Québec City–Windsor Corridor (Via Rail)

The Corridor (French: Ligne de Québec à Windsor) is a Via Rail passenger train service area in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

The Corridor
A Via Rail train approaching Belleville station
Overview
Owner Canadian National
Canadian Pacific
Via Rail
Metrolinx
LocaleQuebec City–Windsor Corridor
TerminiWindsor, Sarnia, Niagara Falls,
Quebec City
StationsToronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston, Guelph, Kitchener, London
WebsiteVia Rail - Ontario and Québec
Service
TypeInter-city rail
SystemVia Rail
Operator(s)Via Rail
Ridership4,782,493 (FY 2019)[1]
History
Opened1856
Technical
Number of tracks2+
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationNo
Operating speedUp to 100 mph (160 km/h)
Route map

Description

Corridor is used by Via to refer to all Via inter-city passenger trains which start and end within the geographic region known as the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. Other inter-city trains from outside the Corridor may have their terminus at stations in the Corridor, such as the Canadian and the Ocean, but are marketed by their respective train names and are not considered to be Corridor services.

The Corridor service area has the heaviest passenger train frequency in Canada, with 36 Via trains traversing the route daily.[2] About 67% of Via's revenue comes from Corridor routes.

Via runs a mix of local-service and express trains in the Corridor. Most of the trackage is owned by the Canadian National Railway (CN Rail), although Via also owns three former freight lines, one from Smiths Falls, Ontario to Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec via Ottawa; one from Chatham, Ontario to Tecumseh, Ontario; and one from Smiths Falls to Brockville, Ontario.[3][4]

Prior to Via's formation in 1978, CN Rail operated its passenger trains, branded Rapido, on the same tracks and CP Rail also offered limited service.

All trains are identified by number; however, prior to 2009 these trains were named as well.

High speed proposal

During the 1970s and early 1980s, CN and later Via Rail operated the Turbo Train on existing freight rail trackage. This equipment was later replaced by the Bombardier LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) train sets. Beginning in the 1980s and through the 1990s, Via Rail, Bombardier and the provincial and federal governments studied the feasibility of establishing a dedicated high-speed passenger rail network linking Quebec City–Montreal–Ottawa–Toronto–Windsor similar to the French TGV as a means of reducing domestic air and highway travel between these destinations.

After a hiatus of ten years, a feasibility study on launching a high-speed rail service in the Corridor will be updated at the joint cost of the federal government, Ontario and Quebec.[5] On November 14, 2011, the three governments officially released the final report of a high-speed rail study for this corridor.[6]

Improvements

In 2009–2010, Via used C$300 million of government stimulus money to upgrade segments of the Corridor. Notable track improvements planned were an additional 70 km (43 mi) of third main track in four segments, and a short segment of fourth main track, as well as additional yard tracks at three locations. Improvements were made to several stations along the line, with new station buildings being constructed at Belleville and Cobourg, and additional platforms for existing stations at Brockville and Oshawa. The improvements were planned to reduce delays along the route and to allow for a reduction in travel time of up to 30 minutes from end to end. They were intended to allow Via to introduce two new round-trip trains from Toronto to both Montreal and Ottawa without requiring the acquisition of new equipment.[2]

Primary inter-city routes

The Corridor
International (discontinued)
to Chicago
Windsor
359
290
Sarnia
000
000
Chatham
290
268
Wyoming
Glencoe
235
227
Strathroy
216
195
London
000
000
000
000
Ingersoll
185
160
St. Marys
Woodstock
171
143
Stratford
Brantford
128
101
Kitchener
Niagara Falls
132
000
Bayview Junction
059
079
Guelph
Grimsby
089
56
Aldershot
St. Catharines
113
050
Georgetown
Niagara Falls
132
34
Brampton
133
34
Oakville
Maple Leaf
to New York City
2
Bathurst Street
000
0
Toronto
000
000
000
021
Guildwood
51
Oshawa
101
Port Hope
113
Cobourg
163
Trenton Junction
182
Belleville
217
Napanee
254
Kingston
000
000
000
290
Gananoque
335
Brockville
380
Smiths Falls
430
Fallowfield
Cornwall
428
446
Ottawa
000
000
000
493
Casselman
533
Alexandria
475
569
 
Coteau Junction
476
Coteau
Ottawa
River
West Channel
East Channel
520
Dorval
MontrealLucien-L'Allier
(proposed)
539
Montreal
000
000
545
Saint-Lambert
592
Saint-Hyacinthe
639
Drummondville
785
Charny
790
Sainte-Foy
811
Quebec City
km

The Maple Leaf, a through service from Toronto to New York City, operated jointly with Amtrak, is crewed by Via as trains 97 and 98 on VIA schedules, between Toronto and Niagara Falls, and can be considered part of Corridor services as well. It is the only scheduled rail service from the Corridor line at Burlington to Niagara Falls.

Commuter rail

A GO Transit train on the main line in Toronto's west end

Two commuter rail agencies, provincially funded and independent of Via, share tracks with Via's Corridor trains.

See also

References

  1. "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). viarail.ca. Via Rail Canada. p. 9. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  2. Warwick, Peter (December 2009). "Via's bold Corridor plan". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing.
  3. "Decision No. 446-R-2008". Canadian Transportation Agency. August 29, 2008.
  4. "VIA Rail Expands its Rail Network by Acquiring the Brockville Subdivision". VIA Rail Canada Inc. November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  5. Greenaway, Norma (January 10, 2008). "Ontario-Quebec to study rapid rail link". National Post.
  6. "High-Speed Passenger Rail Study Released". Retrieved May 20, 2017.
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