Timetable of the Atlantic in 1988.

Map comparing the routes of VIA's Atlantic and Ocean trains from Montreal, QC to Moncton, NB

The Atlantic was a passenger train operated by VIA Rail, serving both Canadian and U.S. territory between Montreal, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was previously operated by Canadian Pacific Railway as The Atlantic Limited between Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick. It formed part of the transcontinental service for both systems. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 315 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (566 × 1078 pixel, file size: 361 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Scan of a the timetable of the Atlantic Limited in 1988. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 315 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (566 × 1078 pixel, file size: 361 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Scan of a the timetable of the Atlantic Limited in 1988. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about trains in rail transport. ... VIA Rail Canada (also referred to as VIA Rail and VIA; pronounced vee-ah) is an independent Crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... This article needs cleanup. ... Motto: Template:Unhide = E Mari Merces (Wealth from the Sea) Logo: Location City Information Established: April 1, 1996 Area: (former city) 79. ... An eastbound CPR freight at Stoney Creek Bridge in Rogers Pass. ... Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ... A transcontinental railroad is a railway that crosses a continent, typically from sea to sea. Terminals are at or connected to different oceans. ...

The Atlantic and its predecessor The Atlantic Limited (along with several other CPR local trains) was the only passenger rail service in the U.S. state of Maine from the early 1960s until discontinuance of operations in December 1994. The Atlantic also holds a unique spot in U.S. railroading history as it operated the last regular-service steam-heated passenger train in the United States until VIA converted its trainsets to "head end power" in 1993. Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

Since its cancellation, citizen's groups in southern New Brunswick and the Eastern Townships of Quebec have periodically organized petitions or lobbied to have the VIA Atlantic service reinstated. An effort to form an organization to offer a non-VIA service has also emerged, known as the Atlantic Passenger Railway Project. Motto: Spem reduxit (Hope restored) Capital Fredericton Largest city Saint John Official languages English, French (the only constitutionally bilingual province in the country) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Herménégilde Chiasson - Premier Shawn Graham (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 10 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st... The Eastern Townships (in French les Cantons de lest) is a region in south central Quebec, lying between the Saint Lawrence River and the US border. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water...

The Atlantic Limited

Inaugurated by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as a "limited stop" service on September 25, 1955, The Atlantic Limited used numbers 41/42 (westbound/eastbound) and took the schedule and equipment for what were previously numbered trains between Montreal, Quebec (Windsor Station) and Saint John, New Brunswick (Union Station). The service operated overnight using the CPR's former International Railway of Maine line which formed the direct route between Saint John and Montreal. Although this was CPR's first named passenger train to the Maritimes, daily passenger service had been offered since 1889. An eastbound CPR freight at Stoney Creek Bridge in Rogers Pass. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Windsor Station was a train station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, formerly serving as the citys central station. ... Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ... The International Railway of Maine was a historic railroad operating between Megantic, Quebec and Mattawamkeag, Maine. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The Atlantic Limited saw the first major change to its route around 1970 when the Saint John Union Station was demolished and CPR's Mill Street yard redeveloped to accommodate the Saint John Throughway and associated urban redevelopment. A new passenger station was built on the city's west side in the former city of Lancaster where new rail yards were developed. During the 1970s, CPR operated the service at minimal levels with usually a single 1800-class E8 locomotive (one of only three, later two, operated in Canada, both by CPR) and a baggage, coach, diner, and sleeper car. Some of the stainless steel Budd Company cars originally ordered for The Canadian also made their way onto this train and there was infrequent availability of a dome car as well. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... New Brunswick Highway 1 (also Route 1) is an important highway in the southern part of the Canadian province of New Brunswick. ... Lancaster was a small city on the west side of the Saint John River at its mouth into the Bay of Fundy. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... Rock Island E8 #652, operated by Midland Railway of Baldwin City, Kansas. ... Budd logo A rear view of Santa Fes El Capitan and its Budd-built observation car as it approaches the Raton Tunnel (Colorado side) on June 26, 1938. ... VIA Rail Canadas The Canadian The Canadian is a Canadian transcontinental passenger train originally operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway. ...

While The Atlantic Limited name was only used officially after 1955 on the Montreal-Saint John service, the name, or a variation of it, has possibly seen use for a service which operated on CPR and CPR-subsidiary Soo Line between Minneapolis, Minnesota, via Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec to Saint John, New Brunswick, beginning in 1889 following the completion of the line to Saint John. It is possible that the name "Atlantic Limited" was officially used on the Soo Line portion between Minneapolis-Sault Ste. Marie, although only numbered trains officially existed east of Montreal between 1889-1955. An extension to the Minneapolis-Montreal-Saint John service operated between Montreal and Boston, Massachusetts (in partnership with the Boston and Maine Railroad), possibly using the name Atlantic Express. 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: Rail stubs | Defunct railroad companies of the United States | Illinois railroads | Michigan railroads | Minnesota railroads | North Dakota railroads | South Dakota railroads | Wisconsin railroads ... Nickname: City of Lakes Motto: En Avant (French: Lets go!) Location in Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota. ... Nickname: Motto: Naturally Gifted Coordinates: Country Canada Province Ontario District Algoma District Incorporated 1887 (town), 1912 (city) Government  - City Mayor John Rowswell  - Governing body The Corporation of the City of Sault Sainte Marie  - MPs Tony Martin  - MPPs David Orazietti Area  - City  276 sq mi (715 km²) Elevation  630 ft (192... This article is about the capital city of Canada. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Suffolk County Government  - Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area  - City  89. ... 1898 map The Boston and Maine Railroad (AAR reporting marks BM), also known by the abbreviation B&M, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century. ...

Atlantic

In 1978, VIA Rail was created out of a Canadian National Railway subsidiary to become Canada's national passenger rail service. In October of that year, VIA negotiated the take-over of CPR passenger service, although routes, equipment and schedules did not change until the summer of 1979. Thus for the first few months after VIA was created, the company included The Atlantic Limited in its timetable and the service continued to operate using the same CPR equipment and crews. In the summer of 1979 this was changed with the name The Atlantic Limited shortened to the bilingually appropriate Atlantic/Atlantique. Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... VIA Rail Canada (also referred to as VIA Rail and VIA; pronounced vee-ah) is an independent Crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. ... The Canadian National Railway (CN; AAR reporting marks CN, CNA, CNIS), known as Canadian National Railways (CNR) between 1918 and 1960, and Canadian National/Canadien National (CN) from 1960 to present, is a Canadian Class I railway operated by Canadian National Railway Company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

At the same time, service was extended effective October 1979 with a new eastern terminus at Halifax, Nova Scotia and the 1970s-era CPR passenger station in Saint John was closed in lieu of a new station in that city's downtown. The extension of the train to Halifax was made possible by VIA's decision to not continue a CN train named the Scotian, thus the Atlantic assumed that train's numbers of 11/12 (westbound/eastbound) and equipment. Motto: Template:Unhide = E Mari Merces (Wealth from the Sea) Logo: Location City Information Established: April 1, 1996 Area: (former city) 79. ...

Under VIA, the Atlantic became a well-used train, given the shorter route (by 150 miles) over the Ocean, and the fact that the Atlantic served the cities of Saint John, New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick and Sherbrooke, Quebec, in addition to many smaller towns and villages in between. Ocean (passenger train) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Fredericpolis silvae filia noblis (Fredericton noble daughter of the forest) Established: {{{Established}}} Area: 131. ... Motto: Ne quid nimis Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Settled 1793 Government  - Mayor Jean Perrault  - Governing body Sherbrooke City Council  - MPs Serge Cardin  - MNAs Jean Charest Area  - City 353. ...

However increased patronage of the Atlantic did not meet VIA targets, although some might say it did not cross as much politically-crucial territory in Quebec as the Ocean. Thus in the VIA budget cuts by the Trudeau government in 1981, the Atlantic was terminated in lieu of Budd RDC service between Halifax-Moncton-Saint John-Fredericton. During this time, Fredericton saw its first passenger trains since the early 1960s. For other uses, see Pierre Elliott Trudeau (disambiguation). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ...

Southwestern New Brunswickers were incensed at the cutting of the Atlantic's route, one which had seen daily passenger rail service in both directions between Saint John and Montreal since the International Railway of Maine opened in 1889. Community leaders along the route, led by rookie Saint John mayor Elsie Wayne, quickly rallied local populations to lobby the federal government. After several years and a personal promise by Brian Mulroney that his government would reinstate VIA service on the route, the PC Party won election in 1984 and that December it was announced that the Atlantic would be returning to the rails. The International Railway of Maine was a historic railroad operating between Megantic, Quebec and Mattawamkeag, Maine. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Elsie Eleanore Wayne (born Fairweather) (born April 20, 1932 in Shediac, New Brunswick) is a Canadian politician. ... Martin Brian Mulroney, PC, CC, GOQ, LLD (born March 20, 1939), was the eighteenth Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In August 1985 the train was reinstated on its former route between Halifax and Montreal, although VIA made some changes to its operations in the Maritimes to accommodate the Atlantic. The Ocean service was actually downgraded to just a Montreal-Moncton train with a platform connection to the through Atlantic. This lasted until the 1989 budget cuts to VIA which saw service on both routes reduced to 3 days/week in each direction (alternating days) beginning on January 15, 1990. From 1990 until December 16, 1994, the Atlantic operated consistently on its 3 day/week service which saw it share an equipment pool with the Ocean. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ocean (passenger train) - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Moncton (46°6′ N 64°46′ W) is the second largest city in the Canadian province of New Brunswick and is at the heart of the fastest growing urban area in the province. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

In 1993, the owner of the tracks between Saint John and Montreal, CPR, began to look for potential buyers of its former International Railway of Maine and associated lines. When it became apparent by summer 1994 that a buyer would not be found, CPR began the formal process of applying to abandon the entire route. Faced with uncertainty about the continuance of the operation after the abandonment date of December 31, VIA announced in October of that year that it would terminate the Atlantic effective December 17 (last trains leaving December 16) and switch its equipment to the Ocean which would jump to a 6 day/week schedule in each direction. Prior to the discontinuance of the Atlantic, CPR announced that it had made an agreement in principle with J.D. Irving Limited to buy the line and operate it as a shortline to be called New Brunswick Southern Railway, however VIA was not permitted at this time to operate on a shortline railway. Federal regulations stated that it must operate on one of the two national railways of Canada. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The International Railway of Maine was a historic railroad operating between Megantic, Quebec and Mattawamkeag, Maine. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... J.D. Irving Limited is a privately owned forestry, transportation and food processing holding company which forms part of the Irving group of companies. ... The New Brunswick Southern Railway (NBSR) is a 84 mile railway operating in New Brunswick between Saint John and the Canada-U.S. border at McAdam. ...

Abandonment of passenger service for the second time on this route (by the same political party) was especially controversial for southwestern New Brunswickers who viewed it as a convenient excuse by the federal government to cut the service for both shortsighted fiscal and strategic political reasons. Paul Martin was making aggressive budget cuts throughout the federal government, thus concentrating service on the Ocean's route would likely save some money. The Ocean also travelled a route that passed through then-Minister of Transport Doug Young's riding of Acadie-Bathurst. The Atlantic also passed through the only two ridings in the country which elected Progressive Conservatives - Elsie Wayne in Saint John and Jean Charest in Sherbrooke. It also didn't help that the Atlantic passed through Maine (U.S. territory) on its short route between Montreal and Saint John. Paul Edgar Philippe Martin (born August 28, 1938) was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada and a former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. ... In the Cabinet of Canada, the Minister of Transport (French: Ministre des Transports) is responsible for overseeing the federal governments transportation regulatory and development department, Transport Canada. ... The Honourable Meredith Douglas Doug Young, PC (born September 20, 1940) is a Canadian politician. ... Acadie—Bathurst is the name of a federal electoral district (riding) in New Brunswick, Canada. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 39th  - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²)  - Width 210 miles (338 km)  - Length 320 miles (515 km)  - % water 13. ...

Route

Canadian Pacific Railway

The route taken by The Atlantic Limited operated entirely on CPR trackage and passed through a very scenic portion of eastern Canada and northern New England including the Island of Montreal and the city's skyline and suburbs, the Richelieu River valley, the hills of the Eastern Townships, the Appalachian Mountains of western and central Maine, the level plateau and forests of eastern Maine, and the forests and mixed farmland in the St. John River valley. The route taken by the Atlantic Limited between Saint John and Montreal is the most direct rail link between the two cities. This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... The Island of Montreal (in French, île de Montréal), in extreme southwestern Quebec, Canada, is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. ... The Richelieu River in Quebec, Canada flows about 130 km north to drain Lake Champlain into the St. ... The Eastern Townships (in French les Cantons de lest) is a region in south central Quebec, lying between the Saint Lawrence River and the US border. ... A rainy day in the Great Smoky Mountains, Western North Carolina The Appalachian Mountains are a vast system of North American mountains mostly in the United States, and partly in Canada, forming a zone, from 100 to 300 miles wide, running from the island of Newfoundland some 1,500 miles... The Saint John River is a river, approximately 418 mi (673 km) long, located in the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. ...

Communities served include (west to east):

• Montreal, Quebec (Windsor Station)
• St-Jean, Quebec
• Farnham, Quebec
• Sherbrooke, Quebec
• Lennoxville, Quebec
• Megantic, Quebec
• Greenville, Maine
• Brownville Junction, Maine
• Mattawamkeag, Maine
• McAdam, New Brunswick
• Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick
• Saint John, New Brunswick (Union Station, later changed to West Saint John station ca. 1970)

This article needs cleanup. ... Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a city in Quebec, Canada about 50 km southeast of Montreal. ... Farnham is a town located in the province of Quebec, Canada. ... Motto: Ne quid nimis Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Settled 1793 Government  - Mayor Jean Perrault  - Governing body Sherbrooke City Council  - MPs Serge Cardin  - MNAs Jean Charest Area  - City 353. ... SLennoxville, population 4,963 (2001), is a borough (Fr. ... Lac-Mégantic is a town in southeastern Quebec, Canada on a lake of the same name. ... Greenville is a Maine town located in Piscataquis County on Moosehead Lake. ... Brownville is a town located in Piscataquis County, Maine. ... Mattawamkeag is a town located in Penobscot County, Maine. ... McAdam is a village located in southwestern New Brunswick, Canada. ... Fredericton Junction is a village on the Oromocto River in south-central New Brunswick, Canada, approximately 45 kilometres southeast of Fredericton. ... Saint John[3] is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick and the oldest incorporated city in Canada. ...

VIA Rail

Following the assumption of service by VIA Rail in 1979 until discontinuance in 1981 and restoration of service in 1985 until discontinuance in 1994, the Atlantic followed a somewhat different route, with the most obvious change being the extension over CN trackage east of Saint John to Halifax. There was a subtle change between Montreal and Lennoxville too, where VIA wished to consolidate its trains at the former CN Central Station in Montreal. Leaving Montreal, the Atlantic followed the route of the Ocean on CN trackage through St. Hyacinthe to Acton Vale, where it turned south on CN tracks and followed the St. Francois River valley into the Eastern Townships to Sherbrooke where it regained CP tracks. From Sherbrooke to Saint John, the Atlantic followed the same route as its predecessor The Atlantic Limited. East of Saint John, the train followed a similarly scenic route through the Kennebecasis River valley and its mixed farmland to Moncton and then followed the same route as the Ocean crossing the Tantramar Marshes, the Wentworth Valley, the edge of Cobequid Bay and mixed farmland through central Nova Scotia to Halifax. Acton Vale is a town in south-central Quebec, Canada and is the seat of the MRC dActon. ... The Kennebecasis River, pronounced ke-ne-buh-KAY-sis, is located in southern New Brunswick, Canada. ... A typical view of the Marsh The Tantramar Marshes are on the southern part of the Isthmus of Chignecto, which joins Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and the Canadian mainland. ... The Wentworth Valley is a valley in the Cobequid Hills of northwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. ... Cobequid Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy and the easternmost part of the Minas Basin, located in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. ...

• Montreal, Quebec (Central Station)
• St. Hyacinthe, Quebec
• Richmond, Quebec
• Sherbrooke, Quebec
• Lennoxville, Quebec
• Megantic, Quebec
• Greenville, Maine
• Brownville Junction, Maine
• Mattawamkeag, Maine
• McAdam, New Brunswick
• Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick
• Saint John, New Brunswick (new station downtown)
• Sussex, New Brunswick
• Moncton, New Brunswick
• Sackville, New Brunswick
• Amherst, Nova Scotia
• Truro, Nova Scotia
• Halifax, Nova Scotia