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VIA reports positive holiday ridership

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The rear end of two stainless-steel trains, with dome-observation cars, at a station platform
A pair of Ocean train sets in Halifax just before Christmas. Extra departures for the holidays meant this sight was once again common for a couple weeks. (Photo – Tim Hayman)

 

VIA Rail is reporting positive results from the 2016-2017 Christmas/New Year’s holiday season. VIA issued a press release on Jan. 12 claiming “record” results, though it’s admittedly not at all clear what their frame of reference is to declare these records (best numbers ever? In the past decade? In the past 5 years?)

Putting aside the hyperbole, the message is still a positive one. VIA has been promoting their trains as an ideal way to travel at that time of year (in particular), and more people seem to be getting that message.

Overall, VIA reported a 16% system wide increase in passenger totals when compared to last year, and a 20% increase in revenues. Increases in the Corridor were consistent with these numbers (16.8% increase in passengers), while both the Canadian (13.8%) and Ocean (2.7%) saw positive changes as well, and small positive trends (1.1%) were found on other regional services.

Given VIA’s decision to run extra trains on the Ocean over the holidays (3 extra trips in each direction over a 2 week Continue reading “VIA reports positive holiday ridership” →

“Go Maritimes” provides useful tool for multi-modal transportation planning in Atlantic Canada

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Screenshot of the Go Maritimes website, with menus to enter travel end points, date, and search options.
A look at the Go Maritimes website. This tool makes it easy to see all of your various public transportation options for trips within the Maritimes.

Have you ever been trying to figure out how to use public transportation to travel between two places in the Maritimes, and had a hard time knowing if you’d found all of the options? If so, you’d do well to check out the valuable online transportation planning resource that is now available in the form of “Go Maritimes”. Founded by Wayne Groszko and developed in partnership with a number of individuals and local organizations (including the Ecology Action Centre, Dalhousie University, and the Province of Nova Scotia) Go Maritimes aims to make it easier for people to find the schedules for buses, shuttles, trains and other transport services to plan their travel in Canada’s Maritime provinces.

Trying to plan travel using public transportation in many parts of the Maritimes can be a challenge, and that often begins with simply being unaware of what options exist. With Go Martimes, users can enter any two end point destinations (where public transportation options exist) in the Maritime provinces and their desired travel date, and the site will then present them with the various options available, including specific schedules and estimated costs. Continue reading ““Go Maritimes” provides useful tool for multi-modal transportation planning in Atlantic Canada” →

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:

Continue reading “VIA Rail partners with Maritime Bus” →