either from the east as it came in from (if turned around prior), or from the west. In the latter case, the train would then proceed north along the Newmarket Subdivision, shared by GO Transit's Barrie line. This subdivision was the route for the transcontinental train until the 1990s as far north as Washago; however, the train only continues as far as Snyder Diamond in Vaughan today. At this point, the train backs up for about five minutes in order to connect with the York Subdivision. After that, the train heads eastbound towards Thornhill in western Markham to meet up with the Bala Subdivision at Doncaster Diamond and from there continue Northwest leaving the Greater Toronto Area towards Washago and eventually Vancouver. Ridership, subsidies, and fares In 2014, the train served 93,810 passengers receiving a government subsidy of $591 per entrained passenger or $0.50 per passenger mile. Because the Canadian is used primarily by tourists, these subsidies have been the source of significant criticism. Economy fares on the Canadian between major cities are comparable to scheduled air travel, in some cases are significantly less. Escape fares and Canrailpass purchases can sometimes compare favourably to the cheapest equivalent air fares, Special promotions can drop that price even further, especially outside the busy summer season. Sleeper Plus service between major cities is usually more expensive than air travel, even after deals, but includes meals, accommodation, and some entertainment options. Seniors, military members, former railway employees, serving Members of Parliament/Senate, and children are often eligible for additional discounts. Via also offers discounted/complimentary transportation for artists willing to entertain passengers through their "Artists on Board" program. Use in popular culture A documentary on The Canadian is featured on the Discovery Channel’s TV show Mighty Trains in Season One, Episode Three. The Canadian is the setting for Murder on the Canadian, a children's mystery novel by Eric Wilson. References Classic Trains, Spring 2005, Kalmbach Publishing, ISSN 1527-0718 pg. 58–69 External links The Canadian | Via Rail's official site Westbound schedule Eastbound schedule Canadian Pacific Railway passenger trains Named passenger trains of Canada Named passenger trains of Ontario Night trains of Canada Passenger rail transport in Alberta Passenger rail transport in British Columbia Passenger rail transport in Manitoba Passenger rail transport in Toronto Passenger rail transport in Greater Sudbury Passenger rail transport in Quebec Passenger rail transport in Saskatchewan Railway services introduced in 1955 Via Rail