VIA Rail celebrates 110 Years of the Ocean
July 13, 2014
The Port of Halifax and Pier 21 (left photo), where one million immigrantslanded between 1928-1971, and the Nova Scotian Hotel (now the Westin) and
Halifax Railway Station (right photo), the start and finish point of the Ocean.
VIA Rail Canada recently celebrated the 110th anniversary of its Atlantic Canada passenger train, the Ocean. The celebration started in Montreal’s Central Station July 2nd where VIA Rail's new President and CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, along with various Mayors, Members of Parliament and local and provincial politicians and leaders from the 26 communities the train serves between Montreal and Halifax, boarded the historic train for its trip to Canada’s east coast. A ceremony took place in Halifax upon the train’s arrival on July 3rd, where various dignitaries participated in the event and historic anniversary of the Ocean.
As Halifax was the port of entry by boats and ships for the millions of immigrants coming to Canada from overseas to start a new life in North America, the Ocean, called the Ocean Limited in its early days, carried them to points westward and newly forming Canadian communities.
During both World Wars, the Ocean carried thousands of Canadian soldiers to Halifax where they transferred to ships that carried them overseas. When the wars were over, these brave soldiers came back by ship to Halifax and once again boarded the Ocean for their journey home. At Halifax and at points all along the rail line, they were greeted with hero’s welcomes. There are so many stories to be told of the 110 years this train has been existence serving communities.
One hundred and ten years since it began, the Ocean travels the same 1,346 kilometers of tracks. Starting in Halifax, it runs through Truro, Nova Scotia, Moncton, Bathurst and Campbellton, New Brunswick, through the Matapedia valley, Rimouski and Quebec City, Quebec, along the St. Lawrence to Montreal. From Central Station in Montreal, passengers connect to other passenger trains that run west to Toronto, and continuing on to other points in Ontario and through to hundreds of communities in Western Canada.
"Whether it is loved ones returning home for the holidays or travelling for business, the Ocean has been connecting the people of Halifax for 110 years and counting. We're pleased to be part of the celebration of this line", said Halifax Mayor, Mike Savage. Many other dignitaries made statements of the importance of the Ocean and its important history to eastern Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
But earlier this year it appeared, despite more than 100-years of service that the continued longevity of the Ocean line was at risk.
In January 2014, CN announced that they intended to abandon a 70km stretch of track on their Newcastle Subdivision between Bathurst and Miramichi, New Brunswick. They were first obligated to put that section of track up for sale before they could abandon it, but without a buyer – which was unlikely – or without investment by government, the Ocean would have ceased operating on this 110 year route, and perhaps operating entirely.
VIA's President and CEO, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, who was recently appointed by the Federal Conservative Government to take control of the Crown corporation, boasted that Conservative Party member Lisa Raitt, the Federal Minister of Transport, announced in May that a $10.2 million investment would be made to the rail line that the Ocean runs on that will allow the Ocean to continue service in Eastern Canada. Desjardins-Siciliano said; “Everyone here at VIA Rail was nothing less than thrilled by this announcement.”
Not to be a ‘downer’ on an otherwise positive, good historical news-type story, but the Conservatives should not be praised nor placed under any spotlight when it comes to VIA Rail or its future. The Harper government has drastically underfunded VIA since it has been at the helm as this country’s ruling government.
In 2011-2012, VIA’s operating budget was almost $494 million. In late 2012, the Harper government announced sweeping changes and cuts to the Federal civil service and Crown corporations, including VIA. VIA saw a reduction of more than 18-million out of their operating budget. Then again in February 2013, the federal government announced an additional reduction to VIA’s funding by almost $290 million, which was more than half of what their budget was at the start of 2013. This triggered further job and service reductions.
The Ocean went from 6-days a week service to 3-days. VIA’s funding from the Conservatives went from $494 million in 2011-2012 to $475,651,000.00 in 2012, and then reduced again to $187,783,000.00 in 2013-2014.
Harper and Raitt were both silent from the time CN announced that it was abandoning a portion of their Newcastle sub. And everyone knew VIA did not have the capital to buy and upgrade this 70kms of track, given the significant funding cuts they have endured by the Harper Conservatives. And the chances of anyone else buying a small portion of track that connects at both ends of a rail line with CN, it all spelled disaster for the future of the Ocean.
It was only after months of lobbying by federal opposition MPs, including the Green Party, and local politicians, community groups and Unifor, that the government finally woke up and made a commitment to public passenger rail service in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.
Unifor ran a long campaign led by Local activists in New Brunswick, including Council 4000, which helped in the federal government ultimately agreeing to fund the repairs and continued use of the rail line between Bathurst and Miramichi, which will preserve the Ocean. It’s too bad that Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano would not have acknowledged the work of Unifor, and that of the community groups and politicians that campaigned to ensure this was ultimately done. In the case of Unifor (formerly the CAW), the Union has spent considerable time and funds lobbying government to improve passenger rail service in this country, which obviously is a positive for VIA Rail. We are not an enemy.
We hope that the government will continue to provide proper funding to ensure the future of this country’s national passenger rail service. Not only the Ocean, but the other lines that continue to serve Canadians who rely on public rail transportation.
Here’s to another 100 years of the Ocean!
Below are related links; the first being the media release on the July 2nd and 3rd event, while the other is a personal, family perspective on the Ocean, where train travel has been a way of life for this Canadian family.
As Halifax was the port of entry by boats and ships for the millions of immigrants coming to Canada from overseas to start a new life in North America, the Ocean, called the Ocean Limited in its early days, carried them to points westward and newly forming Canadian communities.
During both World Wars, the Ocean carried thousands of Canadian soldiers to Halifax where they transferred to ships that carried them overseas. When the wars were over, these brave soldiers came back by ship to Halifax and once again boarded the Ocean for their journey home. At Halifax and at points all along the rail line, they were greeted with hero’s welcomes. There are so many stories to be told of the 110 years this train has been existence serving communities.
One hundred and ten years since it began, the Ocean travels the same 1,346 kilometers of tracks. Starting in Halifax, it runs through Truro, Nova Scotia, Moncton, Bathurst and Campbellton, New Brunswick, through the Matapedia valley, Rimouski and Quebec City, Quebec, along the St. Lawrence to Montreal. From Central Station in Montreal, passengers connect to other passenger trains that run west to Toronto, and continuing on to other points in Ontario and through to hundreds of communities in Western Canada.
"Whether it is loved ones returning home for the holidays or travelling for business, the Ocean has been connecting the people of Halifax for 110 years and counting. We're pleased to be part of the celebration of this line", said Halifax Mayor, Mike Savage. Many other dignitaries made statements of the importance of the Ocean and its important history to eastern Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
But earlier this year it appeared, despite more than 100-years of service that the continued longevity of the Ocean line was at risk.
In January 2014, CN announced that they intended to abandon a 70km stretch of track on their Newcastle Subdivision between Bathurst and Miramichi, New Brunswick. They were first obligated to put that section of track up for sale before they could abandon it, but without a buyer – which was unlikely – or without investment by government, the Ocean would have ceased operating on this 110 year route, and perhaps operating entirely.
VIA's President and CEO, Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, who was recently appointed by the Federal Conservative Government to take control of the Crown corporation, boasted that Conservative Party member Lisa Raitt, the Federal Minister of Transport, announced in May that a $10.2 million investment would be made to the rail line that the Ocean runs on that will allow the Ocean to continue service in Eastern Canada. Desjardins-Siciliano said; “Everyone here at VIA Rail was nothing less than thrilled by this announcement.”
Not to be a ‘downer’ on an otherwise positive, good historical news-type story, but the Conservatives should not be praised nor placed under any spotlight when it comes to VIA Rail or its future. The Harper government has drastically underfunded VIA since it has been at the helm as this country’s ruling government.
In 2011-2012, VIA’s operating budget was almost $494 million. In late 2012, the Harper government announced sweeping changes and cuts to the Federal civil service and Crown corporations, including VIA. VIA saw a reduction of more than 18-million out of their operating budget. Then again in February 2013, the federal government announced an additional reduction to VIA’s funding by almost $290 million, which was more than half of what their budget was at the start of 2013. This triggered further job and service reductions.
The Ocean went from 6-days a week service to 3-days. VIA’s funding from the Conservatives went from $494 million in 2011-2012 to $475,651,000.00 in 2012, and then reduced again to $187,783,000.00 in 2013-2014.
Harper and Raitt were both silent from the time CN announced that it was abandoning a portion of their Newcastle sub. And everyone knew VIA did not have the capital to buy and upgrade this 70kms of track, given the significant funding cuts they have endured by the Harper Conservatives. And the chances of anyone else buying a small portion of track that connects at both ends of a rail line with CN, it all spelled disaster for the future of the Ocean.
It was only after months of lobbying by federal opposition MPs, including the Green Party, and local politicians, community groups and Unifor, that the government finally woke up and made a commitment to public passenger rail service in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.
Unifor ran a long campaign led by Local activists in New Brunswick, including Council 4000, which helped in the federal government ultimately agreeing to fund the repairs and continued use of the rail line between Bathurst and Miramichi, which will preserve the Ocean. It’s too bad that Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano would not have acknowledged the work of Unifor, and that of the community groups and politicians that campaigned to ensure this was ultimately done. In the case of Unifor (formerly the CAW), the Union has spent considerable time and funds lobbying government to improve passenger rail service in this country, which obviously is a positive for VIA Rail. We are not an enemy.
We hope that the government will continue to provide proper funding to ensure the future of this country’s national passenger rail service. Not only the Ocean, but the other lines that continue to serve Canadians who rely on public rail transportation.
Here’s to another 100 years of the Ocean!
Below are related links; the first being the media release on the July 2nd and 3rd event, while the other is a personal, family perspective on the Ocean, where train travel has been a way of life for this Canadian family.
Past related stories:
- Federal Government agrees to fund track repairs in NB thus preserving VIA Rail service in Atlantic Canada
- Save Maritime Rail Tour and Rally
- Province of New Brunswick and CN commit to preserve rail freight service... But what about passenger rail service?
- VIA Rail forecasts record loss
- Does job cuts at VIA "Enhance Customer Experience"?
- Getting on Board or Running off the Rails? The Past, and Some Possible Futures, of Passenger Rail in Canada
- Unifor Passenger Rail Campaign
