The Ocean

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The Ocean began operation by the Intercolonial Railway of Canada (IRC) in June 1904 as the Ocean Limited, a summer only limited stop passenger train between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Montréal, Québec.  It is the oldest named passenger train service in Canada that remains operating today.  The Canadian National Railways assumed its operation in 1918 after the merger with the IRC; the train was renamed to the Ocean in 1966.


Train 15 the Ocean at Halifax Station prepping for departure

Today the Ocean operates 6 days a week as Via Rail Canada Train 14 and 15, it offers a 21 hour transit time over the 836 miles of trackage (1,346 km) between Montréal and Halifax.  The Ocean is also the only long distance train in Canada today using the Renaissance equipment Via Rail purchased from Alstom (France) in early 2000s.  During the peak seasons, the Ocean also uses a stainless steel Park car Via Rail inherited from the Canadian Pacific Railway at the tail end of the train.

Park car at the tail end of the Ocean

Unlike the former Atlantic, another Via Rail passenger train linking Montréal and Halifax (modified from the Canadian Pacific Atlantic Limited), the entire route of the Ocean stays within Canadian boarders.  From Montréal, the Ocean travels along the south side of the St. Lawrence River and the scenic shore of the Chaleur Bay via Campbellton, Miramichi, and Moncton, New Brunswick to Halifax.  The Ocean currently operates jointly with the Chaleur (the Montréal Gaspé, QC Train 16 and 17) as one train between Montréal and northern Québec.

Combined Chaleur and Ocean approaching Montréal Central Station

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hadn't realized the Ocean's been serving Montreal - Halifax for so long :) Thanks for sharing.

Vivian is Virtual
VIA Rail's tour guide
Jul 13, 2010, 12:38:00 AM
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