Moncton–Edmundston train

Moncton–Edmundston train
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleNew Brunswick, Canada
Last serviceJanuary 14, 1990
Current operator(s)Via Rail
Former operator(s)Canadian National Railway
Route
TerminiMoncton
Edmundston
Stops9
Distance travelled372 km (231 mi)
Average journey time4 hr 30 min
Service frequency3 round trips per week
Train number(s)619, 620, 625, 626, 628
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Track owner(s)Canadian National Railway
Route map
Legend
Train to Sainte-Foy (ended 1979)
372 km
231 mi
 Edmundston
331 km
206 mi
 Saint-Léonard
312 km
194 mi
 Grand Falls / Grand-Sault
269 km
167 mi
 Plaster Rock
217 km
135 mi
 Juniper
191 km
119 mi
 Napadogan
156 km
97 mi
 McGivney
93 km
58 mi
 Chipman
Ocean to Campbellton / Montreal
Atlantic to Saint John / Montreal
0 km
 Moncton
Ocean / Atlantic to Halifax

The Moncton–Edmundston train was a passenger train service operated by Via Rail between Moncton and Edmundston, New Brunswick. Intermediate stops were in Chipman, McGivney, Napadogan, Juniper, Tobique Valley, Grand Falls, and Saint-Léonard.

Discontinued in 1990, this was the last passenger train route to serve Edmundston. Moncton is still served by the Ocean.

History

The Moncton–Edmundston train was operated by the Canadian National Railway until 1977, when CN's passenger rail services were spun off into Via Rail. Service consisted of one daily round trip.[1]

The route disappeared from the timetable on November 15, 1981.[2]

On October 28, 1984, the service resumed on a reduced schedule. Wednesdays and Fridays saw one round trip each. A third trip departed Moncton on Sundays and returned from Edmundston on Mondays.[3]

Service was discontinued on January 15, 1990, during a round of severe cuts to the Via Rail network overseen by Benoît Bouchard due to the 1989 budget.[4] This marked the end of passenger rail service to Edmundston.

Proposed restoration

In 2014, Via Rail considered rerouting the Ocean between Edmundston and Moncton rather than pay CA$10 million to rebuild 70 km (43 mi) of track from Miramichi to Bathurst. The rerouting was estimated to cost CA$50 million and involve construction of five new stations.[5]

References

  1. ^ "System Timetable". VIA Canadian National. 31 October 1976. p. 35. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. ^ "System Timetable". Via Rail Canada. 15 November 1981. p. 27. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. ^ "System Timetable". Via Rail Canada. 28 October 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  4. ^ "When VIA Rail was almost cut in half". CBC Archives. CBC. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. ^ "VIA Rail 'deliberately attempted to discourage ridership'". cbc.ca. CBC News. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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