Transport Action has launched a petition to the House of Commons calling on the federal government to fund badly needed improvements to the Newcastle Subdivision, which supports a key portion of the Ocean’s route between Halifax and Montreal.
Did you know?
The Newcastle Subdivision, which covers most of VIA Rail’s Ocean route between Moncton and Campbellton New Brunswick, has seen a steady decline in track quality and maximum speed over the last couple of decades. Track that once supported 60mph operation has been reduced to 30mph – or less! This means that today’s Ocean takes nearly five hours longer to travel from Halifax to Montreal than it did 30 years ago.
Deferred maintenance and a lack of interest from the track owner, CN, even nearly brought about the end of this route and the loss of VIA service to many communities in northern New Brunswick in 2014. Investment from the federal and provincial governments at the time saved the line, but promised track improvements have never materialized.
Instead, in June 2024, VIA was forced to extend the schedule of the Ocean yet again due to even more speed restrictions on this route. Even with this new schedule, trains regularly continue to be late, and intercity bus connections have largely been lost.
What can you do?
Transport Action has launched a petition to the House of Commons calling on the federal government to:
1. Provide immediate funding for the rehabilitation of the Newcastle Subdivision; and
2. Study the viability of purchasing the Newcastle Subdivision so that infrastructure can be used to the fullest extent of public benefit.
This petition has been sponsored by Fredericton MP Jenica Atwin, who will present the petition to the House after it closes.
The petition is open for signatures until December 18, 2024. Let’s try to get as many signatures as possible, to help send a clear message and require the federal government to respond to this specific issue.
Please sign and share these petitions widely – any resident of Canada can sign.
The late Michael Perry of Fredericton, 2023 recipient of Transport Action Atlantic’s John Pearce Award for outstanding public transportation advocacy, is shown at left in this file photo presenting the 2018 award to Stan Choptiany, former mayor of St. Andrews NB. PHOTO – Ted Bartlett
A life-long and dedicated transportation advocate has been posthumously named as recipient of Transport Action Atlantic’s John Pearce Award for 2023. The announcement was made at TAA’s annual general meeting on June 15.
Michael Perry of Fredericton, who was serving as TAA’s secretary at the time of his unexpected passing in November 2022, had been deeply involved with the association and its predecessor Transport 2000 for nearly three decades.
“Michael was particularly committed to enhancing public transit and passenger rail, and was a relentless crusader for the cause,” says TAA president Tim Hayman. “He seized every opportunity to promote convenient, affordable and sustainable public transportation for all Canadians.”
Michael was born in wartime England on May 14, 1942. At the age of six he emigrated with his parents, making a rough North Atlantic crossing to Montreal on the CP liner Empress of Canada. A self-described “army brat”, he spent many of his formative years in the Maritimes, living in both Halifax and Fredericton. His working career was as a teacher and administrator in the Ontario school system. His passion was education for all – especially his children and grandchildren.
A frequent critic of the inadequacies of Fredericton Transit in recent years, he had also been deeply involved in efforts to develop a rural transportation service in Charlotte County. He resided in St. Andrews when that initiative began, and played a key role in developing a business plan, which had it been implemented as intended would have had great potential for success.
The John Pearce Award was created by TAA to commemorate the association’s long-time former and founding president, who devoted more than 40 years to public transportation advocacy. It is awarded annually to an individual or group to recognize an outstanding contribution, consistent with Mr. Pearce’s life-long passion.
“Michael always made our meetings better for his presence,” commented TAA board member Ashley Morton, who was instrumental in the creation of the award in 2017. “I wish he had had more time with us, to make our meetings, and the world in general, better by his participation.”
Other board members and colleagues are remembering Michael for his graceful elegance, kindness, listening ear, and exhaustive knowledge of transportation.
“Michael kept meticulous records, was a leader at all membership and board meetings, and a true spokesperson for Transport Action Atlantic and our goals at every opportunity,” says TAA’s long-serving former treasurer Don MacLeod. “On a personal note – and we only met face-to-face twice a year – I always looked forward to having a chat; he was a great supporter of this chapter financially, and understood fully the problems and difficulties facing public transportation locally, regionally and nationally.”
The Ocean pauses at Campbellton NB in April 2024. It’s doubtful that passengers in the Maritimes “love the way” that VIA service has continued to deteriorate over the years. PHOTO – Tim Hayman
There’s been yet another blow to the last remnant of passenger rail service in the Maritimes. VIA Rail has announced a schedule change effective June 19 that officially adds 90 minutes to the travel time of the Ocean between Halifax and Montreal. The adjustment is being made to compensate for badly deteriorated track conditions on CN’s Newcastle Subdivision in northern New Brunswick.
“VIA is simply recognizing the reality that the speed restrictions imposed by CN make it impossible for the Ocean to maintain its currently published schedule,” says Transport Action Atlantic president Tim Hayman. “As a result, connections to Toronto, Ottawa, and other points west of Montreal have become less reliable. For passengers heading east, it is a frequent occurrence for the train to be running between two and three hours late, and this lack of reliability is clearly unacceptable.
“Unfortunately VIA apparently has no other choice but to pad and adjust its schedule. There is no indication of any plans by the infrastructure owner to restore the track to its previous standards. The result is a total journey time far longer than any in recent memory – more than 23 hours from Halifax to Montreal. This is most certainly not consistent with VIA’s recently-announced strategy of improving passenger rail for all Canadians.”
Effective June 19, the Ocean will be departing Halifax at 1130, instead of 1300 as has been the case in recent years. The extra 90 minutes in the schedule is expected to make connections at Montreal more reliable and allow the eastbound train to maintain its schedule by retiming the overnight meet between the two trains, but will not address the root cause of the problem.
A look at overgrown track on a section of the Newcastle Subdivision near Campbellton NB several years ago. Ongoing neglect of this line and ensuing slow orders have forced this latest lengthening of the Ocean’s schedule. PHOTO – Ted Bartlett
“This is yet another example of how transportation policy of successive federal governments is failing Canadians,” says TAA past president Ted Bartlett. “It will now take nearly five hours longer to travel from Halifax to Montreal than it did 30 years ago. And while we are encouraged to see that Ottawa’s recent budget is making provision to begin replacing the aging fleet of long-haul passenger cars and locomotives, this by itself is not sufficient. There are serious infrastructure issues that must also be addressed, because new equipment will still be subject to the same speed restrictions on this deteriorated track. Frankly, this situation is a national embarrassment.”
Under the revised timetable, the westbound Ocean will require 6 hours and 16 minutes to travel the 186 miles (300 km) of mostly sub-standard track from Moncton to Campbellton – an average speed of less than 30 miles per hour. (In keeping with standard North American railroad practice, track distance and speeds continue to be stated in miles.) Thirty years ago the route was covered in just over four hours, with permissible speeds of up to 75 mph over much of the trackage. A lack of maintenance over the years has resulted in steady deterioration and numerous speed restrictions to ensure safe operation.
“Transport Action Atlantic believes there are three key pillars to ensuring a healthy future for what remains of passenger rail in our region,” says Tim Hayman. “VIA Rail urgently needs new locomotives and cars to replace its old and outdated equipment; there must be investment to restore the track infrastructure to the reasonable standards it once maintained; and the service must operate daily with faster and reliable schedules that meet or exceed those that the Ocean was historically known for.”
Tim Hayman (r.) and Ted Bartlett stand beside VIA’s Ocean on the Moncton station platform on April 29, 2024. The 78-year-old coach behind them is among the oldest in VIA’s fleet, having been built for the New York Central Railroad in 1946.
Here is the revised (and lengthened) schedule for trains 14 and 15, effective June 19, 2024:
For reference and nostalgia, here’s a look back at the VIA timetable from 30 years ago – effective 24 April 1994 – showing the Ocean departure from Halifax at 1400 and arrival in Montreal at 0815, for a total running time 19 hours, 15 minutes. We’re a far cry from that today, not to mention the absence of the other trains on this timetable!
