VIA purchased the 139 European styled cars in December 2000. A consortium of railways from France, Germany, Britain and Belgium under the banner of European Nightstock Services commissioned the cars for overnight trips through the UK-Europe Channel Tunnel.

Changing circumstances including the franchising of British Rail and airline deregulation conspired against the consortium and work at Alstom UK was halted. The project languished for several years.

VIA Rail Canada successfully out-bid several competitors and purchased the entire manufacture of complete and incomplete cars and parts. Shipped to Canada to Bombardier’s Thunder Bay Shops, the cars were then modified to meet Canadian standards. The total cost including purchase, shipping and modification was $130 million; an exceptional price in view of price tags of $400 to $500 million for similar new cars.

There are 72 Sleeping Cars, 47 Coaches and 20 Service Cars. The Sleeping Cars have 10 two-berth bedrooms, 6 with showers, and all with full retention toilets. The bedrooms require a punched coded card to access from the corridor, a welcome security feature. The 50 seat coaches have comfortable 2/1 reclining seats with fold down trays and ample stowage under the seats. The view of the countryside slipping by is only fair, hampered by high backed seats and vertical window mullions. The Service Cars have a small lounge area, a galley for food and beverage, a baggage area, a fully accessible compartment for passengers with disabilities and an office/train monitor station for the crew. The purchase expands VIA’s passenger car fleet by one third.

Part of the Federal Government’s $402 million capital investment in passenger rail across Canada included the purchase of 21 high-speed locomotives. They are state of the art, microprocessor based control with integrated diagnostics and signaling capabilities. Built by General Electric as Model EPA-42a, they boast 4250 horsepower, 16 cylinder 7FDL engines with aerodynamic bodies. The entire fleet is painted similar to the former LRC fleet, dark blue and turquoise with yellow mid bands.

The Constellation between Toronto and Montreal overnight was quiet and smooth, but the narrow corridors and general smallness of the cars take some getting used to. The Ocean to Moncton (and Halifax) has a Dining Car, the service and food quality are excellent. There are no dome cars. Currently, the Renaissance equipment is used on two out of three days in each direction between Montreal and Halifax; the classic Budd built consist is in service on the third day. Overall, we give the Eastern Services two thumbs up!

The Ocean is Canada’s longest running passenger train link in Canada, having operated since July 3, 1904 on the route of the Intercolonial Railway in the mid 1880’s at a time when few Maritimers saw the necessity for a rail link to Central Canada as local needs were met by small regional railways. Travelers going west preferred to use American railways. As time went by, however, Canada’s systems grew and passengers acquired a taste for transcontinental service which continues to this day.