Train de Charlevoix

The Train de Charlevoix is a tourist rail service between Beauport (Chutes Montmorency) and La Malbaie, Quebec, with an additional stop in Baie-Saint-Paul and in the winter at the Le Massif ski area, a distance of about 140 kilometres (87 mi).[1] It is owned and operated by Le Massif de Charlevoix, which also owns the Le Massif ski area.[1]

Train de Charlevoix
The train seen crossing the river downstream of Montmorency Falls
LocaleCharlevoix & Capitale-Nationale regions of Quebec
TerminusMontmorency Falls
La Malbaie
Commercial operations
Built byQuebec, Montmorency and Charlevoix Railway
Original gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Owned byLe Massif de Charlevoix
Operated byLe Massif de Charlevoix
Preserved gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Commercial history
Closed to passengers(?)
ClosedN / A
Preservation history
2008Start of tourist operation
2008Track renovation
Website
Official website

The train no longer runs in the winter, so there is no service to the ski area. Service is offered from June to October. However as of 2019 the train will run in winter.[2]

History

Grand Trunk & Canadian National Railways

As early as 1928, regular year-round passenger service operated once a day as far as La Malbaie (then referred to as Murray Bay). A seasonal second train per day service operated from June to September from Quebec City.[3] By 1931, the service was extended to Montreal. At this time, only freight would continue to Clermont.[4] By 1944, the extra train operated during summer months was dropped from the schedule, resulting in a once-daily schedule year round.[5] In February 1971, Canadian National Railways extended service to Clermont.[6]

VIA Rail Canada

In 1977, VIA Rail Canada took over operation of most Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railways passenger services. By this time, Gare du Palais was closed for renovations, and Ste-Foy became the origin of all trains on the route, with a stop at Limoilou near the core of Quebec City. VIA Rail began operating the service daily with Budd RDCs.[7] VIA Rail cancelled the train by the end of 1977.[8]

Current tourist railway

Work on starting the train began in September 2008, when renovation of Charlevoix Railway trackage began, partially funded by grants from the national and provincial governments, and with a total cost of C$18.4 million.[9][10] In April 2010, work began on rebuilding eight railcars at a cost of close to $5 million;[11] the cars were originally built in 1955 and 1956 by the St. Louis Car Company and were previously used in commuter rail service in Chicago.[1] Once refitted, the eight cars had a total capacity of 550 people, and along with two MLW RS-18 locomotives comprise the rolling stock used for the train.[1][11] The refurbished rolling stock is now in storage, with the current rolling stock being two married pairs of DB Class 628.1,[12] with a third added in 2018 for increased service.[13] In early 2019, it was announced that the train would begin operating during the winter months in partnership with a new Club Med location opening at the ski hill.[2]

List of stations

See also

References
  1. "Charlevoix Ski Train Ready to Roll". First Tracks!! Online. 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  2. D'Amboise, Charles (February 10, 2019). "Club Med : le train de Charlevoix roulera en hiver". ICI Quebec. CBC News. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  3. Canadian National Railways: Local Timetables. Canadian National Railways. 20 May 1928. p. 33.
  4. Grand Trunk Railway System, Canadian National Railways System Timetable. Montreal: Grand Trunk Railway. 28 June 1931. pp. 53–54.
  5. Canadian National Railways in Connection with Grand Trunk Railway System Timetable. Montreal: Canadian National Railways. 26 November 1944. p. 27.
  6. Canadian National Railways Grand Trunk Wetern system time table. Montreal: Canadian National. 1 February 1971. p. 7.
  7. VIA CN/CP Rail System Timetable. Montreal: Canadian National Railways. 31 October 1976. p. 3.
  8. VIA System Timetable. Montreal: VIA Rail Canada. 24 April 1977. p. 12.
  9. "GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND QUEBEC INVEST IN FUTURE OF CHARLEVOIX TOURIST TRAIN". Le Massif. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  10. "Summary of investments" (PDF). Le Massif. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  11. "Renovations begin on rail cars for new Charlevoix Ski Train". The Ski Channel. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  12. "Histoires de train". Archived from the original on 2016-09-05. Retrieved 2016-09-04.
  13. "Un troisième train s'ajoute au Train de Charlevoix". Radio-Canada. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBC Canada. September 11, 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2019.

Official website

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