VIA Rail rarely fails... to disappoint

One of the things I struggle to understand about our glorious leaders and their attempts to mitigate climate change is how they consistently fail to put in place reasonable alternatives to the automobile. Like trains, for example.

Having been, so we constantly hear, built on the railroad, the European colonization of North America should at least have the benefit of a good, reliable, reasonably priced train network that can get you from A to B (and occasionally to C) on time and without breaking the bank. 

We decided to give Ottawacker Jr. a special treat by taking him home from Quebec City on the train (he has always had a thing about trains). The journey by car takes about 4.5 hours (5 if Mrs. Ottawacker is driving, which she was, as I got the long straw and travelled by train). Now VIA Rail did a lot of things right. The one-way tickets were on special offer ($100 for the two of us) and they had a must-wear-mask policy, which meant we could travel without wondering which scrotal sack nearby had Covid and wasn't isolating.

But there were so many issues. First, timing. To get back from Quebec City in time for Ottawacker Jr.'s goalkeeping practice, we had to either travel at 6 in the morning or at at noon. No in-between options. Then there is the length of journey. 4.5 hours by car.... 6.5 hours by train. How is that possible? Food options on the train? A trolley - with no coffee and one type of sandwich. And then, of course, lateness. Having promised us arrival at 6.20, we eventually made it into Ottawa at 7.25. 

So what will we do next time we go to Quebec City? Obviously, we'll take the car - and until some sort of constant commitment is made to making it reliable, convenient and available, it is what most people will do. This isn't rocket science. North America is appalling in terms of alternatives to the automobile. It needs to change.

Ottawacker Jr. had fun though...