RAILREEL Don't Love The Way VIA 72 Woodstock Ontario Dec 4 2024

[@backalleyrailroading2835]

That looks like a crazy way of loading passengers in the wicked Winter weather... Nice catch of that action !!

[@jeffdayman8183]

Unbelievably bad service, especially so since they paid a big premium for VIA 1. Disgraceful performance by the conductors. No wonder many VIA trains are late, also, with completely avoidable boarding delays this this one. Thanks for braving the blustery day to film it. Cheers!

[@jamesblunt942]

They're not conductors. They simply on board service employees. VIA hasn't had conductors for many years now.

[@cofeebeing]

The CN mainline goes by my house. ("Springhill/Bedford" sub). Halifax to Moncton. Often chit chat with the VIA crew when train stops here. Often too its behind schedule. Here's why. Track is leased to VIA from its owner CN. Freight has priority. VIA must wait for a clear track. Sometimes long delays. Quality of service is out of their hands

[@tytn9978]

At my age, I really want to take the train rather than driving the long distances that travelling across Canada entails, but this video illustrates the "shortcomings" of rail-travel in my country!

[@mikehudsonrocks9585]

Ball of confusion.. will drive to Windsor from Brantford rather than putting up with that crap. GREAT CATCH, Walter!!

Can’t believe they need to walk across the tracks like that.

[@Zeke-e9i]

Been doing it at a lot of stations for over 100 years. Read up on rule 107 cror to understand it better…

[@jamescrawford9883]

Charming way to board a train in that weather! Cheers from Australia.

[@4everdc302]

CP/CN should have to take this over even at a loss. Bring the class back.

[@michaelvilleneuve194]

Classy treatment of VIA's highest-paying customers.

[@next50years]

Just has to be the poorest examples of customer service that I have seen, but wait it’s VIA Rail so that is normal. Just shameful!

[@MCole-xz3cz]

This makes Amtrak look good!

[@RogerDiotte]

Multi tracks, ribbon rail, an actual passenger train with new equipment...a station... Overpasses for vehicles instead of level crossings...hmmmm.... I'd take all of that where I live happily!

[@terrybc7004]

Walter what is wrong with the track closest to the platform, is it not in use anymore? Both car attendants were pretty useless. What was the delay in opening the door in car 2? As far as those 2 passengers in Business he just could've let them board in the economy section & then let them walk up to business since the weather wasn't all that great. I'm surprised the attendant in car 1 never even bothered to clear the snow that was all blown up in the vestibule! Very poor service & an uncessary delay beacuse of poor organization! Walter was that you who shoveled the snow on the platform as normally VIA does nothing at Woodstock. Great camera work Walter! Was that a drone flying in the background as I could hear like a humming from a drone?

[@railpast]

CN 583 was working on the South tracks. They usually don't run it until,72 goes by. I know they have extra work but why hold up passengers? The drone was not up but for some reason the camera shut off and then when I restarted it and got home there was no sound so has to add sounds from previous video. You caught me. :-)

[@railpast]

At least they got to wait in the VIA 1 executive lounge in Woodstock. ,:-)

[@Floyd-Robbins]

Organized confusion!

[@XxBec3509]

Lovely video

[@trainglen22]

Very poor service from what I see.

[@fordaeromax]

UNBELIEVABLE!!! SERVICE?????

[@Zeke-e9i]

Do you people realize that there are two tracks there? The north and south track, the train is on the north today to load the passengers. Sometimes it’s not possible to have the train on the south track that is why there is a platform in the middle of the two tracks. I’m amazed by some of these comments since the railways have been loading from both tracks for the last 150 years!

[@railpast]

It is not really about boarding from the North tracks it is about the SM's not knowing what they are doing or don't care and sending people back and forth from one car to another on a cold windy day.

[@Zeke-e9i]

Maybe the passengers do not know what car they are suppose to be on? I mean there can be a lot of what ifs and who’s fault, call VIA and find out

[@railpast]

@@Zeke-e9i I think you have never tired to call VIA as at least 30 minutes before anybody answers the phone and will not give you answer but just tell they we will get back to you which they never do. :-( Par for VIA service.

[@gillescote8664]

I have a train layout with passenger service and wow what do you know my trains always come in by the platform😮

[@dbolt6543]

Don't blame CN for VIA's inadequacies. Their customer service system is atrocious. Siemens Chargers and Ventures are the wrong equipment for the Quebec - Windsor corridor, with high platform loading or trap doors. How man stations in the corridor have high platform loading? I watched the Amtrak train from New York take over 10 minutes to load 50 passengers at Niagara Falls the weekend GO started that service. The GO train came in as soon as VIA got it loaded and load over 700 passengers in 2 minutes. I have seen CN put two freights into the hole to get 84 through Brampton and off the Halton sub, probably before it breaks down. VIA should have bought low floor cars like Stadler FLIRTS that could use all floor loading to get in and out of the stations quickly. Passengers don't want a rail version of Air Canada; they want a fast frequent service that they can just show up and board. I would have refused to get on the first car until the attendant cleaned the snow off the steps. He nearly fell getting back onto the train. The "Loss of Shunt" problem that VIA is experiencing with its new equipment has been know since the 1930s with short light passenger equipment. This problem reared its ugly head in the 1990s when Flexliners failed to trigger grade crossings. the FRA is giving Amtrak a boat load of money to put Occupancy Sensor Enhancers on the light weight locomotives and cab cars to ensure the gates come down and stay down. The feds should do the same for VIA or just abandon the service rather than run the crap they do now.

[@Phil-oj5nr]

Why can’t you board at one point and walk through the train to the correct car and seat? I’ve never seen this before! If this was NZ the guard would be challenged verbally by the passenger.

[@bryandickinson3180]

What a joke. Via rail should be de-funded.

[@clydedonaldson7369]

A good part about the bad service is not the fault of VIA Rail. Since CNR operations decreed that the passenger trains would no longer be considered as priority as compared to freight trains which tend to be immensely more valuable. When I was a locomotive engineer and instructor with Canadian National Railways, the opposite was true and in fact, first class passenger trains largely held priority over the freight trains. I'm afraid that current trends dictate that whatever is the most dollar value gets the express route.

[@Quince828]

It’s the passengers who were confused. Their tickets clearly indicate which car they are to board. And having been in that station a month ago it’s not too bad considering it’s under renovation as an historic building.

[@railpast]

The SM,s had no idea where they should go so why should the passengers. Most people only ride the train occasionally and the SM,s are there to help not pass the buck and send them to someone else.

[@Quince828]

@ true, most people are not frequent travellers. It would help if there was a sign or the sa standing outside would call out where to board

[@IanHotson]

Just what the hell was wrong with that ? The platforms are always cleaned and salted the middle platform is cleaned and salted they have 107 protection so they're not going to get run down by another damn train what is wrong with you people good God LOL what a bunch of whiners😅

[@railpast]

Had nothing to do with the platform but SM's who jerk people around. The first guy who interrogated them for 2 minutes should have been able to figure what car they were in and not send them away to another person who then after a number of more minutes in the cold he figured they were in the VIA 1 car and send them back along the icy platform. Why not let them on the train and walk through where it was nice and warm instead of sending them back in the cold to where they started? If it was you and your wife, would you have been happy with the way you were treated after paying extra for VIA 1 service? You can see only a small section in front of the station was shoveled. The crossovers were snow covered and slippery as well as the small asphalt section between the tracks was snow covered and slippery. It took almost 8 minutes from the time they first approached the train until they were allowed to board. Totally unacceptable.

[@jamescrawford9883]

What platforms?

[@Phil-oj5nr]

Dwell time would be 3 minutes maximum if all passengers boarded at the same car and walked through the train to their seats. Multiply the 8 minutes by , say, 5 stations (average) and you can see how trains can be hours late even in good weather.

[@Zeke-e9i]

They are not going to walk passengers through the cars with their luggage, the aisles aren’t meant for huge luggage

[@railpast]

@@Zeke-e9i That couple did not have any large luggage and could have easily walked through the train and no reason to make them walk up and down from car to car 3 times before boarding.