End of Halifax Agreement Raises Doubts About VIA Rail's Ocean Train

Mayor diawges could hit the operations of the Ocean frabi if no solution is found to cope with the end of an agreement dnfcing I'L4 Rai/ and the Port of Halifax. Photn: G. Gagne End of Halifax agreement raises doubts about VIA Rail’s Ocean train Gilles Gagn6 maximize the loading of ships (the dome or observation car) and their departure. We are still for the remaining route to Hal MATAPEDIA: - When the talking to the port authorities in ifax. I am sure that the passen agreement between VIA Rail order to renew the agreement, gers would not mind that the and (lie Port of Halifax comes however, every-body involved train mns backwards just for 60 to an end in November, it could in that issue at VIA Rail is miles,’' he mem ions. significantly change the way looking for solutions,1’ explains Shunting in Halifax would the public transporter operates Karl - Ph i 1 ip Marchand-Gi guerc, be required to put some cars, its passenger train linking VIA Rail's spokesperson. like the baggage car, in the right Montreal and Halifax. Some For now; he won’t confirm place. observers of the railway scene that recently a VIA Rail Ocean Another rail advocate, Ted are even worried about the fu train turned using a wye lo Bartlett, of Transport Action ture of the train called the cated in Truro, 64 miles away Atlantic. has little faith in pinch Ocean. from downtown Halifax. The hit solutions if VIA Rail and the Since the suspension of VIA train apparently backed all the Port of Halifax arc the only Rail sendees between Matape- way up and all the way down. stakeholders involved in talks. dia. New Carlisle and Gaspe in (A wye, a set of tracks designed “They’re looking for solu 2013, the Ocean train has been l ike the letter Y, a common tool tions, but they don't appear to used widely by Gaspcsians, used to turn trains.) have found one yet. So really thanks to its stops in Campbell Backing up over such dis what is required here is gov ton, New Brunswick and Mat- tances takes time because the ernment intervention to make apedia. train cannot go at full speed and sure there is a favourable out The agreement between it is not optimal, safety-wise. It come. and that climate-friendly VIA Rail and Hal term, the Port could be avoided if the two lo long-dis Lance passenger (rains of Halifax entity managing its comotives used on the Ocean are enabled to continue in and two container terminals, ends train are placed back-to-back, a out of Halifax/’ Mr. Bartlett on November I. According to common arrangement on some told CTV. the current agreement, twice a passenger and freight trains, There is a. former wye lo week VIA Rail can turn its pas VIA Rail usually docs not opt cated 15.7 miles from the VIA senger train between its end-of- for that arrangement on the Rail station in Halifax, at afternoon arrival and its Ocean train, Windsor Junction. The wye is departure I he following day. A back-to-back arrange dismantled but the property re Once a week it leaves two days ment of the two locomotives mains vacant there. The place later. docs not solve the way some of was the junction between the Haltcnn informed VIA Rail the passenger cars will be CN main line connecting Hali that after November 1, the placed. The dome car would fax to Moncton and the CP Rail space occupied by the turning roll with the rear end first if it line linking that part of Halifax loop. where the train is turned, is not fumed and the coach cars and the Annapolis Valley. That will be needed for another use, would also have the scats going line is no longer active and part That other use is currently un- backwards for the remm trip. of it was tom up. known. as the Port of Halifax Rail activities observer Karl- Ph i 1 i p M archand refuses to talk to the media. Andre Sai nt-Am and, who re Giguere, of VIA Rail, was not “Halterm wants to regain sides in Quebec but who lived aware of the existence of that that space when the agreement in Halifax years ago, mentions former wye when SPEC expires. We don't know if they that Ltonce in Truro, they could reached him but he committed want to use that space to stack turn the train there, and couple to checking if a wye could be containers or they need it to the locomotives to the Park car reinstalled at Windsor Junction..

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