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Why doesn't Amtrak have service to Ottawa, CA?

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Posted by GERALD L MCFARLANE JR on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 2:01 PM

This posts headline would have made more sense had the person used the correct nomenclature of Ottawa, ON or Ottawa, ON, CAN as opposed to Ottawa, CA(which stands for California, not Canada).

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Posted by schlimm on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 8:00 PM

D.Carleton

Even Via doesn't really go to Ottawa so why should Amtrak?

But seriously folks, Ottawa is the one American city in Canada in that they gutted the railroad out of their town for the sake of a highway future travelers be doomed. I had a higher opinion of the Dominion until I visited Ottawa. (And the station really does look like a bunker from a distance.) 

 

The architecture is mediocre: functional, modern but looking like an intermodal freight terminal, very open, which must be charming in winter. Tongue Tied  Hardly a bunker.  Sadly, it is not in the city center.

However, it has 28 departures/arrivals to/from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec daily.

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Posted by D.Carleton on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 12:39 PM

Even Via doesn't really go to Ottawa so why should Amtrak?

But seriously folks, Ottawa is the one American city in Canada in that they gutted the railroad out of their town for the sake of a highway future travelers be doomed. I had a higher opinion of the Dominion until I visited Ottawa. (And the station really does look like a bunker from a distance.) 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, August 29, 2016 7:05 AM

Amtrak does not have service to Ottawa because it is outside of the United States.  The "Maple Leaf" is technically a joint Amtrak-VIA operation even though VIA does not provide any equipment.  The "International" between Chicago and Toronto was also a joint operation, with Amtrak and VIA each providing one set of equipment.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, August 28, 2016 11:55 PM

 

About 20? years back I was Set Up as Engineer for the Day on the job out of Thendera using the Ex L&N switcher 705.

The Central RS3 8223 had just arrived, and was being painted for use.  The 705 was too small for the job, and lumbered along at about 10 MPH at full throttle similar to a shuttle in a loom on it's appointed journey.

I was having an Asthma Attack and Allergies and begged off. Running an SW can get boring REAL Fast @ 5-10 MPH, and went to rest in the crew room above the depot.

I later wandered around the yard looking at equipment and viewed an ancient PRR Sleeper? which had a Mickey Mouse refrigeration compressor Belt Driven off an Axle for the AC??

Fifty Years ago we would Pace the Rutland by Car, steel gone, and snoop into Malone and Massena looking for the Central.  What Junk, oil soaked and smoking 244.Sad.

We often followed the CN line South from the St. Lawrence thru St Isadore Jct and St Remi, the steel still in down to Hemmingford, gone there to Moores on the Rutland.

CN and the Central crossed at Huntingdon. FAs and Bs in the grass.

The Water Level Route. Of Shays in the City, and Oil-Fired Steam in the Park in the Summer.

Well over half a Century ago.

Not only 'The Centuries' passed in the night.

Memories.

Thank You.

RME
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Posted by RME on Sunday, August 28, 2016 3:27 PM

NDG
The Central used to go to Ottawa.  On their own track.

By way of what is now the Adirondack Scenic, through Tupper Lake, no less.

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 27, 2016 3:55 PM

Metropolis, IL beat them to it.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by D.Carleton on Saturday, August 27, 2016 3:49 PM

CMStPnP

I still think the Canadians should build a Toronto sized city North of Wisconsin and name it Metropolis.   It would give the North South Rail lines through Wisconsin and Michigan that connect into Canada a new purpose in freight hauling.    They could back the construction bonds for the city with Superman Comic Books.

Not sure what the Canadians are waiting for.

Truth, justice and the Canadian Way, eh?

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Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, August 27, 2016 1:23 PM

I still think the Canadians should build a Toronto sized city North of Wisconsin and name it Metropolis.   It would give the North South Rail lines through Wisconsin and Michigan that connect into Canada a new purpose in freight hauling.    They could back the construction bonds for the city with Superman Comic Books.

Not sure what the Canadians are waiting for.

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Posted by schlimm on Saturday, August 27, 2016 12:50 PM

If you take Amtrak to Montreal, you get there at 7:11 pm (nearly 11 hours). There is no connection until 6:10 the next morning.  The VIA train is quick, only 2h.

The Maple Leaf to Toronto has the same problem; it misses the last train to Ottawa, so you must wait until 6:40 am the next day.

Either way is problematic, requiring an overnight.

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Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, August 27, 2016 12:11 PM

It would be much faster to go by way of Montreal, for going by way of Toronto would involve much backtracking.

Johnny

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Posted by schlimm on Saturday, August 27, 2016 11:58 AM

WHy?  You have to go through Toronto anyway and it's not out of the way.  VIA Rail offers 8 trains each way daily, 4h 7m to 4h 49m. 

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Why doesn't Amtrak have service to Ottawa, CA?
Posted by zkr123 on Saturday, August 27, 2016 11:39 AM

The Maple leaf could become a split train at the border(like the Lakeshore Limited)half of the train would go to Toronto and the other half would go to Ottawa.

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