The delay is nothing new on the railroad, but late arrivals are reaching historical levels in a key corridor, since passenger trains have been forced to reduce the speed in hundreds of rail crossings operated by CN Rail.
According to the figures obtained by Radio-Canada, the situation has continued to get worse since the beginning of the dispute over the railway crosses between Via and CN.
Just before Thanksgiving, CN required through rail drivers to visually confirm the decrease in safety barriers at each railway crossing.
Due to these restrictions, 80 percent of the trips suffered delays of more than 10 to 15 minutes in February between the city of Quebec and Windsor, where most trains via operate.
In January, 67 percent of trains were late in the same corridor.
Delays have been even greater among Quebec City and Ottawa this year, affecting 94 percent of trains last month and 86 percent in January. Some delays were caused by strong snowfall.
In 2023, compared to 60 percent of trains in the Quebec city corridor arrived on time, according to the railway figures.
The Crown Corporation expects the Federal Government to intervene, noting that its conflict with CN is interrupting thousands of passengers and damaging the reputation of the rail service in the country.
“Without valid evidence and precise justification, via rail continues to affirm that this decision [by CN] It is unjustified and arbitrary. It is urgent that these restrictions are lifted, “he said through the spokesman Karl Helou.
He requested “detailed information and analysis that support this decision will be made public immediately.”
Shorter in trains and signs
The dispute is related to the number of axes in the new risk trains in the use of via rail since 2022.
When Via executes a train composed of a locomotive and five cars, there are only 24 axes, below the 32 axes required by CN to ensure that barriers and signals are activated at rail crosses.
When a train approaches a rail cross, an electrical signal triggers security warnings, but the signal depends on the length and weight of the train.
There were problems at rail crossings in the Drummondville area last spring and CN and Via are discussing whether trains or rails were guilty.
CN says that security is his only consideration and plans to present his arguments in the Court. The case is before the Superior Court of Québec, where Via Rail has asked the restrictions to be lifted.
“We will never commit ourselves to security,” says CN spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski. “CN has no interest in the deceleration arbitrarily through trains, since this would reduce our ability to manage our own trains, which are essential for the economy.”
Through the counters that there are no indications that the current situation creates an additional danger at rail crossings and barriers and sound signals are effectively triggered by risk trains.
According to Via, the CN requirements are particularly demanding for rail workers, who must reduce speed before each level crossing and visually verify if barriers and sound signals have been activated.
Helou also insisted that “Via Rail will never commit to security and will continue to actively collaborate with CN and Transport Canada.”
In a document presented in the Court, Via said that delays are not preceded “in terms of their fall to arrivals on time.
Bloc asks for change
The Québécois block is asking the federal government to lift the restrictions imposed by CN unless it provides evidence that they are essential for citizens’ safety.
“Before the application of these measures, the risk trains had made thousands of trips without incident,” says the MP of the Xavier Barsalou-Duval block. “There is a way to guarantee a rail service that is safe, efficient and reliable for passengers.”
The Minister of Transportation, Anita Anand, has not yet responded to a letter from Bloc Quebécois.
In a statement, Transport Canada said that it does not have the status of auditor in the legal dispute between CN and Via Rail. He added that any movement on the regulatory front would be interested in rail security.
