I would like to share my experience on Via Rail this past weekend. I got up at 6 am on Friday morning to take the train (Via Train 090 at 6:47am) from St. Catharines to Toronto. I usually take the train because of my fear of traffic jams around the Toronto area and had to make a connection to Ottawa. Due to technical difficulties I had to take the bus to Toronto. The only problem with this alternative is the bus driver didn’t know how to get to Aldershot and the Via Rail staff at the station failed to instruct him how to get there. Thankfully a passenger was able to guide the bus driver to the first stop. An alternative would have been to take the bus to Aldershot and then take the train the rest of the way into the city, but I understand how that would make too much sense since we would be avoiding the heavy traffic in the Greater Toronto Area. I did make the connection but the stress of worrying about not making the connection was there.
The Train from Toronto to Ottawa (Via Train 054) was fine. No issues.
The current train I am on from Ottawa to Toronto (Via Train 055) was delayed by 25 minutes due to technical problems. The train then got into the station at 5:45 at the same time as the train (Via Train 095) to St. Catharines would have been departing. I asked if they could hold the train for 5 minutes but was informed by the Via Personal there was no train to St. Catharines. We were herded in a holding area and waited 1:30 minutes while other arrangements were made. I repeat 1:30 minutes while other arrangements were being made, despite knowing the train would not arrive on time. It would have made sense for Via Rail to book busses and such prior to the train arriving at Union Station in Toronto. Then the passengers would have been escorted to the appropriate connecting busses with little haste instead of waiting for an hour and half with the staff having little idea as to what was happening.
For the voyage from Toronto’s Union Station to St. Catharines, a series of “mini buses” were hired to take rest of the way. The driver is currently plotting how to get to Grimsby in his GPS Device. It is my sincere hope he does not get lost. A highway coach with a professional driver could have been hired. Arrangements through GO Transit could have been arranged so the ride would have been smoother but I assume mini-buses were a cheaper alternative. We did stop for gas though. It would have made sense if they would have filled up before leaving but it does make for a longer voyage back home. All told the voyage from Toronto to St. Catharines was the same amount of time as going back to Ottawa.
I understand the financial constraints Via Rail is under going. I have been fortunate to have traveled via train in China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the United States. It is a rare time that I wish for the reliability of China Railways. As you can note from my Via Preference Points, I was a frequent traveller on this rail system but alas this will be my last trip on this train. There are better options such as Porter Airlines (which is only slightly more expensive) and there are the busses (which hardly break down) finally there is the cheaper alternative of GO Transit. There was a time where I thought taking the train was a way to travel in comfort but I fear today’s experiences will happen again. My ticket was inexpensive but I fear if I would have bought a Via 1 ticket or had paid full price for this.
Please do not offer me any benefits to “try our service again.” Do not give me points. It is a waist of paper. I am returning my Via Preference Card, please donate my points to charity or use the points to fix the system. Instead of offering me silly tributes and bribes, I would like a full explanation as how the decisions were made by the system for today’s voyage and I would like to suggest that maps be given to the bus drivers or the Via Rail Station employees could print out Google Maps for the bus drivers so they know where they are going.
Sincerely DKS