Rapido General Motors Diesel Division F40PH-2D diesel locomotive

Gray and yellow train locomotive on tracks with a blue sky background

General Motors Diesel Division F40PH-2D diesel locomotive Scale: N (1:160) Price: Direct-current model, $169.95; with dual-mode sound decoder, $279.95 Era: 1986 to 2014 (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com General Motors Diesel Division F40PH-2D diesel locomotive features: Prototype-specific details Working headlights, ditch lights, and number boxes […]

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News photo: More testing for VIA Siemens equipment

Blue, yellow and gray passenger trian with streamlined locomotive in rural setting

KITCHENER, Ontario — VIA Rail Canada’s first set of new Siemens-built equipment for corridor service was back in action testing on Thursday, Aug. 11., operating as train 688 on CN’s Guelph Subdivision from London via Stratford and Kitchener toward Toronto. This trainset was delivered last September; a second trainset arrived from Siemens’ Sacramento, Calif., factory, […]

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News photo: Second new VIA trainset delivered

Yellow freight locomotive with passenger train in tow

MONTREAL — The second set of new Siemens equipment for VIA Rail Canada corridor service has been delivered. With Union Pacific ES44AC No. 5275 providing power for the entire trip from the Siemens plant in Sacramento, the new trainset was delivered to VIA’s Montreal Maintenance Centre early on Saturday, Aug. 6. VIA is receiving 32 […]

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Hudson Bay Railway to get major government funding support

VIA_ChurchIll_Johnston

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The governments of Canada and the province of Manitoba will invest C$147.8 million to upgrade the Hudson Bay Railway, the only year-round ground transportation link to the isolated community of Churchill, Man., which is also Canada’s lone arctic port. The Canadian Press reports the new funds are in addition to the C$157 […]

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Union ratifies three-year agreement with VIA Rail

Logo of Canadian union Unifor

MONTREAL — Members of Canada’s Unifor union have ratified the contracts from last month’s tentative agreement between the union and VIA Rail Canada covering some 2,400 VIA worker. The union represents on-board personnel, maintenance workers, and those in VIA’s customer center and administrative offices. The new agreements will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, and […]

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Visiting Rapido – Bus and Train Tour

Visiting Rapido – Bus and Train Tour | When David Popp and Ben Lake recently traveled north of the Canadian Border to explore all that’s new with Jason Shron, President of Rapido Trains Inc., they were treated to a special sidetrack trip. On their way to see what new N and HO scale models Rapido […]

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VIA’s struggle for relevance at the root of CEO’s resignation: Analysis

Stainless steel dome-lounge-observation car on train stopped at station

MONTREAL — When a passenger operator is forced to survive on a budget insufficient to provide service capable of satisfying its country’s travel needs, while on-time reliability remains hamstrung by host railroads, it is almost impossible for the person in charge to make a difference. The abrupt departure of VIA Rail Canada CEO Cynthia Garneau […]

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Jason Shron’s Kingston Subdivision in HO scale

Kingston Subdivision in HO scale: Industry leader Jason Shron has successfully propelled Rapido Trains, Inc., into the model manufacturing spotlight. In this exclusive interview, you’ll get to see how his drive, dedication, and passion for the hobby is manifested in his own HO scale (1:87.1) Canadian-themed model railroad. Tour with Jason, as he walks the […]

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Jason Shron’s Kingston Subdivision in HO scale

Kingston Subdivision in HO scale: Industry leader Jason Shron has successfully propelled Rapido Trains, Inc., into the model manufacturing spotlight. In this exclusive interview, you’ll get to see how his drive, dedication, and passion for the hobby is manifested in his own HO scale (1:87.1) Canadian-themed model railroad. Tour with Jason, as he walks the […]

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Five members reappointed to VIA Rail Canada board

VIA Rail Canada logo

OTTAWA — Canada’s Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, has reappointed five members of the VIA Rail Canada board of directors. Reappointed were chairwoman Francoise Bertrand of Montreal, for a term of 18 months; directors Jonathan Franklin Goldbloom (Montreal) and Gail Louise Stephens (Victoria, British Columbia), for four-year terms; Naella-Kathy Baig of Montreal, for three years; […]

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Drew’s Trackside Adventures: Episode 38 – Race along the Rails

For their final two days in Alberta, Canada, Drew and The Crew find new places and perspectives for railfanning over Yellowhead Pass. Take a ride with Mike and KJ aboard a VIA Rail Canada regional run, before rejoining Drew (and some of his grizzly friends) for one last dash along CN’s Edson and Albreda Subdivisions. Don’t […]

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