Chaleur (passenger train)
Encyclopedia
The Montreal – Gaspé train (formerly the Chaleur) is a tri-weekly passenger train
operated by Via Rail
between Montreal and Gaspé, Quebec
.
the train is normally merged with the Ocean
. The consist of the Montreal – Gaspé train in recent years is composed exclusively of cars built by the Budd Company
, many originally used by the Canadian Pacific Railway
's The Canadian
.
This had been the case until 2004 for the Ocean as well, but the introduction of the Renaissance cars on the Ocean has resulted in both trains operating separately during the summer months (when trains are longer) and combined during the winter; the reason for this policy appears to be related to the braking effort of a combined train.
When operating separately, the Montreal – Gaspé train will run several minutes ahead of the Ocean. When combined, the trains run together as far as Matapédia, Quebec
, before the Ocean
continues to Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Montreal – Gaspé train proceeds to Gaspé.
The tracks this train operates on have changed ownership several times in recent years.
Until 1998, the tracks from Montreal to Gaspé were owned by Canadian National Railway
(CN). That year, CN sold the lines between Rivière-du-Loup to Matapedia, as well as Matapedia to Gaspé to Quebec Railway Corporation which established two subsidiary companies, the Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe
(Matapedia & Gulf Railway) and Chemin de fer Baie des Chaleurs
(Chaleur Bay Railway) respectively. In 2001, CFBC sold the portion of the Matepdia to Gaspé line east of Chandler to Chemin de fer de la Gaspésie (Gaspé Railway) which is owned by local municipalities with maintenance contracted to CFBC. In 2007, CFG purchased the remainder of the line from Matapedia to Chandler after the CFBC listed it for abandonment. In 2008, CN purchased the CFMG line from Rivière-du-Loup to Matapedia, returning ownership of this line after QRC encountered financial difficulty.
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
operated by Via Rail
VIA Rail
Via Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
between Montreal and Gaspé, Quebec
Gaspé, Quebec
Gaspé is a city at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 14,819....
.
Schedule
The train leaves Montreal in the evening and arrives in Gaspé at about noon the following day. The train departs Gaspé mid-afternoon and arrives in Montreal in the morning.Operation
In recent years between Montreal and Matapédia, QuebecMatapédia, Quebec
Matapédia is a village at the southern tip of the Gaspé peninsula, in Eastern Quebec, Canada. Matapedia is located on the 132 highway. Its name comes from a Mi'kmaq language word meaning "river junction", as the Matapédia River crosses it, at the junction of the Restigouche River...
the train is normally merged with the Ocean
Ocean (passenger train)
The Ocean is a Canadian passenger train operated by Via Rail between Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is currently the oldest continuously-operated named passenger train in North America. The Oceans schedule takes approximately 21 hours, running overnight in both directions...
. The consist of the Montreal – Gaspé train in recent years is composed exclusively of cars built by the Budd Company
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
, many originally used by the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
's The Canadian
The Canadian
The Canadian is a Canadian transcontinental passenger train originally operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1955 and 1978. It is currently operated as an Inter-city rail service by Via Rail Canada with service between Union Station in Toronto, Ontario and Pacific Central Station in...
.
This had been the case until 2004 for the Ocean as well, but the introduction of the Renaissance cars on the Ocean has resulted in both trains operating separately during the summer months (when trains are longer) and combined during the winter; the reason for this policy appears to be related to the braking effort of a combined train.
When operating separately, the Montreal – Gaspé train will run several minutes ahead of the Ocean. When combined, the trains run together as far as Matapédia, Quebec
Matapédia, Quebec
Matapédia is a village at the southern tip of the Gaspé peninsula, in Eastern Quebec, Canada. Matapedia is located on the 132 highway. Its name comes from a Mi'kmaq language word meaning "river junction", as the Matapédia River crosses it, at the junction of the Restigouche River...
, before the Ocean
Ocean (passenger train)
The Ocean is a Canadian passenger train operated by Via Rail between Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is currently the oldest continuously-operated named passenger train in North America. The Oceans schedule takes approximately 21 hours, running overnight in both directions...
continues to Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Montreal – Gaspé train proceeds to Gaspé.
Route
The following are stations served on the 1041 kilometres (646.8 mi) route, listed from west to east:- Central StationGare Centrale (Montreal)Central Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 18 million rail passengers use the station every year....
— MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... - Saint-Lambert railway station — Saint-Lambert, QuebecSaint-Lambert, QuebecSaint-Lambert is a Canadian city in the province of Quebec located opposite Montreal on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Saint-Lambert was named for either the early French Canadian hunter Lambert Closse or for Roman Catholic Bishop Lambert of Maastricht...
- Saint-Hyacinthe railway stationSaint-Hyacinthe railway stationThe Saint-Hyacinthe railway station is located at 1450 Sicotte Street in the city of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada.The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible. It is a stop for three Via Rail lines out of Montreal: several numbered Montreal-Quebec trains, the Montreal-Halifax train, the...
— Saint-Hyacinthe, QuebecSaint-Hyacinthe, QuebecSaint-Hyacinthe is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 55,823. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie region, and is traversed by the Yamaska River which flows... - Drummondville railway stationDrummondville railway stationThe Drummondville railway station is located at 263 Lindsay Street in the city of Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible....
— Drummondville - Charny railway stationCharny railway stationThe Charny railway station is located at 2326 rue de la Gare in the borough of Charny part of Lévis, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible....
— Charny, QuebecCharny, QuebecCharny is a community in central Quebec, Canada, south of Quebec City. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Formerly an independent city, Charny was merged with Lévis on January 1, 2002.-History:... - Montmagny railway stationMontmagny railway stationThe Montmagny railway station is located on Rue de la Station in the town of Montmagny, Quebec, Canada. The station is a flag stop. Montmagny is served by Via Rail's Ocean, and Montreal – Gaspé train. Both trains share the same rail line between Montreal and Matapédia...
— Montmagny, QuebecMontmagny, Quebec-External links:*... - La Pocatière railway stationLa Pocatière railway stationThe La Pocatière railway station is located on Avenue de la Gare in the town of La Pocatière, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and offers limited wheelchair accessibility. La Pocatière is served by Via Rail's Ocean, and Montreal – Gaspé train. Both trains share the same rail line between...
— La Pocatière, QuebecLa Pocatière, QuebecLa Pocatière is a town in the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality within the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.A Bombardier plant which manufactures subway and railway cars is located there. Educational institutions include the Collège de Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and the Cégep de La Pocatière... - Rivière-du-Loup railway stationRivière-du-Loup railway stationThe Rivière-du-Loup railway station is located on Rue Lafontaine in the small city of Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and offers limited wheelchair accessibility. Rivière-du-Loup is served by Via Rail's Ocean and Montreal – Gaspé train. Both trains share the same rail line...
— Rivière-du-Loup - Trois Pistoles railway stationTrois Pistoles railway stationThe Trois Pistoles railway station is located on Rue de la Gare in the town of Trois-Pistoles, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible. Trois Pistoles is served by Via Rail's Ocean, and Montreal – Gaspé train. Both trains share the same rail line between Montreal and...
— Trois-Pistoles, QuebecTrois-Pistoles, QuebecTrois-Pistoles is a town in and the seat of the Les Basques Regional County Municipality within the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec. It is also the county seat. The town is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River.... - Rimouski railway stationRimouski railway stationThe Rimouski railway station is located on Rue de l'Évèché in the city of Rimouski, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible. Rimouski is served by Via Rail's Ocean and Montreal – Gaspé train. Both trains share the same rail line between Montreal and Matapédia.-External...
— Rimouski - Mont-Joli railway stationMont-Joli railway stationThe Mont-Joli railway station is located on Avenue de la Gare in the city of Mont-Joli, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible. Mont-Joli is served by Via Rail's Ocean and Montreal – Gaspé train...
— Mont-Joli - Sayabec railway stationSayabec railway stationThe Sayabec railway station is located on Rue Boulay in the village of Sayabec, Quebec, Canada. The station is a flag stop with no ticket service. Sayabec is served by Via Rail's Ocean, and Montreal – Gaspé train...
— Sayabec - Amqui railway stationAmqui railway stationThe Amqui railway station is located on Boulevard Saint-Benoît Boulevard Ouest in the town of Amqui, Quebec, Canada. The station is a heated and semi-staffed shelter equipped with washrooms and is wheelchair-accessible. Amqui is served by Via Rail's Ocean, and Montreal – Gaspé train...
— Amqui - Causapscal railway stationCausapscal railway stationThe Causapscal railway station is located at 142 Rue St-Jacques Sud near the end of Rue Cartier in the village of Causapscal, Quebec, Canada. The station is a flag stop with no ticket sales. Causapscal is served by Via Rail's Ocean, and Montreal – Gaspé train. Both trains share the same rail line...
— Causapscal, QuebecCausapscal, QuebecCausapscal is a city in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in La Matapédia Regional County Municipality. The city's name derives from the Mi'kmaq word Goesôpsiag, meaning "rocky point".... - Matapédia railway stationMatapédia railway stationThe Matapédia railway station is located on rue MacDonnell in the village of Matapédia, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and wheelchair-accessible.Matapédia is the junction between two rail lines...
— Matapédia, QuebecMatapédia, QuebecMatapédia is a village at the southern tip of the Gaspé peninsula, in Eastern Quebec, Canada. Matapedia is located on the 132 highway. Its name comes from a Mi'kmaq language word meaning "river junction", as the Matapédia River crosses it, at the junction of the Restigouche River... - Nouvelle railway stationNouvelle railway stationThe Nouvelle railway station is a flag stop on Via Rail's Gaspé Peninsula line in Nouvelle, Quebec Canada.It is on the corner of Maguire Street and Station Street ....
— Nouvelle, QuebecNouvelle, QuebecNouvelle is a municipality in eastern Quebec, Canada on the south shore of the Gaspésie at the confluence of the Nouvelle River and Baie des Chaleurs. It is the seat of the MRC d'Avignon.... - Carleton railway stationCarleton railway stationThe Carleton railway station is located in the town of Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed with limited wheelchair accessibility....
— Carleton, Quebec - New Richmond railway stationNew Richmond railway stationThe New Richmond railway station is located on rue McCormick in the town of New Richmond, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed with limited wheelchair accessibility....
— New Richmond, QuebecNew Richmond, QuebecNew Richmond is an incorporated municipality in Quebec, Canada situated on the southern coast of the Gaspé Peninsula between the municipalities of Maria and Caplan. The first European settlers arrived from Scotland in 1755. The first arrivals were the Duthie brothers, George and John Duthie and... - Caplan railway stationCaplan railway stationThe Caplan railway station is a flag stop railway station in Caplan, Quebec, Canada....
— Caplan, QuebecCaplan, QuebecCaplan is a municipality in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of the province of Quebec in Canada.... - Bonaventure railway stationBonaventure railway stationThe Bonaventure railway station is a staffed Via Rail station in the town of Bonaventure, Quebec, Canada....
— Bonaventure, QuebecBonaventure, QuebecBonaventure is a town on the Gaspé Peninsula in the Bonaventure Regional County Municipality of Quebec. It is located on Baie des Chaleurs near the mouth of the Bonaventure River... - New Carlisle railway stationNew Carlisle railway stationThe New Carlisle railway station is a staffed Via Rail station on rue Vimy in the town of New Carlisle, Quebec, Canada....
— New Carlisle, QuebecNew Carlisle, QuebecNew Carlisle, Quebec is a small town in the Gaspé region of Quebec, best known as the boyhood home of René Lévesque; although he was born at Campbellton, New Brunswick. The population is approximately 1430, half English-speaking and half French-speaking... - Port-Daniel railway stationPort-Daniel railway stationThe Port-Daniel railway station is a staffed Via Rail station on Route 132 in Port-Daniel–Gascons, Quebec, Canada....
— Port-Daniel, Quebec - Chandler railway stationChandler railway stationThe Chandler railway station is located on Rue de la Plage in the city of Chandler, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible....
— Chandler, QuebecChandler, QuebecThe port of Chandler was founded in 1912 when Percy Milton Chandler, a Philadelphia manufacturer, built the first pulp and paper mill in the Gaspésie at the site. This city of 7914 is the birthplace of NHL player Mathieu Garon. It is located at 48°21′N latitude, 64°41′ longitude. Its elevation is... - Grande-Rivière railway stationGrande-Rivière railway stationThe Grande-Rivière railway station is located on Rue du Parc in the city of Grande-Rivière, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible....
— Grande-Rivière, QuebecGrande-Rivière, QuebecGrande-Rivière is a city in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of the province of Québec in Canada.... - Percé railway stationPercé railway stationThe Percé railway station is located on rue L'Anse à Beaufils 11 km southwest of the village of Percé, Quebec, Canada. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible....
— Percé, QuebecPercé, QuebecPercé is a small village near the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec. As a municipality, it is 432.39 square km in area. It has a long history of being an important seasonal fishing centre under the French... - Barachois railway stationBarachois railway stationThe Barachois railway station is a staffed Via Rail station on Route 132 in the town of Barachois, Quebec, Canada. It is served by the Montreal – Gaspé train....
— Barachois, Quebec - Gaspé railway stationGaspé railway stationThe Gaspé railway station is located on Rue de la Marina in the city of Gaspé, Quebec, Canada.It is the final stopover of Via Rail's Montreal – Gaspé train. The station is staffed and is wheelchair-accessible. The station is only open on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday with Interac being accepted....
— Gaspé, QuebecGaspé, QuebecGaspé is a city at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region of eastern Quebec, Canada. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 14,819....
The tracks this train operates on have changed ownership several times in recent years.
Until 1998, the tracks from Montreal to Gaspé were owned by Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
(CN). That year, CN sold the lines between Rivière-du-Loup to Matapedia, as well as Matapedia to Gaspé to Quebec Railway Corporation which established two subsidiary companies, the Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe
Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe
The Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe, , is a railroad in eastern Québec, that links up Rivière-du-Loup to Chandler, Quebec.-History:...
(Matapedia & Gulf Railway) and Chemin de fer Baie des Chaleurs
Chemin de fer Baie des Chaleurs
The Chemin de fer Baie des Chaleurs is a rail line in Canada. The line began began operations in December 1996 as a subsidiary of the Quebec Railway Corporation, after being previously a part of CN. Its system consists of a single track linking Matapédia to Gaspé, Quebec...
(Chaleur Bay Railway) respectively. In 2001, CFBC sold the portion of the Matepdia to Gaspé line east of Chandler to Chemin de fer de la Gaspésie (Gaspé Railway) which is owned by local municipalities with maintenance contracted to CFBC. In 2007, CFG purchased the remainder of the line from Matapedia to Chandler after the CFBC listed it for abandonment. In 2008, CN purchased the CFMG line from Rivière-du-Loup to Matapedia, returning ownership of this line after QRC encountered financial difficulty.
See also
- Nightstar (train)Nightstar (train)The Nightstar was a proposed overnight sleeper service from various parts of Britain to continental Europe, via the Channel Tunnel. To run alongside the Eurostar and north of London day time Regional Eurostar services, the Nightstar was the last part in a round the clock passenger train...
the Alstom built UK rolling stock that was converted to "Renaissance" cars for use on the Montreal – Gaspé train