By Peter D.A. Warwick

New engines, new cars, upgraded track and expanded services.These are just some of the improvements now underway to Via Rail, Canada’s passenger train network.These are just some of the improvements now underway to Via Rail, Canada’s passenger train network.

A trio of lights appears and soon a passenger train roars out of the darkness and into the lighted station to people waiting with anticipation. A new, high-speed (110 mph) Genesis engine, with a rounded, raked front, heads the train. It looks somewhat European in design and is decked out in new colors.

Tonight the engine pulls a train of rebuilt, stainless steel cars dating from the 1950s. But this spring, engines like this one will start pulling equally modern high-speed equipment on the overnight run between Toronto and Montreal.

After years of cutbacks, passenger train service is being revitalized and expanded. Twenty-one new engines, similar to the ones used by Amtrak, but more modern, were purchased and recently placed in service. An order of 139 new cars, which include coaches, sleepers and diners, has been received from Europe. Originally intended for high-speed rail service between Britain and Northern Europe, the cars were made surplus by policy changes and never used.

Named Renaissance by Via, the cars were shipped to Canada and are being brought up to North American standards. The new coaches and diners have the same large picture windows that the rest of Via’s fleet has. Some of the sleepers are being converted into baggage/smokers for use on the Montreal-Halifax train. The new cars expand Via’s passenger fleet by about one-third and mark the first new purchase in 20 years. The new equipment will be going into service over the next two years in the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor, where they will be used to augment and expand frequencies. They’re also for use between Montreal and Halifax and equipment currently in use there will be used to expand capacity in the West.

Two years ago, Via leased five old cars from Amtrak and rebuilt them. Named Northern Spirit, they’re used on the Winnipeg-Churchill line. Rail diesel cars have recently been rebuilt for Northern Ontario and Vancouver Island. In addition to new and rebuilt equipment, Via has built two new stations and rebuilt a number of others. Several have been given a tower, reminiscent of the ones that used to grace train stations. Track and signal improvements are also being made in places along the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor. The most notable improvements are those between Ottawa and Montreal on track owned by Via. When completed, trains will zip along at 100 mph for the first time ever in Canada, cutting travel time between the two cities by 25 minutes over the current fastest times.

Via also added the Bras d’Or, a once a week, summer, full service tour train between Halifax and Sydney. This is a very scenic run, especially when you get to the rugged terrain of Cape Breton Island. Alexander Graham Bell had his summer home here, which his descendants still own. (There’s a Bell museum at Baddeck.) New frequencies were added last fall between Toronto, Kitchener, Aldershot and Oshawa.

Via is also looking at restoring rail service to a number of places. Most likely to be restored within the next year or so is Toronto-Peterborough, which was cut in 1989.

With all these improvements going on and the American dollar being worth about $1.55 Canadian, now is an excellent time for taking a Canadian rail trip. Where to start depends on how much time you have and what you want to see. Out of Montreal, the Ocean takes you through Eastern Quebec and the Maritimes to Halifax on the Atlantic Coast, while the Chaleur takes you to Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Showers are provided on these trains, and both will take you through the northern end of the Appalachians in about a day.

The Canadian, Ocean and Enterprise (overnight Toronto-Montreal train) have the rear end-domed Park Car, complete with the Mural Lounge for the benefit of first class passengers. The Park Car is also available on Bras d’Or (first class and economy) and Skeena (first class year round, economy off-season). The domed mid-train Skyline Car has a lounge and coffee shop available for both first and economy class passengers on the Bras d’Or, Ocean, Chaleur and Canadian. Sleeping cars are available on the Ocean, Chaleur, Enterprise, Hudson Bay and Canadian.

If your time is rather limited or you’re wanting to see Canada’s urban life, start from Toronto or Montreal and explore the Corridor. With many frequencies to choose from, distances are hours, not days, apart. Toronto-Montreal, for example, is only four hours apart by the fastest train. The Corridor serves the following major cities: Windsor, which is across the Detroit River from Detroit, Sarnia, London, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Kingston, Ottawa (Canada’s capital), Montreal and Quebec City. Quebec City is the capital of the French-speaking province of Quebec and is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico.

First-class service, called Via 1, is available on many Corridor trains. Via 1 cars have more room than a regular coach and meals are included with the price of your ticket. Currently, the interiors of these cars are being upgraded.

The romance of rail travel continues today and is made even better with upgraded service, amenities and itineraries. Enjoy the spectacular Canadian landscape in comfort and style.

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