Train de Charlevoix explained

Train de Charlevoix
Operator:Le Massif de Charlevoix
Stageyears:2008
Stage:Start of tourist operation
Years:2008
Events:Track renovation
Website:Official website

The Train de Charlevoix is a tourist rail service between Beauport (Chutes Montmorency) and La Malbaie, Quebec, with an additional stop in Baie-Saint-Paul and in the winter at the Le Massif ski area, a distance of about 140km (90miles).[1] It is owned and operated by Le Massif de Charlevoix, which also owns the Le Massif ski area.[1]

As of 2019 the train runs all year-round.[2]

History

Grand Trunk & Canadian National Railways

As early as 1928, regular year-round passenger service operated once a day as far as La Malbaie (then referred to as Murray Bay). A seasonal second train per day service operated from June to September from Quebec City.[3] By 1931, the service was extended to Montreal. At this time, only freight would continue to Clermont.[4] By 1944, the extra train operated during summer months was dropped from the schedule, resulting in a once-daily schedule year round.[5] In February 1971, Canadian National extended service to Clermont.[6]

Via Rail

In 1977, Via Rail took over operation of most Canadian National and Canadian Pacific passenger services. By this time, Gare du Palais was closed for renovations, and Ste-Foy became the origin of all trains on the route, with a stop at Limoilou near the core of Quebec City. VIA Rail began operating the service daily with Budd Rail Diesel Cars.[7] VIA Rail cancelled the train by the end of 1977.[8]

Current tourist railway

Work on starting the train began in September 2008, when renovation of Charlevoix Railway trackage began, partially funded by grants from the federal and provincial governments, and with a total cost of C$18.4 million.[9] [10] In April 2010, work began on rebuilding eight railcars at a cost of close to $5 million;[11] the cars were originally built in 1955 and 1956 by the St Louis Car Company and were previously used in commuter rail service in Chicago.[1] Once refitted, the eight cars had a total capacity of 550 people, and along with two MLW RS-18 locomotives comprise the rolling stock used for the train.[1] [11] The refurbished rolling stock is now in storage, with the current rolling stock being two married pairs of DB Class 628.1,[12] with a third added in 2018 for increased service.[13] In early 2019, it was announced that the train would begin operating during the winter months in partnership with a new Club Med location opening at the ski hill.[14]

List of stations

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charlevoix Ski Train Ready to Roll . First Tracks!! Online . 11 August 2011 . 14 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928221934/http://www.firsttracksonline.com/2011/08/11/charlevoix-ski-train-ready-to-roll/ . 28 September 2011 . dead .
  2. News: D'Amboise . Charles . Club Med : le train de Charlevoix roulera en hiver . 30 September 2019 . ICI Quebec . . February 10, 2019.
  3. Book: Canadian National Railways: Local Timetables . 20 May 1928 . Canadian National Railways . 33 .
  4. Book: Grand Trunk Railway System, Canadian National Railways System Timetable . 28 June 1931 . Grand Trunk Railway . Montreal . 53–54 .
  5. Book: Canadian National Railways in Connection with Grand Trunk Railway System Timetable . 26 November 1944 . Canadian National Railways . Montreal . 27 .
  6. Book: Canadian National Railways Grand Trunk Western system time table . 1 February 1971 . Canadian National . Montreal . 7.
  7. Book: VIA CN/CP Rail System Timetable . 31 October 1976 . Canadian National Railways . Montreal . 3.
  8. Book: VIA System Timetable . 24 April 1977 . Via Rail . Montreal . 12.
  9. Web site: GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND QUEBEC INVEST IN FUTURE OF CHARLEVOIX TOURIST TRAIN . Le Massif . 26 November 2009 . 14 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929180812/http://www.lemassif.com/en/presse/974/governments-of-canada-and-quebec-invest-in-future-of-charlevoix-tourist-train . 29 September 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: Summary of investments . Le Massif . 26 November 2011 . 14 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929180908/http://www.lemassif.com/docs/4b0eefed78f98/orig/Summary-of-investments.pdf . 29 September 2011 . dead .
  11. Web site: Renovations begin on rail cars for new Charlevoix Ski Train . The Ski Channel . 18 May 2011 . 14 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111001023609/http://www.theskichannel.com/news/skinews/20100518/Renovations-begin-on-rail-cars-for-new-Charlevoix-Ski-Train . 1 October 2011 . dead .
  12. Web site: Histoires de train . 2016-09-04 . 2016-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160905181624/http://reseaucharlevoix.com/francais/infos-voyage/histoires-de-train.html . dead .
  13. News: Un troisième train s’ajoute au Train de Charlevoix . 30 September 2019 . Radio-Canada . CBC Canada . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . September 11, 2018.
  14. News: D'Amboise . Charles . Club Med : le train de Charlevoix roulera en hiver . 30 September 2019 . ICI Quebec . CBC News . February 10, 2019.

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