OTTAWA, Ontario — Fleet availability for VIA Rail Canada’s Siemens Venture trainsets has dropped below 50% this winter, leading to a series of train cancellations over seven days that began on Saturday, Feb. 7, according to the nonprofit transit advocacy group Transport Action Canada. The organization reports that VIA has begun turning the trainsets, which […]
DORVAL, Quebec — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is renewing its call for enhanced train control systems and other measures to reduce the risk of accidents following release of its investigation report on a 2024 incident in which an unoccupied VIA Rail Canada train passed a red signal. No collision or injuries resulted. The […]
Although frigid winter weather has played a major role in disrupting service recently on VIA Rail Canada and Amtrak long distance routes, both operators’ lack of readily available reserve passenger cars and locomotives has clearly exacerbated the situation. VIA stretched thin A significant setback occurred last week when VIA’s venerable Vancouver, B.C.-bound Canadian was delayed […]
SAINT-ALEXANDRE-DE-KAMOURASKA, Quebec — No injuries have been reported onboard after VIA Rail Canada’s Ocean derailed early this morning after striking two parked trucks. The site Noovo Info reports the two locomotives of the train derailed about 1:30 a.m. after striking the trucks, which had parked too close to the tracks, according to the provincial police […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — VIA Rail Canada CEO Mario Péloquin is stepping down, Canadian Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon has announced. In a Tuesday, Dec. 16, statement, MacKinnon said he has accepted Péloquin’s resignation “effective Jan. 16, 2026, in order to enjoy retirement after a 41-year career in the industry. I would like to thank Mario for […]
BROCKVILLE, Ontario — Cascading delays following a mechanical issue with one train led to VIA Rail Canada passengers being stuck on Ottawa-Toronto trains overnight before finally being transferred to another train, arriving at their destination more than 12 hours late. The problems that began Tuesday night continued into Wedesday, with some trains arriving more than […]
It was a sad day when those 1950s E7, E8, and assorted FP units reached the point where they were clearly reaching the end of their operational life. Their long car bodies and gentle curved noses symbolized North American passenger train travel. Both EMD and General Electric offered replacement models with varied results. The best […]
Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson and Classic Toy Trains’ Editor Rene Schweitzer unbox an all-new, precise O scale (1:48, 2-rail & 3-rail options) Siemens Charger and a GE P42DC locomotives from Sunset Models | 3rd Rail, manufacturers now aligned under Third & Townsend! Plus, you’ll also see a bonus unboxing of a unique, O gauge […]
Trains.com Staff Writer Lucas Iverson and Classic Toy Trains’ Editor Rene Schweitzer unbox an all-new, precise O scale (1;48, 2-rail & 3-rail options) Siemens Charger and a GE P42DC locomotives from Sunset Models | 3rd Rail, manufacturers now aligned under Third & Townsend! Plus, you’ll also see a bonus unboxing of a unique, O gauge […]
OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canada Strong Pass, which debuted this summer and includes free or discounted travel on VIA Rail Canada, will return for about a month around the Holiday season, the Canadian government has announced. The pass debuted this summer after being proposed by the Liberal Party as part of its platform for the […]
DETROIT — Michigan Central Station, the long-abandoned rail facility revived last year by Ford Motor Co. as the centerpiece of an innovation district, could see trains again under an agreement announced today (Oct. 15, 2025). The Michigan Department of Transportation, the city of Detroit, and Michigan Central, the company overseeing the innovation district, have agreed […]
VIA Rail Canada has postponed its plan to test nonstop service between Montreal and Toronto, CBC reports. VIA Rail had sought to test express train service between Canada’s largest cities beginning Sept. 29, but said it would have to hold off due to “operational constraints” on Canadian National. The express service would shave 30 to […]
