Trains Are Full but There Won't Be an Increase in Train Frequency

Contract 400119680 VOLUME 43 / NO 28 / JULY 19, 2017 $1.50 (Tax included) VIA RAIL: Inside this week Trains are full but there won’t be an increase in train frequency Gilles Gagné NEW RICHMOND: – Gaspe- sians, and other train riders, are experiencing a problem trying to reserve a seat or a room on VIA Rail’s Ocean train, linking Halifax and Montreal. Since the suspension of the train between Montreal and Gaspé- Auberge New Carlisle in September 2013, the Ocean has been the Chic-Chac train serving the Gaspé Penin- acquires sula, either in Campbellton, New Brunswick, or Matapedia. Lake York However, even though summer is typically a busy pe- Outdoor Centre riod for VIA Rail, sold out trains happened unusually early on the Ocean this year. It has been impossible, or ex- tremely hard, to find a seat or a bed since the end of June. The “sold out” period is usually closer to mid-July. Photo: G. Gagné The distribution of youth VIA Rail currently operates the Ocean train with three locomotives, and at least 18 cars, some- passes has played a role in that times more. situation. Another factor seems to be the number of Renais- known as Transport 2000. importantly, in Halifax station, one I’ve asked could tell me, sance passenger cars sidelined Mr. Hayman first explains any train with more than 18 but I believe it’s not enough to for different reasons. That is that adding cars to the existing Renaissance cars starts to have make another full set,” says the main equipment used on Ocean train is not easy. issues fitting in the station Mr. Hayman, who raised the Bridge to the Ocean train. “VIA is currently running track. The Renaissance can’t matter with a representative of reopen Between July 11 and July both sets of Renaissance equip- easily be split and recombined, VIA Rail. 17, including four-and-a-half ment on the Ocean at their as it takes several hours to do “VIA could in fact run the June 2018 business days, The Gaspé maximum practical length - so. Consequently, if they ever Ocean at least four times per SPEC tried to get information five coaches, and eight sleep- need to run extra cars beyond week while still only running from VIA Rail on the Renais- ers, in addition to the rest of the that length, they usually use two sets of equipment, and I sance equipment. required equipment, baggage, stainless steel sleepers think it’s an absolute shame The questions were simple: service cars, diner and transi- (Chateau) or even coaches to that they aren’t doing that. How many Renaissance cars tion car. They also added a add on the tail end, since these However, in a meeting with are currently in service? How stainless steel Chateau sleeper can be dropped on the second Susan Williams, VIA’s Eastern many units are under repair? to each train for crew space so track in Halifax and recom- general manager last year, I How many Renaissance units they could free up more rooms bined quickly before depar- raised the four trains a week are permanently sidelined? in the Renaissance sleepers, ture,” adds Mr. Hayman. option and she said she was In the documents consulted and they’ve also sold some sur- A simple solution, adding fully aware of that, and while by SPEC, 139 Renaissance plus space in that car on the train frequency, also seems un- she wouldn’t commit to any- units were bought in 2000 for sold out trains,” he initially likely, analyzes the Trans- thing, it sounded like they had $130 million. 106 of them commented. portaction expert. that on their radar as a possible were adapted between 2000 “Even if VIA had more “The only way they could option. But I don’t know if it and 2002 for their use in Renaissance equipment avail- practically add capacity for the will actually happen,” says Mr. Canada, which required an- able, and I suspect they have at Ocean would be to put another Hayman. Thérèse Gallant other significant investment. least a few more coaches and full set of Renaissance equip- “Personally, I think they While waiting for answers sleepers that are serviceable ment into service and run addi- would be better off to run trains presents exhibit from VIA Rail, SPEC asked this the moment, I am skeptical tional frequencies, but that is that are half the size on a daily at Cascapedia questions to Tim Hayman, a that they would add any more highly unlikely, and that’s basis, rather than these monster Transportaction spokesperson to the train. Anything longer where you get into the issue trains three times a week. They River Museum based in Halifax. Transportac- than that length runs into oper- with equipment that is not would very likely carry more tion is a commuter transport ational issues. There is a plat- serviceable. Again, I don’t people in the long run,” he con- advocacy group, formerly form length issue, and have a specific number. No cludes. News briefs FORILLON PARK: Campgrounds to be renovated Geneviève Gélinas CAP-DES-ROSIERS – Forillon Park will invest $6 million in renovations of the service buildings in its three campgrounds. This year the renovations will take place at the Petit-Gaspé campground and next year at the Des-Rosiers and Cap-Bon-Ami campgrounds. The work will focus on exterior siding, doors, windows, decks, the interiors (including bathrooms and showers), and the foundations in certain cases. The buildings date back to the 1970s. Forillon received 150,000 visitors in 2016 and sold 21,000 campsite nights. This year, for the 150th anniversary of the Confederation, Parks Canada is offering free admission to all its locations, including Foril- lon Park. Director of Parks Canada for the Gaspé Peninsula, Stéphane Marchand, is expecting “an exceptional year.” At the end of June, 17,000 campsite nights were already reserved. A total of 175 employees will be working in Forillon this summer, that is to say 25 more sea- Photo: G. Gélinas sonal and student employees than usual. Co-owner of the Auberge Chic-Chac, Guillaume Molaison. Four exhibits at Chafaud Museum Thierry Haroun PERCÉ: - Not one, not two, not three but four exhibits are taking Auberge Chic-Chac acquires place on the old walls, dating back to 1846, of the Chafaud Mu- seum in Percé. The main one is from Pierre Henry, poet and painter, who’s presenting some 40 art pieces (mainly acrylics and charcoal the Lake York Outdoor Centre sketches) evoking the Percé and Charlevoix landscape. On the sec- Geneviève Gélinas ond floor, two artists have exhibits. Jacques Martineau displays cember. There’s skiing and that we give good service to colour drawings that are quite impressive in terms of the technique cat-skiing all winter long, the people who already use used. The other artist is Marc Chicoine displaying fishing boats from MURDOCHVILLE: – Mur- until April. (Snowcat skiing is Lake York,” he says. burned wood, a very unique art. Finally, in a special room, three won- dochville’s Auberge Chic- an alternative to heli-skiing That clientele is open to derful watercolours and two sculptures from Suzanne Guité, origi- Chac recently bought the and provides a comparable new things, he adds. “It’s an nally from New Richmond, assassinated in Mexico in 1981, are Lake York Outdoor Centre quality of skiing by using a aging clientele. They want exhibited. The Musée Le Chafaud, which is in its 33rd season, is from the town of Mur- snowcat to transport guests to something to convince their open every day until late September. dochville for $235,000. The deep powder areas.) There’s children and grandchildren to Chic-Chac managers want to rafting (on the York River),” come and enjoy this place. Better screening for develop the area by adding Mr. Molaison says. One can Mountain biking wouldn’t in- mountain bike trails and off- add to those options, moun- terfere with that quietness. It breast cancer at Maria hospital trail skiing. tain biking and camping, as doesn’t make noise.” Press release The purchase includes the well as attracting golf lovers The Chic-Chac acquired 100-site campground and five and salmon and trout fishing the Mount Miller Ski Center MARIA – The organizing committee of the 5th edition of the RCGT chalets. The outdoor centre is Golf Tournament for the benefit of the Baie-des-Chaleurs Health Foun- enthusiasts. “October has al- last fall, from a non-profit or- dation is pleased to announce that the target of $150,000 has been ex- close to the Murdochville ways been the month for in- ganization. Winter 2016-2017 ceeded. It is indeed $168,650 that was announced at the event closing on golf course, six kilometers vestments, but we could was a good season, with rev- July 7. This amount will be used to finance the purchase of a three-di- east of the town. accommodate people who are enues of $300,000, three mensional digital breast tomosynthesis machine, a vacuum biopsy ma- Long before the town put visiting us to hunt,” says Mr. times more than the normal chine and a specialized examination chair. This high-tech equipment will the Lake York Outdoor Cen- Molaison. revenues, mainly because of improve the detection rate of breast cancer by 50% and perform more tre up for sale, the co-owner The Chic-Chac developed bar and restaurant sales. The biopsies at the Maria Hospital. of the Chic-Chac, Guillaume mountain biking trails and ski center building “became “Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton would like to warmly thank all Molaison, said, as a Mur- off-trail runs on Mount York.

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