VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) recently reached its 100,000^th booking with its new reservation system which offers passengers an easy and intuitive booking process and a wide range of new functionalities.

The scope of this key modernization project goes far beyond the update of a reservation system as the Corporation completely replaced the booking platform and carried out a full overhaul of all related infrastructure and systems (such as the loyalty program and Point-of-Sale systems) along with the integration in other existing systems. Knowing that it was such a complex and large-scale endeavour, VIA Rail is pleased to report that there were very few disruptions for its passengers. Any issues raised were addressed quickly and VIA Rail continues to closely monitor the system's behaviour.

"This new reservation system, designed with our customers in mind, is a crucial element of our transformation," said Mario Péloquin, President and Chief Executive Officer. "2023 is a pivotal year for all of us at VIA Rail with the realization of various modernization projects and, with the implementation of this nationwide initiative, we are laying the foundations for tomorrow's improved customer experience."

With this new system, our passengers will be able to enjoy, amongst others:

• An increased autonomy and a simplified process to book online for a wider variety of needs (specific needs, pets, service animals);
• A fully user-friendly experience on all devices;
• Autonomous booking modifications and upgrades;
• Autonomous seat selection in the Corridor.

Passenger rail is a future-oriented mode of transportation. As such, this new reservation system was also developed with organizational sustainability in mind and is designed to evolve over time so that VIA Rail can stay aligned with the changing needs and expectations of present and future passengers.

For more information on VIA Rail's new reservation system, we invite you to consult ourwebsite. 

The High Frequency Rail project will be the largest Canadian infrastructure project in generations. Once operational, the rail line will span the Québec City to Toronto corridor with dedicated passenger tracks. This transformational project will provide clean, safe, and efficient travel, drive our economy, and strengthen our partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Today, the Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant, Pablo Rodriguez, announced the launch of the Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP process will be ongoing until summer 2024. Following the evaluation period, the Government of Canada will select the group who will become the private developer partner to work collaboratively with VIA HFR to design and develop the High Frequency Rail project.

To maximize public benefits and innovation, RFP bidders will have to develop two solutions with respect to speed. One solution must include trains that can reach a maximum speed of 200 kilometres per hour, which is faster than the service offered today. The second solution must include high speed segments for faster travel. This will allow for a rigorous assessment of the costs and benefits of incorporating high speed rail on each segment of the Corridor.

Advancing Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is a priority for the Government of Canada, and early engagement with Indigenous communities is already underway. Indigenous engagement is critical to the success of the project. As part of the RFP process, bidders will be required to detail their plans for Indigenous participation in the High Frequency Rail project and how they would facilitate opportunities for sharing the socio-economic benefits with Indigenous Peoples.

The High Frequency Rail project's competitive procurement process follows the highest standards of fairness and transparency. It is overseen by an independent Fairness Monitor, who acts as an objective, third-party observer to safeguard the integrity of the procurement process. National security and related risks will also be assessed, along with measures to address such risks.

High Frequency Rail is a transformational project that will fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Québec and Ontario, notably for communities who will be newly served by passenger rail service such as Trois-Rivières and Peterborough.

VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce the reintroduction of two round trips between Toronto and Ottawa and one round trip between London and Toronto, starting this October.

"The ongoing progressive introduction of VIA Rail's 32 new trainsets is already yielding positive results, as recent increases in equipment availability, coupled with intense recruitment and training efforts, are now allowing us to reintroduce these high-demand frequencies," said Mario Péloquin, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we continue to strike a balance between meeting our passengers' evolving travel needs and deploying our limited resources, we remain committed to offering the most convenient, accessible and sustainable service to the highest number of Canadians."

Returning frequencies

Passengers can start booking their trips on train 82/83 as of today and on the other returning frequencies over the next week.

*To accommodate those changes, the Saturday trip on train 44 will be cancelled starting October 28.

Source : VIA Rail Canada

Today, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mario Péloquin, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Françoise Bertrand, were at Winnipeg Union Station, one of VIA Rail Canada's (VIA Rail) Heritage Stations, to announce investments designed to protect these buildings and ensure they reflect today's standards.

VIA Rail is privileged to own Heritage Stations across its network that have played an integral role in Canada's rail history. Between 2020 and 2025, VIA Rail will have invested over $80M for the renovation of four of its Heritage stations: Winnipeg Union Station, Vancouver Pacific Station, Halifax Station, and Gare du Palais in Québec City.

"These iconic stations embody the history of railroading, and by extension the creation of Canada, which we have a responsibility to protect," said Mario Péloquin, President and Chief Executive Officer. "With this announcement we are ensuring that VIA can continue to maintain these landmark buildings and that we improve the customer experience by making these stations more accessible and sustainable for future generations to enjoy."

Winnipeg Union Station

VIA Rail has invested over $25M in the renovation of Winnipeg Union Station, a cornerstone of our Western operations. These improvements will allow VIA Rail to continue to offer the best possible experience to users: one that is safe, comfortable, accessible, and sustainable.

"Our Winnipeg Union Station is a crucial point of our Western operations," said Françoise Bertrand, Chairperson of VIA Rail's Board of Directors. "It plays an important role in our ability to deliver our mandate as it is part of the lifeline service to communities in Northern Manitoba and gives access to the iconic Canadian that travels between Vancouver and Toronto."

Since 2020, VIA Rail has, among others, upgraded interior passenger platforms and created a more accessible experience with the elevators and escalators upgrades and exterior passenger platform replacement, which will be the first fully accessible platform on our long-distance and regional routes once completed at the end of the year.

All renovations to the station and train shed are being done within the guidelines of Parks Canada to respect the Heritage characteristics of the 1911 building. The Winnipeg Station also achieved LEED gold certification in 2022, making it the second station in our network to have received this Canada Green Building Council credential.

Additional Quote

"Union Station is a beautiful historical site right in the heart of our city's downtown. With this investment of over $25 million, VIA Rail is making good on its commitment to regional connectivity and continues to offer riders the safe, comfortable, accessible trip they've come to expect."

The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient, and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional, and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transported over 5 million passengers in 2019. The Corporation has been awarded ten Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2005. Visit the "About VIA Rail" section.

Source : VIA Rail Canada

The High Frequency Rail project, the largest Canadian infrastructure project, aims to provide clean, safe and efficient transportation to Canadians while supporting our economic growth and strengthening our Indigenous relations. A major milestone in this project's procurement was reached last February with the launch of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This was a crucial step towards selecting a private developer partner who will work collaboratively with VIA HFR to design and develop the High Frequency Rail project.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Quebec Lieutenant, the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, announced the outcome of the Request for Qualifications stage of the project.

The following groups have been invited to move to the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage:

• Cadence (CDPQ Infra, SNC-Lavalin, Systra Canada, Keolis Canada)
• Intercity Rail Developers (Intercity Development Partners, EllisDon Capital, Kilmer Transportation, First Rail Holdings, Jacobs, Hatch, CIMA+, First Group, RATP Dev Canada, Renfe Operadora)
• QConnexiON Rail Partners (Fengate, John Laing, Bechtel, WSP Canada, Deutsche Bahn)

Once the RFP launches this September, participants will be asked to present their proposal, including a technically and commercially feasible solution, a business plan and a management plan for the co-development, construction, and operations phases of the project. This approach will incentivize respondents to identify and prioritize the benefits to Canadians in their proposals, while also providing them with the flexibility to take innovative approaches to meet or exceed the desired project outcomes.

The entire procurement process has been and will continue to follow the highest standards and is overseen by a fairness monitor. This fairness monitor is an independent consultant that acts as an objective, third-party observer, who monitors the procurement process and ensures that it is conducted in a fair manner.

Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is a priority for the Government of Canada, and this is why early engagement with Indigenous communities is already underway. As part of the RFQ process, respondents were required to demonstrate their capacity to work with the government to create mutually beneficial, socio-economic development opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous reconciliation is critical to the success of the HFR project and will be integrated in all phases of the project.

National security and related risks will also be assessed throughout the project, along with measures to address such risks. Selection of the chosen private developer partner will depend on several conditions, including national security.

High Frequency Rail is a transformational project that promises to fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Ontario and Québec, improving accessibility, and providing more travel flexibility.

Cadence

Intercity Rail Developers / Développeurs Ferroviaires Interurbains

Partenaires Ferroviaires QCONNEXION Rail Partners

Courtesy of: Government of Canada

High Frequency Rail will transform passenger rail service in Canada through the creation of a faster, more frequent, accessible, and sustainable rail service among the major centres of Québec City, Trois-Rivières, Montréal, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced the next steps in the procurement process for High Frequency Rail (HFR) through an update to the Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI). This update reflects input and provides answers to key questions received through the RFEOI process. It provides industry and Canadians with new information about the HFR and its procurement.

Feedback from the RFEOI includes:

• Responses from a total of 54 interested parties, confirming a high level of domestic and international interest in the project.
• Responses confirming support for the overall approach; seeking clarifications on some elements of the project, including roles and responsibilities of the Government and private partner; and suggesting ways to enhance the design of the procurement process.
• Recommendations for strategic changes to the procurement timelines, such as shortening the Request for Proposal period.

The next step in the procurement process, the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), is anticipated to begin in early 2023.

Launched in March 2022, the RFEOI marked the first step in the procurement phase and delivering benefits for Canadians. The RFEOI was undertaken to share the Government's vision for the project and to obtain the market's feedback on the HFR Project.

The Government of Canada is committed to an ongoing dialogue and building nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Input and feedback from Indigenous Peoples throughout the life of the project will be essential to developing an effective project.

VIA Rail and its employees are central to the success of High Frequency Rail and will continue to play a key role across Canada as our national passenger rail provider. A subsidiary of VIA Rail is being established to act as a dedicated Project Development Office. It will be responsible for leading several key project activities, and will work collaboratively with the private partner to co-develop and optimize the HFR project. Canada will work with VIA Rail and the private partner to ensure that workforce changes required for the advancement of the HFR project would be done in consultation with unions to protect the interests of VIA rail employees.

Please visit the HFR website for a full list of changes and clarifications to the procurement process, or to get involved in the project by providing feedback, asking questions, and signing up for project updates.

"High Frequency Rail is a transformational project that promises to fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Ontario and Quebec, improving accessibility, and providing more travel flexibility. We're pleased with the market's interest in this project and in the Government obtaining over 50 responses from interested parties. Feedback from these parties was critical in making this project even better and will be used to move the next phase of the project forward – the request for qualifications."
The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport

• HFR is expected to transform intercity passenger rail in the Corridor through a variety of project outcomes, including, but not limited to:
  • Shortening travel times, with reductions of up to 90 minutes on some routes;
  • Increasing trip frequencies between major cities;
  • Offering more reliable and improved on-time performance;
  • Adding new services to Peterborough and Trois-Rivières; and,
  • Providing a greener rail system and cleaner travel option using electrified technology.
• As with any large-scale infrastructure project, the Government of Canada is using a phased approach to leverage input collected throughout the procurement process and to inform the next steps and decisions regarding the implementation of the High Frequency Rail Project.
• Budget 2022 provided Transport Canada and Infrastructure Canada with $396.8 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, to continue advancing key project activities and undertake the procurement phase of the project.
• The next steps in the High Frequency Rail project and expected dates include:
  • Government of Canada issues Request for Qualifications: early 2023
  • Request for Qualifications period ends: early spring 2023
  • Government of Canada evaluation of Request for Qualifications and identification of Qualified Respondents: Early spring 2023
  • Government of Canada issues Request for Proposals: Late spring 2023
  • Request for Proposals period ends: early spring 2024
• High Frequency Rail will transform passenger rail services for Canadians in the Toronto to Québec City corridor. In parallel, VIA Rail continues the important work of rebuilding the passenger rail business in Canada following the pandemic.
• The Government of Canada is committed to engaging the public, including communities currently served by VIA Rail between Toronto and Québec City, and consulting Indigenous Peoples to inform the Project's design and development. Anyone interested in sharing their views on the project, asking questions, or signing up for project updates is encouraged to visit the HFR website.
• The Government of Canada is committed to forming meaningful nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous Peoples through an ongoing dialogue to better understand their priorities and concerns , and how best to engage with them throughout the different phases of the project.

• High Frequency Rail Project website
• Procurement update High Frequency Rail (HFR) Project

As travel demand continues to progress, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is pursuing its gradual service resumption plan and is pleased to be returning most of its services across the country by the end of June 2022.

"This is a celebratory and crucial milestone in our service resumption plan after an incredibly challenging two years," said Cynthia Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to welcoming more of our customers back on board our trains and doing our part to encourage Canadians and tourists to get out and explore this beautiful country for the summer travel season."

VIA Rail's objective has always been the safe resumption of services when conditions allowed it, and we are pleased to offer our passengers more options this summer with service resumption from coast to coast.

Throughout the pandemic our decision to add frequencies has been based on various factors, including demand, and continuing to employ a balanced approach in order to fulfill VIA Rail's important public service mandate and manage financial impacts.

Throughout this crisis, the health and safety of our passengers and employees have always been our top priority. The Corporation will revise its service offering in line with the latest developments if necessary.

Existing safety measures implemented by VIA Rail in response to COVID-19 remain in effect. Those include, amongst others, a mask wearing policy on our trains and mandatory vaccination required by the federal government.

The train remains one of the safest ways to travel this summer and we are pleased to be offering our passengers more frequencies and more flexibility.

REMINDER

Wearing a mask is required at all times in VIA Rail's stations and on-board VIA Rail trains. For the health and safety of all passengers and employees, passengers who do not wear a mask during their trip will be required to disembark the train or will be refused entry upon boarding.

Furthermore, VIA Rail asks that passengers stay informed of public health guidelines and respect those that apply to them and their travel plans, including mandatory vaccination. The Corporation also constantly reminds its passengers and employees of the importance of following recommendations from public health authorities and to rigorously follow good hygiene practices (wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of the arm, avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth without first washing their hands).

Passengers will be denied boarding if they are experiencing symptoms similar to a cold or flu (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) or if they have been denied boarding for travel in the last 14 days due to medical reasons related to COVID-19.

The most recent updates are available on VIA Rail's website.

Source : VIA Rail Canada

High Frequency Rail will transform passenger rail service in Canada through the creation of a faster, more frequent, more accessible and more sustainable rail service among the major centres of Québec City, Trois-Rivières, Montréal, Ottawa, Peterborough and Toronto.

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, along with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Annie Koutrakis, announced that the Government of Canada is launching a Request for Expressions of Interest seeking the advice and views from industry on the High Frequency Rail project through Buyandsell.gc.ca.

High Frequency Rail is the largest transportation infrastructure project that Canada has seen in decades. Recognizing the project's size and scale, the Government of Canada is seeking world-class knowledge and private sector expertise for all aspects of the project.

The Request for Expressions of Interest marks a major step in supporting the procurement phase for the High Frequency Rail project. It is an opportunity to:

1. communicate the Government of Canada's plan for advancing the project;
2. seek feedback from experienced private sector companies to help shape the High Frequency Rail project; and
3. provide information to industry so interested parties can prepare for subsequent phases of the procurement process, including the Request for Qualifications and the Request for Proposal.

As the participation of Indigenous Peoples is essential to the success of High Frequency Rail, the Government of Canada will seek a private sector partner that prioritizes and values meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples. The Government of Canada will carefully consider the views of Indigenous Peoples throughout the project and encourage collaboration with Indigenous businesses.

VIA Rail and its employees are central to the success of High Frequency Rail and will continue to play a key role across Canada as our national passenger rail provider.

The High Frequency Rail service could be fully operational in the early 2030s. The Government is providing a High Frequency Rail Project website where Canadians can get information, track progress on the project and submit their views and questions.

QUOTES

"High Frequency Rail is a transformational project that promises to fundamentally change the way Canadians travel in southern Ontario and Quebec, improving accessibility, and providing more travel flexibility. The Request for Expressions of Interest marks the first major step in the development and advancement of this project."

The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport

"Many key benefits would be provided to travellers through an electrified High Frequency Rail system, including shorter travel times and faster trains, improved on-time performance, higher frequencies, and more direct routes with improved connectivity between cities and to other modes of transportation."

Annie Koutrakis
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

"High Frequency Rail is the largest transportation infrastructure project that Canada has undertaken in decades. This project will make an incredible difference in the lives of so many people, especially those in Mauricie. Today's announcement is another big step that will connect our communities and one that will bring more economic opportunity to the region."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"High Frequency Rail is an infrastructure project with a size and scope that is unprecedented in modern Canadian history, which is why we are seeking to leverage the advice and views of private sector companies with concrete experience in designing and implementing complex infrastructure projects across the world. This is a very exciting opportunity for private sector companies to make their mark on the procurement and development of this project."

The Honourable Filomena Tassi
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Quick Facts

• The next steps would include:
  • Virtual information session on Request for Expressions of Interest: April 2022
  • Deadline for response to Request for Expressions of Interest: May 2022
  • Government of Canada issues Request for Qualifications: Fall 2022
  • Deadline for response to Request for Qualifications: Winter 2022-23
  • Government of Canada evaluation of Request for Qualifications and identification of Qualified Respondents: Winter 2022-23
  • Government of Canada issues Request for Proposals: Spring 2023
  • Deadline for response to Request for Proposals: Fall 2024
• The size and scope of High Frequency Rail would drive transformational changes in how VIA Rail provides services in the Toronto to Québec City corridor to Canadians. In the meantime, VIA Rail continues the important work of rebuilding the passenger rail business in Canada following the pandemic.
• The Government of Canada is committed to engaging the public, including communities currently served by VIA Rail between Toronto and Québec City, and consulting Indigenous Peoples to inform the project design and development.
• Indigenous Peoples and Canadians interested in the project are encouraged to visit the High Frequency Rail Project website for additional information or to submit their views and questions.
• The Government of Canada plans to incorporate strategies to enable socio-economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples in the subsequent phases of the High Frequency Rail project.
• In follow-on stages of the procurement process, the Government of Canada plans to evaluate the Indigenous participation plans of proponents to encourage collaboration opportunities with Indigenous Peoples, businesses, communities, and organizations.
• As with any large-scale infrastructure project, the Government of Canada is using a phased approach to leverage input collected throughout the procurement process and inform the next steps and decisions regarding the implementation of the High Frequency Rail Project.

Associated Links

• High Frequency Rail Project website

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

Source : Transport Canada

Photo Credit : David Bellerive

VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has been recognized as one of the most trusted companies in Canada in 2021 by the Gustavson Brand Trust Index (GBTI), presented by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria. The Corporation ranked first in the "Transportation" category for a third year in a row. Since 2015, the GBTI has been investigating overall consumer trust in brands, the factors that affect it and the brands that succeed at it. Comprising top researchers in their fields, the GBTI team emphasizes the role of brand values as part of its study of nearly 400 brands across the country.

"Despite the challenges faced since the beginning of the pa ndemic, we are humbled by the unwavering trust that Canadians have granted us for the third consecutive year. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the dedication and exemplary work of our employees," says Martin R. Landry, Chief Commercial Officer. "Not only does this vote of confidence reinforce the crucial role of passenger rail, it also drives us to work together and carry out our mission of putting passengers first. At VIA Rail, we are committed to enhancing our customers' travel journey by continuously improving our services, and offering the safest, most accessible and reliable experience. We believe this can only be achieved by listening to and integrating the needs of Canadians in our everyday decisions."

About the Gustavson Brand Trust Index

The Gustavson Brand Trust Index is provided by the University of Victoria's Gustavson School of Business. Nearly 9,000 Canadians were consulted between January 13 and February 8, 2021 on the way they view certain brands, including their consumer advocacy and social equity.

Source : VIA Rail Canada

VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce the ratification of collective agreement 3 by the members of Unifor, Local 100, the union representing approximately 700 VIA Rail employees working in maintenance centres.

This two-year agreement (from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021) was ratified by the membership on May 15 and, just like collective agreements 1 and 2, includes a 2% wage increase for 2021, benefits improvements as well as the review of several work rules.

"We are delighted that all collective agreements have now been ratified," said Martine Rivard, Chief Employee Experience Officer. "I would, of course, like to thank all parties who were involved in this process and who contributed to this positive outcome. In spite of the unprecedented situation faced since 2020, rigour and professionalism have led to this fair and reasonable agreement. Employees in our maintenance centres are crucial in ensuring that we offer a safe and enjoyable travel experience to our passengers and we look forward to continuing to work together in order to keep being the smarter way to travel."

Useful links:

VIA Rail Reaches tentative agreements with Unifor (January 30, 2021)

Collective agreements between VIA Rail and Unifor ratified (March 15, 2021)

Source : VIA Rail Canada

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT

From January 1st to December 31, 2020

• Ridership decreased by 77% in 2020 compared to 2019
• Operating expenses decreased by 21.2%
• Essential services maintained during the pandemic
• Continuous implementation of preventive measures in response to the pandemic
• Sustained progress on VIA Rail's modernization program

While it continues to adapt its operations according to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) reports an improved performance for the second quarter of 2021 with an increase in ridership and passenger revenues of 188% and 417% respectively compared to the same period last year.

"This second quarter, VIA Rail continued to fulfill its mandate while never losing sight of its mission to put passengers first," said Cynthia Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As promised, when conditions allowed, we increased our operations with, for example, the return of one full weekly round-trip on the Canadian. As always, we are closely monitoring the evolution of the pandemic and we look forward to keep making progress on our service resumption plan while continuing to follow recommendations from public health authorities and decrees from the federal and provincial governments."

Modernization at the heart of VIA Rail's future

During the second quarter, VIA Rail reached important milestones in its modernization program which includes, amongst others, its High Frequency Rail (HFR) project and its new Corridor fleet.

The April Federal Budget reflected the Government of Canada's firm support for VIA Rail's High Frequency Rail project which will transform the way present and future generations live and travel, by upgrading and building tracks dedicated to the transport of passengers between Québec City and Toronto. VIA Rail also revealed the design of its new fleet which, in addition to being one of the most environmentally friendly fleets in North America, will offer an unparalleled, barrier-free and fully accessible travel experience to passengers in the Québec City – Windsor corridor. The first train set is expected to be commissioned into revenue service in 2022.

"It's time to reimagine the way we move Canada, from reservation to destination, to deliver new levels of comfort, accessibility and sustainability. That is why the VIA Rail team continues to work tirelessly on its modernization projects. In fact, the milestones reached in the second quarter and the announcements made in July by the federal government regarding our HFR project demonstrate that we are making steady progress. We are determined to offer a more sustainable and modern passenger rail service to Canadians, and we cannot wait to deliver initiatives like our HFR project and our new Corridor fleet," declared Cynthia Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer.

VIA Rail, the most trusted transportation company

VIA Rail was recognized as one of the most trusted companies in Canada in 2021 by the Gustavson Brand Trust Index (GBTI) and ranked first in the "Transportation" category for the third consecutive year. The GBTI is provided by the University of Victoria's Gustavson School of Business and the 2021 ranking was completed after nearly 9,000 Canadians were consulted on the way they view certain brands, including their consumer advocacy and social equity.

Ratification of collective agreement 3

Collective agreement 3 was ratified on May 15 by the members of Unifor, Local 100, the union representing approximately 700 VIA Rail employees working in maintenance centres. This agreement includes, just like collective agreements 1 and 2, a 2% wage increase for 2021, benefits improvements as well as the review of several work rules.

VIA Rail's 2021 second quarter report is available

VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) marked a historic milestone today with the unveiling of the first trainset of its state-of-the-art new fleet that will serve the Québec City – Windsor corridor.

With the new test train parked on the platform of the LEED certified Ottawa station behind them, VIA Rail President and Chief Executive Officer, Cynthia Garneau and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Françoise Bertrand, introduced Canadians to the first of 32 new trains in VIA Rail's new Corridor fleet - a building block of VIA Rail's modernization program which will help to create the VIA Rail of tomorrow.

"This new fleet marks a new era for passenger rail service in the Corridor, where we served over 4.7 million passengers in 2019 and which represented 96% of our ridership pre-pandemic. In addition to being one of the most environmentally friendly fleets in North America, this modern new fleet will offer our passengers an unparalleled, barrier-free, and fully accessible travel experience," said Cynthia Garneau, VIA Rail President and Chief Executive Officer.

It's time to reimagine the way Canadians travel

Funding for these new trainsets was announced in the 2018 Federal budget and represents an investment of close to a billion dollars.

"Canadians have relied on VIA Rail to connect them for years. The new fleet will offer a new era of comfort and efficiency for the workers, families, and tourists who travel on these tracks. By supporting VIA Rail's large-scale modernization project, we are investing in accessible, reliable, environmentally friendly ways for Canadians to see each other and see their country," said the Honorable Omar Alghabra, Canada's Transport Minister.

The first train has been delivered right on time and showcases impressive features that promise an unparalleled travel experience.

It's time to deliver new levels of comfort, accessibility, and sustainability

Key features of VIA Rail's new corridor fleet include amongst others:

• Wider aisles, automatic touchless interior doors, adjustable tray tables, comfortable and ergonomic seats, and high-speed reliable data connection.
• A barrier-free and fully accessible travel experience with onboard wheelchair lifts, five Mobility Aid Spaces (MAS) per trainset, large accessible washrooms, braille, and embossed signage.
• Advanced diesel engines and a bidirectional train configuration that allows for less operating time with the engines running making it one of the most environmentally friendly intercity fleets in North America.

It's time to act today for a better tomorrow

The railway helped shape Canada, brought communities together and boosted the economy from coast to coast. As Canada works to recover from the pandemic, VIA Rail is ready to continue building on its 44-year history and play a key role in the future of sustainable mobility in Canada.

"In the face of the climate crisis and an unprecedented demand for more sustainable mobility, the relevance of passenger rail is stronger than ever," said Francoise Bertrand, the Chairperson of the Board at VIA Rail. "This new fleet and the High Frequency Rail (HFR) project will further that interconnectivity as our passengers will be able to travel more often and more quickly to more destinations."

Winter trials of the test train will begin in December 2021, with the first train expected to go into service in Q4 2022.

About VIA Rail
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional, and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transported over 5 million passengers in 2019. The Corporation has been awarded nine Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2005. Visit the "About VIA Rail" section at https://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

Source : VIA Rail