
VIA Rail Canada is again allowing passengers to sit in the dome sections of dome cars and to use onboard lounge facilities.
Trains magazine reported on its website that these are among the service changes VIA made on March 1 that rescind restrictions imposed since March 2020 in response to health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other changes include restoration of full dining service for sleeping-car passengers to the Canadian, which operates between Toronto and Vancouver; and to the Ocean, which operates between Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
However, Panorama cars are still not operating on VIA trains and no date has been set for their return.
The frequency of operation of the Canadian is slated to increase to twice weekly from weekly.
Effective April 29 the Canadian will depart Vancouver on Monday and Friday while starting May 4 it will depart Toronto on Sunday and Wednesday.
Since December 2020 VIA Nos. 1 and 2 have departed Vancouver on Monday and Toronto on Sunday.
Starting April 4 VIA will resume offering Prestige Class bedrooms and upper and lower berths on the Canadian.
The Trains report noted that open section accommodations have already been restored to trains operating between Winnipeg and Churchill, Manitoba.
Also effective on March 1 were additional trains operating in the Quebec City-Windsor, Ontario, corridor.
A VIA spokesman told Trains the passenger carrier will return Chateau cars to the Ocean on April 4. These are former Canadian Pacific stainless-steel sleepers converted to head-end power.
They supplement European-built Renaissance equipment.
Trains said it is unclear when or even if the Ocean’s Wednesday and Sunday departure days in each direction will be adjusted to restore a third weekly round-trip. To read the article visit https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/vias-canadian-restores-dome-access-will-add-second-round-trip-in-april/