn't really lose money though. And population growth has far outstripped whatever estimate was around when the Venture contract was signed. I should think that an extra car per train shouldn't result in a net loss, even with lower off-peak yields. 7 car trains might be a reach though. Heck, they could make the added car a business car and trade some business class yield for higher net. Akin to how airlines use business reward seats (yielding nothing) to keep up loyalty. End of the day, VIA One is competing with airlines only marginally. It's VIA Economy that is basically competing with bus lines, who might complain.

I do agree that with Alto on the horizon, it might be a harder sell. But even if these additional coaches are delivered by end 2027, we're talking about a decade of service before they are competing with Alto. More than enough time to at least pay off the capital cost.

I do agree, the dollars and cents case is probably favourable or close to break-even. It doesn't take that many seats filled to pay for the service worker. The added fuel and axle charges are incremental. I do wonder what the long term operating costs of inspection and maintenance and periodic repair might add up to.

The problem is that institutional, in that VIA does not really have control of its own financing, and any plan to expand will be challenged by its competitors. And the plan would have to run the gantlet of government oversight. And be sold to the public.

- Paul

 

[dowlingm]

What modifications were required to allow the F40's to run backwards?

Bearings, I believe.

Solution at Hand???