Comments on: TrainShift

By: Tim Davies

Tim Davies — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:11:07 +0000

We definitely need a new ‘age of the railways’

(From a carless European’s who finds himself spending far too much time trying to convince people of the role of rail…)

By: Harold

Harold — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:23 +0000

Sounds like we need “Sir Jon’s National Dream” to get that link created

By: Jon Husband

Jon Husband — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:55:19 +0000

Such a nice story, Harold. I really love the train network, as do many people, in Europe.

Now, if there were only a high-speed eight-or-nine-hour train ride from Vancouver to Montreal …

By: Jevon MacDonald

Jevon MacDonald — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:58:31 +0000

I have taken The Ocean before and have connected in Montreal to get to Toronto. It really is a fantastic way to travel. When I first went backpacking in europe years ago I learned to love to sleep on trains, the last time I took The Ocean I slept for 12 and half hours straight without waking, it was great.

During high season the price of a sleeper can get pretty high, but I assume that is just normal supply and demand. I do wish they would put on more capacity though. In low season, a sleeper on the train can get pretty cheap. Air travel still competes on cheapness however, but it is really hard to tell how long air travel can remain so cheap.

The big news now is that Quebec and Ontario are considering a high-speed rail in the Quebec City Windsor routes. That would be incredible, and from what I understand, it make a lot more economic and political sense now than it did when they last studied it in the 80s.

By: Jerome Martin

Jerome Martin — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:31:37 +0000

This is a good example, Harold, of how effective trains can be. People in eastern and central Canada are fortunate to have fine train service. We in western Canada have very few options of travelling by rail. Edmonton to Calgary by rail would make great sense, but government here is still thinking about it.
I took Via Rail from Toronto to Windsor this fall and used their wireless internet. It is a very civilized and productive way to travel.