Union has 3 concourses: Bay, Via, and York. Also, the platforms are currently being expanded, it is the final work to be completed in the renovation that has been taking place over the last 15 years.
Yes, I addressed that in a previous comment. These two are the most accessible and has best signage in the hall (especially for tourists) Lol...15 years! Sounds like Toronto!
VIA's new Siemens Venture trains are certainly quieter, smoother, and much more modern and pleasant than most of VIA's older cars. The key for VIA Rail, going forward, is to work out delay issues related to the host railway which is CN in this case. VIA needs dedicated track with better infrastructure and far fewer automobile crossings. Still, my preference for travelling in the Quebec City-Toronto (Windsor) Corridor remains VIA Rail, especially their impressive Business Class. Thanks for posting your video today - good overview.
Is the new business class much better here than on the older trains? I wasn't too happy with it last year. A dedicated track would be a huge plus for Via service. They also have to work on their stations and pricing...I think they operate too much like an airline. Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@theglobalpeasant VIA's Business Class includes access to the Panorama Lounge, pre-boarding, welcome snack & drink, meal with wine, complimentary alcoholic beverages, and a 2-1 seating - similar to what they offer on their older equipment. They key, as you mentioned, is to book early to get very good fares. Yes, they do operate like an airline except on their long distance trains: "The Canadian" between Toronto & Vancouver and "The Ocean" between Montreal & Halifax. Corridor passenger train service has been as you and I describe for a couple of decades. Classic train service with diners, lounges, and dome cars remains on their long-distance trains - except VIA had no choice but to remove their dome on "The Ocean" in recent times. Hope that helps.
Ontario Northland has ordered three of these trainsets (although a three-car variety) for its revival of the Northlander service from Toronto to Timmins in 2026.
Ontario Northland also need to get them for the other routes as well, and also has to get rid of that crappy train they've been using for years; it's (to me) an eyesore.
The new trains look very nice, and that part where the train travels along the coast looks great. Nice experience, it's always good to be able to see things about Canada too. Greetings and have a good weekend, blessings!
Great review. I just got back from Japan and was blown away by their transit and regional train operations. I dont believe I interacted with 1 person from the time I purchased my ticket to the time I got to my destination. The train attendant on the bullet train stoped to pas out a hot towel but that was it! The whole process is so seamless, it’s all automated!I I agree, the VIA rail boarding process is very airline like. Not sure why automatic gates that scan QR codes aren’t installed at the entrance of the concourse and then passengers just board when the train are indicating boarding. The entire process seems very inefficient and costly. I still don’t get why people que when there are assigned seats. I guess VIA’s process lack of seating in the concourse and habit may be reasons. Cant wait to try the new trains.
Ya things are done very well here. Not perfect, but very good! For automatic gates, I imagine the fact the platforms are narrow is an issue. Also, for inter-provincial transportation Id is required, where in Japan it is not. Nonetheless there's much which can be improved with via. it's getting better but not *there* yet.
Unless Via trains either get priority over freight trains or end up running on dedicated tracks so as to operate at higher speeds and substantially shorten travel times, it's highly unlikely that more travellers will embrace train travel in Canada! It doesn't have to be this way!
@@GraemeMacDermid I've known about Via Rail’s HFR project since 2015-16. The point I'm trying to make is that the federal government already has all of the necessary information it needs so as to give the go-ahead on this project but keeps stalling even though modernized passenger rail is exactly what is needed both to significantly reduce congestion on our roads and highways and also reduce our carbon footprint. Based on past history, I highly suspect that the federal government will continue to delay HFR indefinitely due to political pressure from the auto and air industries regardless of climate change!
@@marclemieux8269 actually, the worst foot-dragger wasn't in Ottawa but in Toronto. Doug Ford cancelled Ontario's participation in the planned new-build high-speed line Windsor-London-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal, partly because he's all about highways, and partly because SW Ontario is staunch Tory country and a lot of Tory voters in the region disliked the plan.
Although I could be picky about minor matters such as the bland décor, there are two major issues that concern me. One is the lack of any window adjacent to some of the seats. Unfortunately VIA has not provided accurate diagrams so you can see this and pick your seat accordingly. The other is the lack of luggage space. Yes, you can put some fairly heavy bags overhead on the shelf which has no restraints. Several years ago Transport Canada mandated restraints on the luggage racks. The LRC and HEP corridor coaches have airline style bins, so it was only the end of coach shelves that needed restraints. . VIA will soon be carrying bicycles. Some of the luggage racks will fold up to make room for the bikes. In Business Class each passenger is allowed two large suitcases. If every passenger brought even one there would be nowhere to put them.
A couple of problems with the new trains: If you don't want to face backwards, there's a fee for seat selection; and the seats are too hard and uncomfortable. These are not minor issues.
I would like to take a ride on the new trains but unfortunately the train that I usually go on is the Toronto to London train cuz I usually go to Windsor and they still have the old train. I hope that all of them get upgraded to the new one cuz the Wi-Fi on the older trains isn't that good
Southwest Ontario will get the new trains but it will be the same as it was when the refurbished older trains were introduced. We got them after (in order) Ottawa-Montreal, Ottawa-Toronto, Quebec-Montreal, and Montreal-Toronto. Nice to know we're so important to VIA.
VIA told me that all trains in the corridor will be fitted with Siemens charger locomotives by 2024. Time is running out and I still don't see any passing by my apartment.
Actually technically union station has three concourse, the York, the via concourse and the Bay concourse and also Union is currently in the middle of renovating their train sheds and making platforms bigger hence the construction around the place
Good to know about the platforms..funny, I usually use the Bay concourse for GO. I could be wrong, but I don't think the signage for the Bay concourse is as well marked as York
@@theglobalpeasant actually your right about the signage, the bay concourse is definitely not well coordinated, for someone who’s never been there before would be difficult to find but because I use union a lot, I’m well familiar with the place, I know all the shortcuts, entrances, exits and passageways, it’s like playing original legend of Zelda. lol. And yes the union station project is something I’ve been following since it’s planning days 😊
I say we'd have been better off paying taxes for laying more track, not only alongside shared CN tracks but lots more to make it seamlessly into and across all provinces and territories eventually, with several cities and towns connected. One new VIA line by any length of currently shared CN line could make a huge difference for both companies as a start, and keep that happening. It's what is under VIA that needed those tax dollars because much of that isn't there yet. I've traveled aboard VIA a few times and found nothing wrong with those old carriages, they rolled and got me there each time and I never felt crowded into one little space nor rattled for the way they were made and maintained. Just having more places to travel, going by what many people say, that saves the environment already with the older locomotives maintained and updated as needed, maybe a good overhaul can extend their useful working lives into using better fuel alternatives for many more years to come. Old or new, they still move more people than highway buses and other smaller rubber-tired vehicles, with less friction. But I know roads are always better for the many commonly travelled and far-out destinations. Are those seats thinner than older carriage seats? They look like the shrunken airline seats people are not happy with. The headrests on new seats, they are becoming like horse blinders. There always needed to be something more on the ends than a flat or slightly curved headrest to keep heads off peer passengers' shoulders, but I prefer when I look around I don't see seat material until I look back enough to see that. And wood, I don't think that belongs anywhere I see it in this video. Strong plastics and quality metals are so much easier to wipe clean with disinfectants and stainless steel can always look new with the same wiping and additional buffing or polishing as needed. Though I add to that preference, tables and other trimmings in seating areas shouldn't be shiny metals, that can be hard on the eyes with the sun shining in, renewable and even buffable plastics are safer there. Ugh, the guy who took your window seat and then moved partly back into his aisle seat space, he needs to do some walking, there's more space for his attitude outdoors. I just don't recommend he walk the tracks though, maybe the scenic Trans Canada Trail can get him to places he wants to go to. 😊 But at least this Venture train took you the usual travel time and didn't need an order of pizza and a CN lead.
I would be also very happy if my taxes went to building rail infrastructure! I'd be even happier if private companies did it instead of the govt. The seats are quite spacious, I didn't find them smaller than the old seats. The wood is decorative plastic composite material, not actual wood. Ordering a pizza would make a good video :p
lol, "attitude". Have you never taken any kind of public transportation? Nothing he did was that unusual for any taller person. Considering some of the "characters" I've encountered on transit over the years I wouldn't bat an eye at this guy.
I'm not sure what the last reply means. However if that is for me, I always thought of VIA as one of the many forms of public transportation. I have used public transportation thousands of times, regularly in cities and on some long trips. And VIA was my transportation maybe a few times as mentioned in my reply above. I have also flown on civilian and government aircraft, all of those with regular and employee passengers. So, yes I have, most of my life. I also didn't find anything wrong with the VIA carriages, there was ample seating space and passengers could walk through to other carriages. There were always good locomotives going the distance for me. However, I do want more rails for them, that's the importance of today's long haul passenger system since I find highway buses are very confining on long trips and since we don't have most of that anymore with Greyhound not doing it. I also think rail has been the safest passenger service, partly because that is ground-based - not far to fall, there is no steering with track changes being the means to get to various destinations - no leaving a lane by accident and the traffic is light with one train on a stretch instead of all sorts of vehicles passing one another - no pile-ups. I also heard the train crews at the controls have to prove awake often or brakes become activated for a full stop - no drivers who can become drowsy while steering in tight and ever-changing spaces. May our tax dollars put more steel highway down.
Union Station can't be expanded. It's entirely hedged in by condos (thanks, city of Toronto) and every single track is in use during the rush hours with all the 12-car GO Trains on seven commuter services. The only solution (a horrifically expensive one) would be to supplement with either an elevated line or a tunnel serving an entire second deck of platforms above or below the current platforms. Sounds like a $trillion project. BTW, the line-ups to board are a relic of the days when economy class had NO reserved seats and people arrived early to get the best seats.
95% of the new train sets are on the Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City corridor. There is only one or two trips per week Toronto-Montreal even though there is more volume on this route. Maybe it is because a 4 or 5 car set is not enough for the amount of customers. This is a new train set, you should have given first class a shot. I am surprised an Ottawa bound train didn't stop at Brockville.
Hmm I thought there was more than that on Toronto-Montreal ...the website had the routes of the new trains. As I mentioned in the video, I wasn't too pleased with Via last year in business, so I'm giving them a year extra to "sharpen the pencils"... I'll try business next summer!
We had the pleasure of taking a trip on one a few weeks back. The seats were comfortable, and it was a smooth ride. Unfortunately, we had the displeasure of listening to a 20something mom of and ignoring a non-verbal special needs child of maybe 6 or 7, while in a sobbing, sometimes screaming conversation with her boyfriend, then looking for sympathy, a friend, then back to her boyfriend for 90 minutes, by Belleville, where she'd made up with boyfriend, got off, and was going to wait to get picked up. Yes, staff intervened about an hour in as she and the child were becoming increasingly annoying to all the car's passengers, about a 10 minute reprieve. We happened to be right behind her. I felt bad that she was in whatever situation it was, but she had no filter, respect for others around her, or the ability to keep her drama to herself.
This is a valid suggestion, since I don't think we'll be getting a dedicated track anytime soon. I imagine CN enjoys the $ they get for allowing via on their track.
@@theglobalpeasant yea I know but it could be done because before VIA started years ago CN ran there passenger trains on the south side of the 401 to Montreal and Ottawa and CP was on the north side before they became VIA they are thinking of restarting the old Havelock line from Toronto to Montreal threw Peterborough but this year's away with this Government
Was aboard the Siemens Venture trains yesterday (Business class) for a same day retourn trip to Ottawa. from Montréal. I feel sorry that interior designers, at VIA Rail, did not opt for the same warmth found aboard the latest redecorated LRC cars. This very asceptic yet cold ''cabin environement'' has absolute;y nothing attractive, nor the tattoed personel and the meal tray presentation that needs a major re-look job!
Ya that's why I put my business class off for next year. Agreed meal and lounge need some retooling. Tattooed guy is fine - this is not Japan - he's just making a living.. I'll give the business class cars a shot next year!
Absolutely agree. The lighting is atrocious. Another minus for me is the significant reduction of luggage spaces. It is now clear why they chose to reduce luggage space on the new train (to go with the extra fee structure). Business class is also a missed opportunity. The seats are basically the same as economy. Just a bigger space/table between the two seats and the table is positioned so low that I don’t see a practical use of them.
the lighting is bad in a couple ways, and I swear we lost seat width in favour of isle width. I only like how smooth the ride is. Disappointed overall.
I absolutely don't understand not saying something to the guy in the wrong seat. If you believed you had a window seat, why not at least ask staff? Not sure what value there is passive aggressively complaining after the fact. I am taking one of these trains in a few weeks and based on my ticket you were right. Tickets are usually half that price but for Via Rail likes to nickle and dime passengers. More picky about luggage on corridor trains than airlines.
I'm not complaining about the seat. The aisle turned out to be better since I was able to walk around and film. Even when the conductor came to check the ticket, nothing was said. Ya their luggage policy is garbage, but I didn't see anyone check the bags. With these trains, I think people lug them on themselves and place them in the luggage racks.
Great equipment for the late 1800s or early 1900s but not for the 21st century. Trap doors and high narrow steps are bad. They should have bought equipment similar to Stadler Flirts which have all door low floor boarding. Don't let airplane types run trains.
It's about time we had new trains in Canada. The via trains more than 50 years old. Via have a train That was build. In 1947. If the liberals didn't give Are money too other country. Millions. May be we Would be able too build new trains for via.
To be fair, the government's lack of investment in Via runs over decades through various ruling parties...so I gotta blame all parties equally on this,
Looking at the sign for seat designation, I think I would be confused. I see neither the aisle nor the window depicted. I tend to think the upper number designates the seat farther away, and the lower number shows the more proximate seat, i.e. nearest to you, pointing at your feet as it were. If it were airline style, a through k, for example, C would be the aisle. However, with D at the bottom, I would think D was the aisle although seems illogical.
How does your alphabet go? ACBD? Ever been on an airplane where the same system is used universally even when this lettering system isn’t native to a country’s language script.
Not a very informative video. You failed to talk about the train itself. These glorious Siemens trains are much more than simply ` new '. The remarkable comfort is due to their use of air suspension. Most important they are hauled by Siemens ` charger ' locomotives. They help combat climate change by reducing diesel engine emissions by 90 %.
I have to balance out the train specs and the experience in my videos. "Remarkable" comfort may be a bit of a stretch... they are good though! That train is definitely fighting that climate change alright! So is my carbon tax 😑
@johndunbar7504 he makes travel videos, maybe bring yourself to a channel that focuses on the technical aspects, some people just care about the travel aspect and he nailed it.
@@mkas88 Nonsense. The ` technical aspects 'are the heart of the train. If your not interested then I can only conclude that you are not seriously in trains.
@@theglobalpeasant NO YOU FAILED TO INFORM VIEWERS, ESPECIALLY TOURISTS THAT NOT ONLY THE "YORK CONCOURSE" IS NOT ONLY THE ENTRANCE TO GO TRAINS, BUT THE "BAY CONCOURSE" IS ALSO THE ENTRANCE TO GO TRAINS AS WELL!
The problem is canada decided to contract a passenger monopoly to a freight company who placed the passenger traffic on the freight rails and put it at a lower priority because they don't make money on it.
Sad, there are some many things wrong with this. Passenger rail service can be profitable for all parties if done right. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Even though I paid $100, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a gov't subsidized price.
The rails are privately owned and the companies have the right to prioritise traffic as they like, freight being the most profitable. Im sure VIA/governement have an agreement with CP/CN to 'allow' passenger traffic, but probably not incentivised to bump it up the routing priority. The amount of investment required to build a dedicated passenger corridor is enormous and even then unlikely to attract business travellers - those that subsidise the rest of us - away from the airlines, despite their own appalling performance ratings.
@mrenshaw your are right and they should be able to prioritize profitable traffic, but there was no reason the government couldn't have ordered a passenger only rail parallel to the freight which they owned and they didn't.
Except the cost and the public's lack of appetite for tax rises and another white elephant of an infrastructure project. We have enough for a herd in Ontario, some members of which were originally mammoths, they've taken (taking/will take) so long.
Trains are only for Canadians. Not Newfoundlanders, Cape Bretoner's and Labradorians. I have lived around the world and am shocked at the elitism of VIA for CANADA!
The reason is simple. Those trains, when they ran, were far slower than taking the car. The iconic nickname "Newfie Bullet" was actually a sarcastic reference to the train's slowness and the enormous number of stops it made. Rail services got cancelled when people voted with their feet and took their cars.
What's the difference between the old and new? It still takes about 5 hours to get from Toronto to Ottawa. It's like driving a Bentley versus a Kia, no visible difference. With a dedicated path, Via could have improve it's engines so people won't need to waste so much time. Even the Chinese made trains are faster than these relics of Via. What a waste of resources...
Lol you are special.. if you buy a Ferrari you'd still have to follow speed limits right? The train is still new, more comfort, but as long as Via has to share tracks with freight trains we'll never get high speed.. talk to the federal government, nothing to do about engines.
And the UPXpress to YYZ. As for ambiguous seat numbering, not unless the alphabet has been changed from ABCD to ABDC since the same process is used universally on trains and commercial airplanes. You had a most boorish seat companion.
I was going to post a very nasty comment concerning the entitled whining of Ontarians, but I'll leave it at this. Maybe it is time to restart the Western Canada concept and stop the Transfer Payments?
we don't care 60% of us: canadians outside the Quebec city Winsor will never be reached by any of that stuff. Thanks god we have gas guzzling automobiles
Not 'never' but ' not anymore'. Reasonable service was provided in the 1800 & 1900's! How can you pay your fair share of the carbon tax if you don't have a gas guzzling automobile? 🤣
@@theglobalpeasant unfortunately the gas guzzling truck (compulsory for winter driving) is my only transportation option since greyhound folded out and trains are long gone (another Mulroney's gift) Last week westjet also announced they were pulling out of prairies next month. so I pay my share of carbon tax since I burn around 6,000 liters/year (15 barrel) and spend hundreds hours of driving
When you say that a government monopoly on rail services is not a good idea you clearly haven't had a look at the privatised shitshow that is the UK free market rail compared with continental government-run monopolies on continental Europe.
We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I experience the privatised non-shitshow in Japan and it works great. Gov't shouldn't own airlines, nor rail lines and I stand by that.
Let's be careful here with rhetoric. Railways are different from airways because there's one track and they transfer from state-run to private-run monopolies. I disagree with your ideological position on airlines. For example, the world's number one airline, which owns a huge chunk of British airways, is state-owned Qatar Airlines.
These new trains run specific routes and time times. Check the website for current train numbers!
www.viarail.ca/en/plan/new-fleet
Union has 3 concourses: Bay, Via, and York. Also, the platforms are currently being expanded, it is the final work to be completed in the renovation that has been taking place over the last 15 years.
Yes, I addressed that in a previous comment. These two are the most accessible and has best signage in the hall (especially for tourists)
Lol...15 years! Sounds like Toronto!
VIA's new Siemens Venture trains are certainly quieter, smoother, and much more modern and pleasant than most of VIA's older cars. The key for VIA Rail, going forward, is to work out delay issues related to the host railway which is CN in this case. VIA needs dedicated track with better infrastructure and far fewer automobile crossings. Still, my preference for travelling in the Quebec City-Toronto (Windsor) Corridor remains VIA Rail, especially their impressive Business Class. Thanks for posting your video today - good overview.
Is the new business class much better here than on the older trains? I wasn't too happy with it last year. A dedicated track would be a huge plus for Via service. They also have to work on their stations and pricing...I think they operate too much like an airline. Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@theglobalpeasant VIA's Business Class includes access to the Panorama Lounge, pre-boarding, welcome snack & drink, meal with wine, complimentary alcoholic beverages, and a 2-1 seating - similar to what they offer on their older equipment. They key, as you mentioned, is to book early to get very good fares. Yes, they do operate like an airline except on their long distance trains: "The Canadian" between Toronto & Vancouver and "The Ocean" between Montreal & Halifax. Corridor passenger train service has been as you and I describe for a couple of decades. Classic train service with diners, lounges, and dome cars remains on their long-distance trains - except VIA had no choice but to remove their dome on "The Ocean" in recent times. Hope that helps.
Ontario Northland has ordered three of these trainsets (although a three-car variety) for its revival of the Northlander service from Toronto to Timmins in 2026.
You're correct. Last I looked though the purchase wasn't confirmed. It will be good to have trains back to Northern Ontario once more!
Ontario Northland also need to get them for the other routes as well, and also has to get rid of that crappy train they've been using for years; it's (to me) an eyesore.
@@theglobalpeasant I know that the ordering of these train sets are ordered, as Scottcampbell2707 mentioned!
Fantastic review
The new trains look very nice, and that part where the train travels along the coast looks great. Nice experience, it's always good to be able to see things about Canada too. Greetings and have a good weekend, blessings!
Yup! It's always nice to enjoy Canada during the summer!
Great review. I just got back from Japan and was blown away by their transit and regional train operations. I dont believe I interacted with 1 person from the time I purchased my ticket to the time I got to my destination. The train attendant on the bullet train stoped to pas out a hot towel but that was it! The whole process is so seamless, it’s all automated!I I agree, the VIA rail boarding process is very airline like. Not sure why automatic gates that scan QR codes aren’t installed at the entrance of the concourse and then passengers just board when the train are indicating boarding. The entire process seems very inefficient and costly. I still don’t get why people que when there are assigned seats. I guess VIA’s process lack of seating in the concourse and habit may be reasons. Cant wait to try the new trains.
Ya things are done very well here. Not perfect, but very good! For automatic gates, I imagine the fact the platforms are narrow is an issue. Also, for inter-provincial transportation Id is required, where in Japan it is not. Nonetheless there's much which can be improved with via. it's getting better but not *there* yet.
Unless Via trains either get priority over freight trains or end up running on dedicated tracks so as to operate at higher speeds and substantially shorten travel times, it's highly unlikely that more travellers will embrace train travel in Canada!
It doesn't have to be this way!
Agree 100%!
That’s the plan. Look up High Frequency Rail.
@@GraemeMacDermid I've known about Via Rail’s HFR project since 2015-16.
The point I'm trying to make is that the federal government already has all of the necessary information it needs so as to give the go-ahead on this project but keeps stalling even though modernized passenger rail is exactly what is needed both to significantly reduce congestion on our roads and highways and also reduce our carbon footprint.
Based on past history, I highly suspect that the federal government will continue to delay HFR indefinitely due to political pressure from the auto and air industries regardless of climate change!
Your opinion, but not mine!
@@marclemieux8269 actually, the worst foot-dragger wasn't in Ottawa but in Toronto. Doug Ford cancelled Ontario's participation in the planned new-build high-speed line Windsor-London-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal, partly because he's all about highways, and partly because SW Ontario is staunch Tory country and a lot of Tory voters in the region disliked the plan.
so are they replacing ALL trains? or some of the dated ones still gonna be in service?
No idea if they're replacing all. I imagine Via will keep the older cars and use them for other lines but that's just my own speculation.
Although I could be picky about minor matters such as the bland décor, there are two major issues that concern me. One is the lack of any window adjacent to some of the seats. Unfortunately VIA has not provided accurate diagrams so you can see this and pick your seat accordingly. The other is the lack of luggage space. Yes, you can put some fairly heavy bags overhead on the shelf which has no restraints. Several years ago Transport Canada mandated restraints on the luggage racks. The LRC and HEP corridor coaches have airline style bins, so it was only the end of coach shelves that needed restraints. . VIA will soon be carrying bicycles. Some of the luggage racks will fold up to make room for the bikes. In Business Class each passenger is allowed two large suitcases. If every passenger brought even one there would be nowhere to put them.
There are luggage racks at the end of the cars for heavier bags. Afaik bikes can already be brought on board.
A couple of problems with the new trains: If you don't want to face backwards, there's a fee for seat selection; and the seats are too hard and uncomfortable. These are not minor issues.
You'd also have to pay if you don't want to sit forwards. I didn't mind the seats themselves, but maybe more bothersome to some.
Seat are not reclinables -horrible. And tough seats too. Coffee horrid in all seasons.
Really nice you can catch the train out from Scarborough Guildwood! Sometimes heading into Union station can be a pain so nice to have an alternative
I hear ya! Takes 90 minutes from Mississauga!
Great video's ... could you do a review on Amtrak's new trains
Definitely a possibility for the future! I don't really travel in the States much, except to change planes...but I'll look into it!
Nice keep it up ❤
The speed restriction on them aren’t great but I’m not in a rush when I travel and I’ll take the late travel credits
That's a great way to look at it!
I would like to take a ride on the new trains but unfortunately the train that I usually go on is the Toronto to London train cuz I usually go to Windsor and they still have the old train. I hope that all of them get upgraded to the new one cuz the Wi-Fi on the older trains isn't that good
Southwest Ontario will get the new trains but it will be the same as it was when the refurbished older trains were introduced. We got them after (in order) Ottawa-Montreal, Ottawa-Toronto, Quebec-Montreal, and Montreal-Toronto. Nice to know we're so important to VIA.
VIA told me that all trains in the corridor will be fitted with Siemens charger locomotives by 2024. Time is running out and I still don't see any passing by my apartment.
The VIA hall is in the center! There is a Bay hall
Ya, it;s there.
Those seat signs are confusing af. 2D should be on top if its the window...
I agree.
Actually technically union station has three concourse, the York, the via concourse and the Bay concourse and also Union is currently in the middle of renovating their train sheds and making platforms bigger hence the construction around the place
Good to know about the platforms..funny, I usually use the Bay concourse for GO. I could be wrong, but I don't think the signage for the Bay concourse is as well marked as York
@@theglobalpeasant actually your right about the signage, the bay concourse is definitely not well coordinated, for someone who’s never been there before would be difficult to find but because I use union a lot, I’m well familiar with the place, I know all the shortcuts, entrances, exits and passageways, it’s like playing original legend of Zelda. lol. And yes the union station project is something I’ve been following since it’s planning days 😊
I say we'd have been better off paying taxes for laying more track, not only alongside shared CN tracks but lots more to make it seamlessly into and across all provinces and territories eventually, with several cities and towns connected. One new VIA line by any length of currently shared CN line could make a huge difference for both companies as a start, and keep that happening. It's what is under VIA that needed those tax dollars because much of that isn't there yet.
I've traveled aboard VIA a few times and found nothing wrong with those old carriages, they rolled and got me there each time and I never felt crowded into one little space nor rattled for the way they were made and maintained. Just having more places to travel, going by what many people say, that saves the environment already with the older locomotives maintained and updated as needed, maybe a good overhaul can extend their useful working lives into using better fuel alternatives for many more years to come. Old or new, they still move more people than highway buses and other smaller rubber-tired vehicles, with less friction. But I know roads are always better for the many commonly travelled and far-out destinations.
Are those seats thinner than older carriage seats? They look like the shrunken airline seats people are not happy with. The headrests on new seats, they are becoming like horse blinders. There always needed to be something more on the ends than a flat or slightly curved headrest to keep heads off peer passengers' shoulders, but I prefer when I look around I don't see seat material until I look back enough to see that. And wood, I don't think that belongs anywhere I see it in this video. Strong plastics and quality metals are so much easier to wipe clean with disinfectants and stainless steel can always look new with the same wiping and additional buffing or polishing as needed. Though I add to that preference, tables and other trimmings in seating areas shouldn't be shiny metals, that can be hard on the eyes with the sun shining in, renewable and even buffable plastics are safer there.
Ugh, the guy who took your window seat and then moved partly back into his aisle seat space, he needs to do some walking, there's more space for his attitude outdoors. I just don't recommend he walk the tracks though, maybe the scenic Trans Canada Trail can get him to places he wants to go to. 😊
But at least this Venture train took you the usual travel time and didn't need an order of pizza and a CN lead.
I would be also very happy if my taxes went to building rail infrastructure! I'd be even happier if private companies did it instead of the govt.
The seats are quite spacious, I didn't find them smaller than the old seats. The wood is decorative plastic composite material, not actual wood.
Ordering a pizza would make a good video :p
lol, "attitude". Have you never taken any kind of public transportation? Nothing he did was that unusual for any taller person. Considering some of the "characters" I've encountered on transit over the years I wouldn't bat an eye at this guy.
I'm not sure what the last reply means. However if that is for me, I always thought of VIA as one of the many forms of public transportation.
I have used public transportation thousands of times, regularly in cities and on some long trips. And VIA was my transportation maybe a few times as mentioned in my reply above. I have also flown on civilian and government aircraft, all of those with regular and employee passengers. So, yes I have, most of my life.
I also didn't find anything wrong with the VIA carriages, there was ample seating space and passengers could walk through to other carriages. There were always good locomotives going the distance for me.
However, I do want more rails for them, that's the importance of today's long haul passenger system since I find highway buses are very confining on long trips and since we don't have most of that anymore with Greyhound not doing it.
I also think rail has been the safest passenger service, partly because that is ground-based - not far to fall, there is no steering with track changes being the means to get to various destinations - no leaving a lane by accident and the traffic is light with one train on a stretch instead of all sorts of vehicles passing one another - no pile-ups. I also heard the train crews at the controls have to prove awake often or brakes become activated for a full stop - no drivers who can become drowsy while steering in tight and ever-changing spaces.
May our tax dollars put more steel highway down.
Union Station can't be expanded. It's entirely hedged in by condos (thanks, city of Toronto) and every single track is in use during the rush hours with all the 12-car GO Trains on seven commuter services. The only solution (a horrifically expensive one) would be to supplement with either an elevated line or a tunnel serving an entire second deck of platforms above or below the current platforms. Sounds like a $trillion project. BTW, the line-ups to board are a relic of the days when economy class had NO reserved seats and people arrived early to get the best seats.
Or build a new via station hub uptown somewhere where there's more space
Interesting to hear about the reason of the line ups! Something will have to be done at union at some point,
That’s true but if there’s no lines it’s just a mass of people waiting at the bottom of an escalator in circle formation with no order.
95% of the new train sets are on the Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City corridor. There is only one or two trips per week Toronto-Montreal even though there is more volume on this route. Maybe it is because a 4 or 5 car set is not enough for the amount of customers. This is a new train set, you should have given first class a shot. I am surprised an Ottawa bound train didn't stop at Brockville.
Hmm I thought there was more than that on Toronto-Montreal ...the website had the routes of the new trains.
As I mentioned in the video, I wasn't too pleased with Via last year in business, so I'm giving them a year extra to "sharpen the pencils"... I'll try business next summer!
@@theglobalpeasant Yes, the website has the routes but they are not scheduled on those routes regularly.
We had the pleasure of taking a trip on one a few weeks back. The seats were comfortable, and it was a smooth ride. Unfortunately, we had the displeasure of listening to a 20something mom of and ignoring a non-verbal special needs child of maybe 6 or 7, while in a sobbing, sometimes screaming conversation with her boyfriend, then looking for sympathy, a friend, then back to her boyfriend for 90 minutes, by Belleville, where she'd made up with boyfriend, got off, and was going to wait to get picked up. Yes, staff intervened about an hour in as she and the child were becoming increasingly annoying to all the car's passengers, about a 10 minute reprieve. We happened to be right behind her. I felt bad that she was in whatever situation it was, but she had no filter, respect for others around her, or the ability to keep her drama to herself.
This is unfortunate experience. I would have probably moved, if possible, but it sounds like you handled it well.
To bad they couldn't use the CP tracks on the north side of the 401 from Toronto to Montreal once in awhile to get more service between the city's
This is a valid suggestion, since I don't think we'll be getting a dedicated track anytime soon. I imagine CN enjoys the $ they get for allowing via on their track.
@@theglobalpeasant yea I know but it could be done because before VIA started years ago CN ran there passenger trains on the south side of the 401 to Montreal and Ottawa and CP was on the north side before they became VIA they are thinking of restarting the old Havelock line from Toronto to Montreal threw Peterborough but this year's away with this Government
Was aboard the Siemens Venture trains yesterday (Business class) for a same day retourn trip to Ottawa. from Montréal. I feel sorry that interior designers, at VIA Rail, did not opt for the same warmth found aboard the latest redecorated LRC cars. This very asceptic yet cold ''cabin environement'' has absolute;y nothing attractive, nor the tattoed personel and the meal tray presentation that needs a major re-look job!
Ya that's why I put my business class off for next year. Agreed meal and lounge need some retooling. Tattooed guy is fine - this is not Japan - he's just making a living.. I'll give the business class cars a shot next year!
Absolutely agree. The lighting is atrocious. Another minus for me is the significant reduction of luggage spaces. It is now clear why they chose to reduce luggage space on the new train (to go with the extra fee structure).
Business class is also a missed opportunity. The seats are basically the same as economy. Just a bigger space/table between the two seats and the table is positioned so low that I don’t see a practical use of them.
the lighting is bad in a couple ways, and I swear we lost seat width in favour of isle width. I only like how smooth the ride is. Disappointed overall.
$99 ?? Toronto to Ottawa. Was that 10 years ago
Nope! Tickets get as cheap as $55 if bought in advance,
I absolutely don't understand not saying something to the guy in the wrong seat. If you believed you had a window seat, why not at least ask staff? Not sure what value there is passive aggressively complaining after the fact.
I am taking one of these trains in a few weeks and based on my ticket you were right.
Tickets are usually half that price but for Via Rail likes to nickle and dime passengers. More picky about luggage on corridor trains than airlines.
I'm not complaining about the seat. The aisle turned out to be better since I was able to walk around and film. Even when the conductor came to check the ticket, nothing was said.
Ya their luggage policy is garbage, but I didn't see anyone check the bags. With these trains, I think people lug them on themselves and place them in the luggage racks.
Great equipment for the late 1800s or early 1900s but not for the 21st century. Trap doors and high narrow steps are bad. They should have bought equipment similar to Stadler Flirts which have all door low floor boarding. Don't let airplane types run trains.
I noticed those steps and doors actually and I agree.
The problem is not the height of the doors but the height of the platforms. You'll see the same trains in use in Europe with nearly level boarding.
You won't get gplatforms in most of North America because of required set backs, so put the floors at a lower level.@@roundandroundmyworld
No reclinable seats? A strict horror!!! Hhow can you nap rigidly sitting in your seats? Is the coffee as horrible as it was in late January 2024?
You don't like a good rigid nap once in awhile? Coffee was the same. ☕
Via what about the bullet train. Like thay use in
Japan. God only nose the cou try is big enough too a Coverdale. The train. Dodnt do thing so cheap .
Week should travel by train. From new Brunswick to Ottawa instead of using a car.
It's about time we had new trains in Canada. The via trains more than 50 years old. Via have a train
That was build. In 1947. If the liberals didn't give
Are money too other country. Millions. May be we
Would be able too build new trains for via.
To be fair, the government's lack of investment in Via runs over decades through various ruling parties...so I gotta blame all parties equally on this,
Looking at the sign for seat designation, I think I would be confused. I see neither the aisle nor the window depicted. I tend to think the upper number designates the seat farther away, and the lower number shows the more proximate seat, i.e. nearest to you, pointing at your feet as it were. If it were airline style, a through k, for example, C would be the aisle. However, with D at the bottom, I would think D was the aisle although seems illogical.
I tried to look for another signage, such as on the seat or above and found none. I think it's confusing.
How does your alphabet go? ACBD? Ever been on an airplane where the same system is used universally even when this lettering system isn’t native to a country’s language script.
Not a very informative video. You failed to talk about the train itself. These glorious Siemens trains are much more than simply ` new '. The remarkable comfort is due to their use of air suspension. Most important they are hauled by Siemens ` charger ' locomotives. They help combat climate change by reducing diesel engine emissions by 90 %.
I have to balance out the train specs and the experience in my videos. "Remarkable" comfort may be a bit of a stretch... they are good though!
That train is definitely fighting that climate change alright! So is my carbon tax 😑
@@theglobalpeasant But you didn't even mention ` train specs '.
@johndunbar7504 he makes travel videos, maybe bring yourself to a channel that focuses on the technical aspects, some people just care about the travel aspect and he nailed it.
@@mkas88 Nonsense. The ` technical aspects 'are the heart of the train. If your not interested then I can only conclude that you are not seriously in trains.
Nope! Same delays. More stupid rules about luggages.
I'd drive.
Grab me a medium double double and a cinnamon raisin bagel toasted with butter on your way! 🥯 ☕
HELLO MYOPIA! YOU FAILED TO INFORM VIEWERS THERE IS ALSO "BAY CONCOURSE " AS WELL!
I can't give all the secrets of Union away, can I?
@@theglobalpeasant NO YOU FAILED TO INFORM VIEWERS, ESPECIALLY TOURISTS THAT NOT ONLY THE "YORK CONCOURSE" IS NOT ONLY THE ENTRANCE TO GO TRAINS, BUT THE "BAY CONCOURSE" IS ALSO THE ENTRANCE TO GO TRAINS AS WELL!
Look at all those empty seats
The problem is canada decided to contract a passenger monopoly to a freight company who placed the passenger traffic on the freight rails and put it at a lower priority because they don't make money on it.
Sad, there are some many things wrong with this. Passenger rail service can be profitable for all parties if done right. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Even though I paid $100, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a gov't subsidized price.
The rails are privately owned and the companies have the right to prioritise traffic as they like, freight being the most profitable. Im sure VIA/governement have an agreement with CP/CN to 'allow' passenger traffic, but probably not incentivised to bump it up the routing priority. The amount of investment required to build a dedicated passenger corridor is enormous and even then unlikely to attract business travellers - those that subsidise the rest of us - away from the airlines, despite their own appalling performance ratings.
@mrenshaw your are right and they should be able to prioritize profitable traffic, but there was no reason the government couldn't have ordered a passenger only rail parallel to the freight which they owned and they didn't.
Except the cost and the public's lack of appetite for tax rises and another white elephant of an infrastructure project. We have enough for a herd in Ontario, some members of which were originally mammoths, they've taken (taking/will take) so long.
Trains are only for Canadians. Not Newfoundlanders, Cape Bretoner's and Labradorians. I have lived around the world and am shocked at the elitism of VIA for CANADA!
And all these areas and more had rail service on upon time!
I agree, but IMO it's the crooked government's fault!
The reason is simple. Those trains, when they ran, were far slower than taking the car. The iconic nickname "Newfie Bullet" was actually a sarcastic reference to the train's slowness and the enormous number of stops it made. Rail services got cancelled when people voted with their feet and took their cars.
What's the difference between the old and new? It still takes about 5 hours to get from Toronto to Ottawa. It's like driving a Bentley versus a Kia, no visible difference. With a dedicated path, Via could have improve it's engines so people won't need to waste so much time. Even the Chinese made trains are faster than these relics of Via. What a waste of resources...
Lol you are special.. if you buy a Ferrari you'd still have to follow speed limits right? The train is still new, more comfort, but as long as Via has to share tracks with freight trains we'll never get high speed.. talk to the federal government, nothing to do about engines.
Don't know anyone who took the via rail
New trains won't give high speed rail like Europe.
Not until there is a dedicated track!
And the UPXpress to YYZ. As for ambiguous seat numbering, not unless the alphabet has been changed from ABCD to ABDC since the same process is used universally on trains and commercial airplanes. You had a most boorish seat companion.
I was going to post a very nasty comment concerning the entitled whining of Ontarians, but I'll leave it at this. Maybe it is time to restart the Western Canada concept and stop the Transfer Payments?
Glad you're leaving it at that. Have spent many years in Sask & Alberta myself. We're all in this together. Let's start by fixing Ottawa next year 🗳️
Too expensive
we don't care 60% of us: canadians outside the Quebec city Winsor will never be reached by any of that stuff. Thanks god we have gas guzzling automobiles
Not 'never' but ' not anymore'. Reasonable service was provided in the 1800 & 1900's!
How can you pay your fair share of the carbon tax if you don't have a gas guzzling automobile? 🤣
@@theglobalpeasant every time at fill at he pump roughly $100/week= $5,200/year. That is a lot of carbon tax.
@@theglobalpeasant unfortunately the gas guzzling truck (compulsory for winter driving) is my only transportation option since greyhound folded out and trains are long gone (another Mulroney's gift) Last week westjet also announced they were pulling out of prairies next month. so I pay my share of carbon tax since I burn around 6,000 liters/year (15 barrel) and spend hundreds hours of driving
When you say that a government monopoly on rail services is not a good idea you clearly haven't had a look at the privatised shitshow that is the UK free market rail compared with continental government-run monopolies on continental Europe.
We're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I experience the privatised non-shitshow in Japan and it works great. Gov't shouldn't own airlines, nor rail lines and I stand by that.
Let's be careful here with rhetoric. Railways are different from airways because there's one track and they transfer from state-run to private-run monopolies.
I disagree with your ideological position on airlines. For example, the world's number one airline, which owns a huge chunk of British airways, is state-owned Qatar Airlines.