by buddah
I cant speak over long distance trips on VIA as all my experiences have been in the corridor but I agree with you timberley the RENs are well and better suited for the corridor vs. the Budds. The LRCs are in my opinion just as good as the REN's and also well suited for corridor use only. I think one thing we can all agree on is the scrapping of the RENs remaining fleet is a big mistake. Im sure they can find a way to make a new modified first class car( since current first class REN seating is the same as coach) or something out of the shells. And to Gaspe the cost from what I remember per car including shipping to canada was roughly 1 million per car (2002). Finishing them and modifications after they got to Canada was the extra cost (couple $100,000 per car). The renaissance cars were originally priced for $3-4 million a piece.
In the issue of customer service on the train Gaspe I believe you just lucked out and got the unfortunate one disgruntle VIA employee on the trip, but by far this happens less often on VIA than Amtrak in comparison of my 100s of trips. Id be careful the french VIA rail attendants are the worst, Im pretty sure that the one you got. there have been times Ive missed trains and VIA' rail went out of there way to help me or get me to make a connection at no cost( maybe just because I travel so often and most of them know me) the same could be said for Amtrak but they hardly ever go out of there way except for maybe in the NEC.
In the issue of customer service on the train Gaspe I believe you just lucked out and got the unfortunate one disgruntle VIA employee on the trip, but by far this happens less often on VIA than Amtrak in comparison of my 100s of trips. Id be careful the french VIA rail attendants are the worst, Im pretty sure that the one you got. there have been times Ive missed trains and VIA' rail went out of there way to help me or get me to make a connection at no cost( maybe just because I travel so often and most of them know me) the same could be said for Amtrak but they hardly ever go out of there way except for maybe in the NEC.