Moncton–Edmundston train explained

Moncton–Edmundston train
Type:Inter-city rail
Status:Discontinued
Locale:New Brunswick, Canada
Last:January 14, 1990
Operator:Via Rail
Formeroperator:Canadian National Railway
Start:Moncton
Stops:9
End:Edmundston
Distance:372km (231miles)
Journeytime:4 hr 30 min
Frequency:3 round trips per week
Trainnumber:619, 620, 625, 626, 628
Owners:Canadian National Railway

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 million to rebuild 70km (40miles) of track from Miramichi to Bathurst. The rerouting was estimated to cost million and involve construction of five new stations.[5]

Notes and References

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