A STRONG YEAR FOR VIA RAIL AS RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK (2024)

News provided by

VIA Rail Canada Inc.

May 14, 2024, 10:00 ET

HIGHLIGHTS

From January 1st to December 31, 2023

  • Total revenues increased by $197.7 million (29.2%) compared to 2022 due to an increase in frequencies and higher demand;
  • 4.1 million passengers rode VIA Rail trains in 2023, an increase of 815,000 (24.7%) compared to 2022;
  • The Corporation pursued its modernization with the introduction of more new trains in the Corridor and the launch of a new reservation system offering a more intuitive booking experience for our customers.

MONTRÉAL, May 14, 2024 /CNW/ -More than four million passengers chose to travel by trainin 2023 with VIA Rail marking its highest ridership numbers since 2019. Year over year, ridership was up 24.7 per cent, and the Corporation achieved important milestones in its modernization projects delivering on its vision to be the smarter way to move people.

"2023 was a pivotal year for VIA Rail as we introduced new equipment, launched a modern new reservation system, restored several key train frequencies in the Québec City–Windsor corridor, and achieved a significant increase in revenues," said Françoise Bertrand, VIA Rail's Chairperson of the Board of Directors. "The end result is that we were able to better serve our customers and build the foundation for our future growth."

2023 also marked the arrival of VIA Rail's new President and Chief Executive Officer, Mario Péloquin, who joined the Corporation in June. "It has been an exciting journey to be jumping aboard at a time when VIA Rail and passenger rail worldwide are inthe midst of a profound and far-reaching transformation," said Mario Péloquin. "VIA Rail has already made substantive progress towards shaping the future of rail travel in Canada, and in 2023 we took significant steps forward, reflecting our commitment to modernization and a better travel experience for our passengers."

ALL ABOARD THE NEW FLEET

The progressive entry into service of the new Corridor fleet continued in 2023, allowing VIA Rail to offer a more comfortable, fully accessible, and more sustainable experience to more Canadians along the Québec City – Windsor corridor.

In October 2023, VIA Rail officially launched the commercial service of the new fleet on the OttawaToronto route. As a result, the four major cities in the Corridor (Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto) and all communities in between are now connected by these new trains. As of December 31, 2023, 12 of the 32 new train sets had been received, and the Corporation eagerly anticipates connecting more Canadians in the Corridor with its new fleet in 2024.

A NEW RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR AN EASY AND INTUITIVE EXPERIENCE

In November, VIA Rail launched its new reservation system offering a simplified, more convenient, accessible, and autonomous experience for our customers. More than an update of the reservation process, this modernization project fully overhauled all related infrastructure and systems (such as the loyalty program and point-of-sale system).

This new reservation system allows customers to enjoy new features, such as autonomous seat selection, as well as a simplified process to book online for a wider variety of needs.

PASSENGERS FIRST

VIA Rail always aims for excellence. This year its efforts were recognized in Léger's 2023 Reputation Study, where the Corporation earned the title of most reputable company in the transportation sector. VIA Rail increased its point total in the survey by 4 points from the year prior and bypassed all other transportation companies for the first time since the launch of this study.

The study also recognized the efforts made by VIA Rail to foster a positive and inclusive company culture, by ranking VIA Rail as Canada's first employer of choice among transportation companies.

THE FUTURE OF VIA RAIL'S SERVICES

Across Canada, VIA Rail operates on long-distance, regional, and remote (LDRR) routes, such as the Canadian or the Ocean. While parts of these services are geared toward offering a unique tourist experience to Canadians and visitors from around the world, these routes also serve as a lifeline for isolated communities across the country, who rely on them to access essential services and goods.

We are thrilled that the recent federal budget has allocated funding for VIA Rail to proceed with its transformative project to replace the trains operating on our long-distance, regional, and remote routes. This significant investment marks a milestone in our journey to redefine passenger rail in every region of the country over the coming years.

We'd like to thank the Government of Canada for their continued support and confidence in our vision. This demonstrates a shared commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation across the nation.

VIA Rail's annual report is available at: https://media.viarail.ca/en/reports

About VIA Rail

VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to operate the national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government of Canada, and to provide a safe, accessible, efficient, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible service that meets the needs of Canadian passengers. VIA Rail operates intercity trains connecting over 400 communities across Canada and ensuring rail transportation services to regional and remote communities. The Corporation safely transported over four million passengers in 2023 and has been awarded nine Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada. For more, visit our website: https://corpo.viarail.ca/en.

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SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.

A STRONG YEAR FOR VIA RAIL AS RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK (2)

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A STRONG YEAR FOR VIA RAIL AS RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK (2024)

FAQs

A STRONG YEAR FOR VIA RAIL AS RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO BOUNCE BACK? ›

4.1 million passengers rode VIA Rail trains in 2023, an increase of 815,000 (24.7%) compared to 2022; The Corporation pursued its modernization with the introduction of more new trains in the Corridor and the launch of a new reservation system offering a more intuitive booking experience for our customers.

How do you increase rail ridership? ›

To Maximize Ridership, Maximize Access

Where ridership is low, it's usually because the transit system just doesn't do this for very many people. So to increase ridership through network design, the key is to maximize access to all the things people travel to..

Why do trains go back and forth so much? ›

They could be picking up a dropping off cars. It may even be just a maneuverability issue. The train may be too big, or it's carrying too many cars. in order to maneuver around a certain part of the track.

How to increase transit ridership? ›

Public transit incentives such as discounted fares, loyalty programs, or tax benefits can all make it a more attractive option for commuters. You can also offer benefits such as contests for frequent riders to make the whole experience more enjoyable.

What are the factors affecting transit ridership? ›

Transit ridership levels are affected by population and employment densities and major generators, such as shopping malls, schools and universities. The population groups most likely to use transit include youth, seniors and lower-income households.

Why is the train bouncing? ›

Maybe the shocks are going bad on the front of the locomotive. Also, if you ever see the wheels leaving the track, run (that doesn't happen unless a derailment is in progress, locomotives are far too heavy for the wheels to leave the track just from a low joint in the track or shock absorbers that need replacement).

Why does the train keep backing up and going forward? ›

Reasons for Reversing

A train will go forward and back when it is occupying a crossing and stops on its tracks. A train may be servicing its customers. It may help build or respond to specific track conditions. It may be experiencing operational or mechanical problems.

Why do trains suddenly stop? ›

There can be many reasons: Congestion on the system generally or in a specific train yard, a surge in shipments (harvest time, etc.), track repair or maintenance – any number of things.

How can we increase railway line capacity? ›

The main parameter influencing railway line capacity is difference in train speeds. Increasing the difference between the highest and the lowest train speed, feasible line capacity decreases. Reduction of the difference between train speeds enables increment of railway line capacity without changing infrastructure.

Is Amtrak ridership increasing? ›

The COVID-19 pandemic threw Amtrak ridership off the rails

The next fiscal year (2021), which featured pandemic surges throughout, saw the lowest ridership at 12.2 million. Fiscal year 2022 saw an uptick to 22.9 million, and fiscal year 2023 reached 28.5 million.

How is transit ridership calculated? ›

Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination.

What are the factors influencing rail transport? ›

There are many factors to promote the quality of railroads such as environmental factors, line geometry, atmospheric conditions, etc and each of these factors has an important role in enhancing safety. By considering these factors, we can now reach a high-quality bed and high-speed lines.

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