VIA Rail

[plam]

The whole point of VIA Rail's argument is that the freedom is more about schedule flexibility than speed. Schedule flexibility is probably cheaper to achieve than speed as well. And VIA wants to make the additional argument that you can then do stuff in the train which you can't in the car.

Sure, I get that's their point.  I'm just saying I don't buy it (at least in the simplistic form).

Once train travel time is slightly better than car travel time - I'd agree that frequency is probably more important.  But until then, I think lots of people will just write the train off.

Already is, according to Google Maps and my experience. Google Maps says 5h by train and 5h8 by car from Montreal Gare Centrale to Toronto Union Station.