#via rail canada

[kidlit-queen-competition]

Train fact: NAMED TRAINS!

So you've probably heard of the Flying Scotsman. Big green thing, turned 100 this year, probably the most famous locomotive in the UK, if not the world. Adapted into Thomas the Tank Engine with a whole lot of charisma and eyebrows. But did you know that name wasn't hers originally?

'The Flying Scotsman' is actually the name (formerly a nickname) of the train. The locomotive is Flying Scotsman's monster named for it. She was given the name in 1924, to help promote said service at the British Empire exhibition. Any engine, with any rack of coaches, or any train set, can be the Flying Scotsman.

Right now, it's run by LNER's new Azumas, which get a special little outfit about it:

Most of the named trains in the UK were phased out with steam (although you can still catch the Sheffield continental from Sheffield to St. Pancras, or the Northern Lights from King's Cross to Aberdeen, among a handfull of others) but they live on elsewhere.

Some are luxury touring trains, like Japan's Seven Stars in Kyushu (left) or South Africa's Blue Train (right).

Transport isn't really the goal here. They sell out months in advance and cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the class of ticket you get. They're an Experience, and a very cushy experience at that. Just look at their interiors!

(yes, that's a piano)

But the vast majority of named trains in operation (as far as I can tell) are regularly-running exepress services across Asia.

Japan names their Shinkanens, India, Pakistan, Bengladesh & Sri Lanka often name their intercity expresses. These are practical, long-distance services, often named for monuments, like India's Ajanta Express, named for the Ajanta caves:

Or their operating regions, like Sri Lanka's උත්තර දේවී | Princess/Queen of the North:

Some North American countries also kept historic named routes, like Amtrak's Sunset Limited, or Canada's Ocean, which has operated continuously since 1904:

but my personal favorite named services are Australia's historically-nicknamed "The Fish", named after one of its drivers:

and the numerous trains that have been companion-nicknamed "The Chips" to match.

[victoriaosborne]

My account of travelling from Toronto to Vancouver includes photos and atmospheric Canadian music for your extended experience! Let me know what you think!

[collinthenychudson]

Cutting across the snow-capped mountains, F40PH-2s no. 6433, 6442, and 6439 lead Via Rail train No. 2, the Eastbound Canadian, to Montreal and other stops along the way. Since January 15th 1990, Toronto now remains as the Easternmost terminus of the train. However, service between Toronto and Montreal still continues as the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor.

Models and Route by: CSLW, Auran, and Download Station

[annapolisrose]

Saskatchewan prairie views.

[walrusmagazine]

The Diminishing Romance of Train Travel

I took a sleeper train across the country. I learned Via Rail is still stuck in the twentieth century

Coach is a land-based version of steerage: in this section of the train, aside from one or two sixty-two-seat cars, there’s a combination modest cafe and dome car; that’s about it. Then, there are the “Sleeper Plus” options: in ascending order, upper and lower berths, cabins for one or two, and bigger configurations like “drawing rooms.” I can remember, on those long-ago family trips, peeking through open doors at these spaces, which seemed the epitome of opulence compared to our berths. There’s a shower on each Sleeper Plus car, and all these options include meals (prime rib, lake trout . . . ). By contrast, economy choices are described, ominously, as “wholesome and comforting,” code for packets of nuts and microwaved cheeseburgers.

Read more at thewalrus.ca.

Illustration by Jonathan Dyck (jonathandyck.com)

[bucktransit]

Cobourg, Ontario VIA Rail intercity train station. Photo by the green buck.

[twiggybeing]

The 401 highway in Canada has the most traffic out of any road or highway in all of north America.

Because of this traffic, the average speed can drop to a stand still.

If Canada had high speed rail that took a similar route, it would be abled to transport people from different cities to Toronto's city center over 4 times faster.

The amount of cars this would take off the road would significantly reduce traffic, which would also make driving safer and faster.

The amount of time it takes to drive from Toronto to Vancouver with little to no traffic would be 41 hours of driving. If there was a cross country high speed railway that time could be cut down to less than 10 hours using the fastest German trains.

The upkeep costs for rail compared to that of highways are also much lower, and with bringing less cars into a city, it would need less subsidized parking lots which don't pay real estate tax, nor do they make room for businesses or housing.

[pennanbrae]

The tracks at sunset.

[august--and-everything-after]

I love trains. Truly the superior way to travel.

[tijipi]

[spreadsheetdyke]

on the train this morning and a guy came around to check if people had paid their fare and he was literally wearing a protective (maybe bulletproof?) vest which said "REVENUE PROTECTION" on it. it was so cartoonish... if i was watching a movie or something critiquing capitalism and one of the characters was "guy dressed as a cop for 'revenue protection'" i would have thought it was accurate but a little on the nose LMAO. anyway! public transit should be free

[coremagazines]

How to spot Via Rail travel card scam

Via Rail Canada issued a fraud alert for travellers to be on the lookout for fake travel cards being promoted on social media. Find out how to spot them.

Via Rail Canada has lots of ideas for long-distance travel by train, a section with low fares, and other ways to save money including through frequent railers travel cards, but the travel company issued a warning to let customers know that they have nothing to do with some of the offers popping up on social media. Continue reading How to spot Via Rail travel card scam

[kesara]

Via Rail - Canada [IMG_2073] by Kesara Rathnayake Via Flickr: Photo taken at the Guildwood Go Station.

[via-rail-official]

Trains

[annapolisrose]

Jasper National Park

[ritualslaughter]

every time someone here complains about the trains I'm painfully reminded that none of them have tried to travel on via rail