During British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's November 10, 1942 speech at the Lord Mayor's Day Luncheon in London, the irascible PM made one of his best-remembered speeches at a time when fortune finally favoured his army's with victories in North Africa. Churchill intoned the quote shown at top. While I'd intended to travel back to trackside Portage-la-Prairiein 1984 for this week's post, we find ourselves at El-Alamein instead! Maybe I should change this blog's name to Trackside Venture!
Read on to find out why I believe today's farm-fresh VIA system notice may signal a new willingness to co-operate between CN and VIA as well as an attempt to possibly avoid action by Transport Canada against CN's punitive and unfounded restrictions on VIA by removing the egg on its corporate face and replacing the nebulous and unmarked crossing speed reductions with signage enshrined in a General Bulletin Order, less CROR/rule-based approach. This may signify the end of the beginning, the first possibly positive sign after 10+ months of delays that have peeved passengers and obfuscated on-time performance.
Just today, CN has made a change in how it has restricted the operating speeds of VIA's Venture equipment. This restriction was
initially placed on the Venture fleet last October - when I started trying to understand why Ventures were being delayed and have followed in the linked post since - and updated twice since by VIA system notices:
- VIA System Notice No. VN24-022 dated October 11, 2024 in response to CN's Venture Equipment Crossing Supplement Version 1.0
- VIA System Notice No. VN24-023 dated October 13, 2024 clarifying the above.
- VIA System Notice No. VN24-033 dated November 27, 2024 in response to CN's Venture Equipment Crossing Supplement Version 2.0
All three of the previously-issued system notices are now cancelled with VIA issuing, effective August 28, 2025:
- VIA System Notice No. VN25-018 Venture Crossing Restrictions - Update
Today's update, indicating a change in approach collaboratively arrived at by VIA, CN, the union representing VIA's locomotive engineers and human factors experts, is intended to streamline and clarify the restrictions, enshrining them as Permanent Slow Orders with appropriate signage to be installed. Issued by Jonathan Cooke, VIA's Specialist Director, Operating Practices & Transportation Training and a key figure in VIA's court-based process seeking an injunction against CN's crossing speed reductions, the text of the new system notice follows...
As you know, the safety of our passengers and employees is our top priority at VIA Rail. We continue to stand firmly behind the safety of our Venture fleet, while also working closely with CN to ensure our locomotive engineers can operate effectively without undue cognitive workload.
Over the past several months, VIA Rail and CN have been collaborating to address concerns raised by CN's Venture Crossing Supplement. These requirements, particularly Rule 103.1(f) on confirming Automatic Warning Device (AWD) activation, have increased the workload of locomotive engineers operating Venture trains. Working alongside your T[eamsters] C[anada] R[ail] C[onference] Health & Safety representatives and human factors experts, we are moving toward a more balanced and practical approach. These adjustments represent what we believe is a positive step forward toward safer operations and smoother train handling.
Speed Restrictions in Lieu of Rule 103.1(f):
CN will issue Venture Crossing Supplement v4.0. It will replace existing Rule 103.1(f) requirements with more straightforward speed restrictions, in the form of Venture-Specific P[ermanent]S[low]O[rders]. For subdivisions governed by these new speed tables there will no longer be a requirement for VIA Venture trains of less than 32 axles to operate prepared to stop unless AWDs have been confirmed to be operating for the Minimum Required Time. This will also remove the 45 mph whistle post restrictions on most subdivisions where the Rule 103.1(f) restrictions are being replaced.
Speed Tables:
We have worked with CN to minimize cognitive load while crews adapted to those new operating speeds. Certain priorities were made to lessen this burden, such as:
- Using identifiable locations to mark the beginning of each restriction (e.g. using whole miles).
- Aligning Venture restrictions with existing PSOs where possible.
- Reducing the number of speed changes to make adaptation easier while improving overall train speed.
- Implementing head-end restrictions, allowing trains to resume track speed once the final crossing in the restriction has been fully occupied.
- Creating directional speed tables for easier learning.
Operating Signage:
VIA and CN are working to install new signs marking the beginning and end of each Venture-specific restriction, with advance signs to help crews prepare. While installation takes time, all parties, including TCRC and our safety consultants, agreed that implementing speed restrictions now is safer then waiting for signage to be ready. We will update you with timelines once installation schedules are confirmed.
Communications and Implementation:
- CN has shared the upcoming supplement with VIA for preview. Crews can access it in their Electronic Operating Manual.
- The supplement is expected to take effect at 0001 on Thursday August 28, 2025, and will be formally communicated by CN GBO.
- Crews must continue to be governed by the existing version of the Supplement until the new Supplement is put into effect by CN GBO.
- Paper copies will be available at reporting locations.
Job Briefings:
Crews must review and discuss these restrictions at job briefings. Attention must also be given to the length of your train (i.e. whether it has less than 32 axles), particularly after consists are changed mid-trip (e.g. J-train splits). Management team members will be present at reporting points to answer questions.
Next Steps:
VIA Rail continues to explore additional long-term strategies to further mitigate the impacts of CN's Venture Crossing Supplement on VIA's operations, including expanding the use of extra-long Ventures (with 32 or more axles) and installing onboard shunt enhancers. We recognize this may not be the full resolution crews were hoping for, but it is an important improvement. We appreciate your commitment to safety and your patience as we continue to work toward solutions that prioritize both operational safety and the well-being of our crews.
FAQ:
1. I'm operating an extra-long Venture train with 32 axles. Am I governed by these speed tables? No. The supplement and new speed tables only applies to Venture trains of less than 32 axles. If your train is equipped with 32 axles or more, you are to be governed by the applicable track speed as found in the timetable.
2. Am I still required to comply with the 45 mph restriction at the whistle post if I am operating on a subdivision governed by a new Speed Table in the Crossing Supplement? No. The updated instruction, communicated by VIA Operating Bulletin last week, applies only for crossings requiring the confirmation of activation for the Minimum Required Time. For subdivisions governed by a speed table, the 45 mph restriction does not apply. For subdivisions where a speed table has not yet been issues, the 45 mph restriction still applies at the whistle post.
3. When can we expect operating signs to be installed? This effort is complex and requires input from multiple parties. We will keep you informed as new updates are available. Rest assured that VIA is pursuing this as a top priority, and we expect signage to be in place as soon as possible, likely in the coming weeks or months.
4. What about subdivisions where there are not new speed tables, for example the Guelph Sub? Guelph, Halton and York Subs are still being reviewed, and will be address through a similar fashion once their reviews have been completed.
5.
There are subdivisions (Guelph and Chatham) with rule 103.1(f) GBO in effect for all trains, is there any plan to remove these GBOs? VIA Rail is aware of the situation and currently working with CN [on] a solution to remove the GBOs requirement. These GBO were issued due to rail conditions originally and are not specific to Venture trains.
HOW DOES THIS NEW NOTICE IMPROVE ANYTHING?
CN is now agreeing to changes that VIA has specifically contended prevent it from implementing more Venture sets. Sure, I have been able to document 20-23 sets in weekly use for several weeks now. But VIA's Corridor rotation diagram is stuck in a 13-set rotation, with the remainder of the 13 other slots in the rotation held down by Legacy (LRC and HEP) equipment. Now, VIA has all Venture sets on the property, and has made changes to four sets to create sets with of two varied lengths, as well as taking other measures to best CN's restrictions. The rut that the Venture fleet is stuck in is NOT due to breakdowns, NOT due to staff training and NOT even due to service facilities not being complete. It's about crew readiness, crew fatigue and not finding enough crews to operate enough trainsets on time across the Corridor.
Did you notice the three little words 'onboard shunt enhancers' in the next steps? I believe this is one of the first times an official VIA documents has used these words, and the technology is about to be implemented on Amtrak, and VIA will likely follow. Oh, and three other little words 'extra long Ventures'!
In the near-term, I'll continue monitoring the Venture fleet's serviceability and on-time performance each week, looking for any improvement these new measures may bring forth. Sounding very Churchillian, we will seek them in the coach yard, we will watch them trackside, we will follow them to their destination. All the while hoping this is indeed the end of the beginning.
Running extra...
A TV soap opera berths a train set. Or rather, a TV set based on a train. The venerable and never-ending serial The Young and The Restless took its cast to France, as mysterious business tycoon Aristotle Dumas lured them to his private train to work his machiavellian magic and hostile corporate takeover. The set (above) is then reused when he miraculously appears in his very-similar private train back in America. A cast member remarks how similar the U.S. car is to the one they were just in while in France, and Dumas replies he feels more comfortable if all his private cars look the same, and hey, the sofa is different!
I want to clarify here and now that I do NOT watch soap operas like the Y&R. I'm merely in the room when my good wife is watching it.
But I do watch CBS' Big Brother and several of the houseguests are sleeping in a 'train car' room:
First past the post...
Our neighbour kindly gave us passes to Kingston's Fort Henry, and we were able to introduce our grandsons to the fort's recreators' music and marching of the 19th century yesterday. Thanks, Jaimie!
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