There is enough demand and capacity for LH and DB to cooperate as intermodal partners/competitors. Unfortunately even within the high population Ontario-Quebec corridor there is not enough traffic to create a comfortable complementary service between VIA and PORTER, though I agree it would be an innovative initiative. If three quarters of residents within the two provinces key cities were to give up their cars, then such services would become viable, and I suspect VIA would even become a profitable (on operations) entity. But as long as NAmerica is auto-centric, efficient and cost-effective mass transit will never dominate as in Europe and Asia.

VIA has improved its corridor services and I've never experienced a major delay on trips to/from Ottawa/Montreal/Toronto. When real issues occur, it tends to be beyond VIA's control -- like a freight train derailing on the mainline. With a dedicated track, VIA would be even better. But what AC could learn from VIA is corporate communications. Every time there is one of these major interruptions on these lines, I get an email alert. Even when I am not booked to travel.