Tag: VIA

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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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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Transport Action urges passenger rail investment

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passengers boarding VIA Rail train at Moncton

With the federal cabinet meeting today in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Transport Action Canada and its regional affiliates are calling on the new government to give priority consideration to renewal of passenger rail across the country. Infrastructure investment in rail corridors and equipment is entirely consistent with both Prime Minister Trudeau’s economic and environmental agendas, says Ted Bartlett, president of Transport Action Atlantic.

The advocacy group’s 10-year vision was presented to Minister Marc Garneau within days of his appointment to the Transport portfolio last November. The VIA 1-4-10 Plan called for a sweeping review of passenger rail from coast to coast, and timely action to bring this country in step with the other nations in the G7 community – all of which have far more robust and functional train service than Canada. Continue reading “Transport Action urges passenger rail investment” →