Category: Rail

VIA Rail partners with Maritime Bus

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The logos for Maritime Bus and VIA Rail CanadaVIA Rail announced on June 21, 2016, that it is entering a new partnership with Maritime Bus that will allow passengers to book Maritime Bus tickets through VIA Rail. Starting July 14, passengers will be able to see bus options and purchase Maritime Bus tickets through VIA’s website.

This partnership will allow passengers to book connections between VIA and Maritime Bus to access destinations not served by VIA, or to book bus tickets on days and times when VIA’s trains are not running. This would, for example, make it easier for people to plan a trip where one direction is on the train, and the other is on a bus due to the days of operation of the Ocean.

Here is an excerpt from the press release announcing the new agreement:

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The Future of Transportation in Canada

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Transport Canada survey on the future of transportation in Canada

 

Transport Canada has launched a survey to ask Canadians for their views on the future of transportation in Canada, to help develop a long-term agenda for transportation in the country.

Please take a few moments to fill out the survey and share your views on the direction you’d like to see transportation policy go in the future. You can express your support for improved passenger rail in the Maritimes, better rural bus services, or whatever transportation issues you’re concerned about.

 

Click HERE to fill out the survey.

 

In addition to the survey, Canadian Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Marc Garneau will be holding a live Facebook even on June 16 at 6:30pm, and is inviting people to join and share their experiences as a passenger. You can find out more about the event and how to participate HERE.

 

VIA Rail Corporate Plan – 2016-2020

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A bright and clean looking VIA Rail train pulls away from a station platform on a sunny day
Photo by Tim Hayman

VIA Rail has released its latest Corporate Plan for the years 2016-2020. The document summarizes VIA’s current and most recent operations, costs, successes, and challenges. It also lays out the vision that VIA’s management has moving forward, which will of course be subject to the approval of funding from the federal government.

This Corporate Plan focuses heavily on the need for fleet renewal and dedicated track projects in the Corridor, but also discusses VIA’s services across the country, including those in the Maritimes.

The report is very clearly structured, so it’s relatively easy to find those sections pertaining to The Ocean.

One of the most pertinent comments is found on page 25:

“In 2012, the Ocean’s frequencies were cut from six to three, which deteriorated the financial performance of this service. The Ocean does not adequately serve local communities and VIA Rail is looking at options to introduce additional local, intercity service, while potentially cutting back on under-utilized long-haul trains in the off-peak.

Eastern Intercity

Management of VIA Rail’s Eastern Region is currently investigating the possibility of initiating an eastern intercity corridor service within New Brunswick, which could coincide with a possible reduction of the Ocean to two frequencies a week during off-peak periods.”

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