Montreal to Ottawa and back on the new bike rack equipped VIA Ventura train

  Bicycle carriage on VIA corridor trains has not been possible since baggage cars were removed early in the pandemic (2020). The Montreal Gazette reported in May 202 VIA as saying “As soon as we have enough of the new trains in service to ensure that bikes can be transported in both directions, we will gradually bring that service back".      VIA seems to have placed a lot of emphasis on the word gradual as there are now multiple ways of ensuring that bikes can be transported. A.T. Lane's 2 April 2024 Fixture to Ottawa helps demonstrate  just how gradual VIA rail's policy is. 

 A. T. and VIA rail had much email discussion about using the bike racks on the new VIA Ventura to take a regular sized bicycle on a planned 2 April Fixture to Ottawa.  However, the emails led to nothing and when 2 April finally arrived, A.T. rather sheepishly capitulated.   Rather than attempting to take a regular sized bike on the train, he took his Brompton folding bike on another Ottawa excursion.   He knew from his homework before setting off,  that both the Tuesday 6:20 AM morning train 31 to Ottawa  and the afternoon return (train 28) would both be on the  new bike rack equipped VIA Ventura trains (11:00 mark on video).   Sure enough he took pictures of both train's empty bike racks.

   

Empty bike rack on 2 April 2024 Ventura train 31 from Montreal to Ottawa

Empty bike rack on 2 April 2024 Ventura train 28 from Ottawa to Montreal

   Other than an affection for the word gradual, there is no reason that VIA could not be offering full size bicycle carriage on their Ottawa-Montreal- Quebec City trains now.  None of the other MBC members have folding bicycles and nobody could came along on this Fixture.  Hopefully VIA will permit these bike racks to be used soon rather than wait until 2025.

  Aside from the fact A.T. was alone on a folding bike, the excursion was quite pleasant.  The Ventura train is fast, modern, and comfortable. The Ottawa station, although not located downtown is quite nice and easily connects to the OC Transpo LRT.

A.T. took the LRT from the Tremblay station to Rideau, and had breakfast at the ByWard Market.

 

Hunger satisfied, he rode past the Parliament buildings, taking note of possible bike rental shops nearby for future excursions.

  Unsure as to how to spend the day, he decided to ride over to the Canadian War Museum for a visit.  The bike paths near that museum are a bit complex and he ended up overshooting and took a few pictures of the OC LRT Bayview station where the East - West and North - South trains connect.   Surprisingly, the North South line was shut down for testing.

Eventually he found his way to the War Museum,  there was plenty of space to park the folding bicycle.

The Museum lobby itself was built to a similar scale.

The exhibits however were very interesting and extensive.

After that A.T. rode the bike back to the train station and was back home in Montreal in time for supper.