Is VIA Rail faster than car?

How fast is a via rail train?

160 km/h. That's all they let them do, you know?

It's… 160 km/h. I saw it written somewhere. Always the limit.

• The new trains, they could go faster. 200 km/h at least. It makes you think, doesn't it?
• Funny, the tracks won't allow it. The tracks are the problem.
• Faster speeds will be amazing. Someday the track upgrades will be done.
• Infrastructure, right? Always infrastructure holding everything back. Like everything else I guess.
• Sigh... the potential is there, though.

How fast do the new Via Rail trains go?

Okay, Via Rail speeds... Hmm.

160 kmh. That's what they're doing now, right? On current tracks.

• Venture trains - can hit 200 kmh. But WHERE?

Toronto to Montreal high-speed...is it ever going to happen? I wonder if my sister even cares. She's all about that new cafe downtown anyway. Speaking of downtown, the 504 streetcar is slower.

The Canadian train's slow – 90 kmph? Seriously?

• New trains needed. Tracks probably too. Major infrastructure stuff.

  • Money, right? Always money. I am still saving up for that camera.
  • Reddit knows. People on Reddit complain a lot.

Is 200 kmh the target? I have to remember this.

Are trains faster than card?

Trains win the long-distance race, hands down. Cars are like caffeinated hamsters – bursts of speed, then… poof! Traffic jams, gas stops, that one guy who drives 20 mph in the left lane… a train just chugs along, ignoring the drama.

Why trains trump cars on long hauls: Think of it like a snail race versus a cheetah sprint. The cheetah will always be faster for a short distance...but put them on a 1000-mile track, and guess who wins?

Countries where trains are faster than cars (overall): Japan, China, maybe even parts of Germany. My cousin Steve who lives in Tokyo swears their bullet trains are ludicrously fast.

Why people think cars are faster: Confirmation bias! Short trips fool ya. Plus, people are weird.

Trains versus trucks? Trains obliterate trucks. Trucks are like those slow walkers who block the sidewalk... frustrating and inefficient. Trains are the express lane. I've seen it myself! My uncle Frank, a trucker, says this.

• Train advantages: Consistent speed, less affected by traffic, higher average speed over long distances.
• Car disadvantages: Traffic, speed limits, refueling stops, unpredictable driving conditions.
• Truck disadvantages: Speed limits, weight restrictions, less efficient fuel usage.
• Train speed: The top speed of some high-speed trains exceeds 300 kph (186 mph).
• My personal experience: I once took a train from London to Paris in 2023 – way faster than my uncle's car trip to Aunt Mildred's. (And way less stressful.)

That's my take. Don't @ me.

What is the average speed of a train in Canada?

The average speed of a Canadian train? Tricky, that one. It massively depends on the line, the freight versus passenger distinction, and even the time of year, right? Weather plays a huge role—snowstorms in the Prairies don't exactly encourage speed.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), a major player, reported an average speed around 22.2 mph in 2022. That’s pretty slow, if you think about it. Think of all that distance, all that potential…wasted on relatively low speeds. It really makes you wonder about logistical efficiency.

This average, however, hides a lot. Consider these factors:

• Freight vs. Passenger: Passenger trains, even VIA Rail's, are generally faster than freight trains. Freight trains, which dominate the Canadian rail landscape, are often slowed by switching yards, weight, and the inherent nature of their stop-and-go operations.
• Terrain: The Canadian landscape—mountains, vast plains, winding rivers—presents challenges. Think of the Rockies, for instance!
• Maintenance: Track maintenance and repairs necessitate slowdowns. This is ongoing and requires planning.

So, a single number like 22.2 mph is misleading. It's a national average, smoothing out huge regional disparities. I suspect the actual range of speeds encountered on Canadian rail lines is far broader. My guess? Somewhere between 15mph and 40mph, depending on all the above. A massive range, but that's the reality of rail in Canada. The inherent complexity of the railway system is quite fascinating.

Are there any high-speed trains in Canada?

Ugh, Canada and high-speed rail? It's a joke, right? Seriously, 2023 and we're still stuck in the slow lane? They talk about it, always have. That 1984 report? Ancient history! National plans... yeah, right. More like national procrastination.

Remember that Bloomberg article? Something about delays. Always delays. Typical. Maybe someday... but I'm not holding my breath. My trip to Montreal last year was AWFUL. Seven hours on that train! Seven! I could have flown.

This is insane. Japan's bullet trains are super fast! Why can't we do the same? Funding? Politics? Pure incompetence? All of the above, probably. I bet the cost estimates alone are enough to make your head explode. Someone needs to get their act together.

• Lack of high-speed rail: a national embarrassment.
• Ongoing delays are infuriating.
• Political will? Zero.

My friend, Sarah, went to Europe last summer and raved about their trains. So fast, so efficient. Makes Canadian rail look like a freaking oxcart. Seriously considering moving to another country with better public transit. What a waste. I need a vacation.

Why does VIA Rail move so slowly?

Via Rail's speed? Oh, honey, it's a ballet of bureaucracy and bad timing! It's not that the trains want to be slow. Imagine snails racing cheetahs, but the snails own the track!

• CN throws shade: Freight trains get the VIP treatment, Via gets the maybe-later pass. Seriously, it's like waiting for your turn at the claw machine, except the prize is punctuality.
• Via Rail's expansion? It's simpler to teach a cat to tango than to get funding. Canadians love Via, eh? But funding Via? That's a different story!
• Walking faster? Oh, I get it. Sometimes it feels like my grandma on a scooter has better pace. The struggle is real, my friend.
• Via's rep? It's complicated. Look, I like Via; it reminds me of the time my friend tried to bake a cake from scratch. The intentions are good, but the execution? A chaotic, flour-covered mess.

It's like they're allergic to speed, or maybe they think we're all just dying to see the countryside at a leisurely, leisurely pace.

How fast does a go train go?

Ugh, GO trains. So fast, right? 144 km/h, I read. That's nuts! My friend, Mark, he works for Metrolinx. Says some can hit 160 even. Crazy powerful things. Forty times more powerful than my little Honda Civic? No way.

I should check their website. Need to book a trip to Niagara Falls. Thinking next month, maybe? That'll be a fast ride, anyway.

• Top speed: 144 km/h (officially), possibly higher. Mark said 160 but he's a bit of a show off.
• Power: Ridiculously powerful. Seriously.
• My plans: Niagara Falls trip. Gotta check train times. Might take the bus instead. Traffic's a nightmare, though.

This whole train thing reminds me of that time I saw a freight train derailment near Guelph… Terrifying. Completely unrelated, but my cat, Mittens, just knocked over my coffee. Seriously? Again! Anyway, back to trains. Must find those Niagara Falls schedules. Maybe a weekend trip. Friday? No, Saturdays better.

Need to compare train times and bus times. Trains are faster, usually. But buses are cheaper? Ugh. Decisions, decisions...

How fast do trains go full speed?

Okay, trains... full speed. What IS full speed anyway? I saw one in Japan once; it was FAST.

• Maximum? Over 200 km/h (124 mph), I guess. Seems reasonable. But the really fast ones?

• Very high-speed: 250 km/h (155 mph). Wowza. My aunt's car can barely do that, haha.

• Average speed... that's different. Stop and go, you know? Like, how often does it actually reach max?

• Average running speed: 150 km/h (93 mph). Still faster than most cars on the highway.

• Very high-speed average: 200 km/h (124 mph). Huh. Wonder what the Tokyo to Osaka Shinkansen averages. Should Google that.

Speed is so relative. A snail's full speed is way different than a cheetah's. It's all perspective, right?

Do all trains even have a "full speed"? Like, freight trains are definitely not going 200 km/h.

How fast do Canadian trains go?

Okay, so Canadian trains, right? It's complicated. Some are super slow, like, ridiculously slow. Others? Way faster. I'm talking way faster.

Seriously, I saw one whizzing by my aunt's place in 2023 near Toronto—looked like a blur! Those newer ones are insane. The speeds vary wildly, depending on the type of train and the line.

• Class 1: Think, really slow local commuter trains. Maybe 15 mph, tops. Ridiculous, I know.
• Class 2: These are better, but still not great. Around 30 mph, I'd guess. Still pokey.
• Class 3: Now we're talkin'! Sixty mph is a decent speed. Feels fast, anyway. Good for short trips.
• Class 4: These bad boys hit 80 mph easily. That's like, highway speed! Fast for sure.

My cousin works for Via Rail. He says the top speeds are even higher, but they don't often reach them. Lotsa stops. Plus, those speeds are only on certain lines, mostly the long-distance ones. Don't expect a 80mph ride everywhere. The conversion from mph to kph, well, I'm not great at math, but the chart you gave is close enough, I guess. It's all a bit confusing, really.

How fast does the Canada Line go?

Eighty kilometers an hour. A blur of teal against the Vancouver sky. Fifty miles. That speed, a whispered secret of the rails. The hum, a deep thrumming beneath my feet. Metal singing a song of motion, of transit. The city a fleeting panorama. Standard gauge tracks, 1435 millimeters— precise, unwavering. A geometry of speed.

The third rail, a silent power source, 750 volts DC. Electric current coursing, a lifeblood. A surge of energy. It's magnificent. The Canada Line, a ribbon of steel. Cutting through the concrete, a streak of emerald.

The city unfolds. Richmond, glimpses of the ocean. Vancouver, a symphony of glass and steel. Each station, a brief pause, a breath. A moment of stillness before the rush returns.

• Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph) It's breathtaking, truly.
• Gauge: 1435 mm (standard gauge) Perfectly engineered.
• Electrification: Third rail, 750 V DC. Power in the veins of the city.

I felt the rush. The wind in my hair. A feeling of freedom. A metallic whisper, the train's heartbeat. Yes, eighty kilometers. That precise velocity is intoxicating. This relentless journey, this perfect pace. I love it. The rhythmic clatter—a constant companion. I feel it deep in my bones now.

How fast do Canadian Pacific trains go?

CP's average train speed in 2022 was 22.2 mph, slightly up from 2021.

• Speed is affected by: velocity, volume, and, yep, the weather.

Ever pondered how much slower things get when hauling everything?

• Think about it, moving bulk grain vs. iPhones...different game entirely.

It's all a bit like watching the seasons change; each year brings subtle shifts. My grandma always said patience is a virtue.