VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has posted results from its third quarter, which ran from July to September 2016, with passenger numbers up 5.5 percent, or 56,000 passengers, compared to the same period last year.
Passenger revenues, up for the 10th consecutive quarter, have increased by 10.3 percent for the quarter compared to the third quarter of 2015. Due to the rise in revenue, VIA Rail has reduced its requirement for government funding for the quarter when compared to the same quarter last year.
“As more travelers are making the smart choice of trading their cars for the safety, comfort and environmental benefits of our trains, we are now in a position to optimistically plan for the long term,” said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, VIA Rail’s president and CEO. “This summer, during the months of July and August, we broke performance records and hit record highs for ridership growth, while across the Corporation we benefited from a more engaged workforce, and to top it off, we celebrated landmark station anniversaries. Ottawa station turned 50 in July, and in August, Gare du Palais, our heritage station in Québec City celebrated its centennial.”
“Milestones like these give us a chance to reflect on how far our company has come and the positive impact we can continue to have on the environmental and economic future of our country,” added Desjardins-Siciliano.
Third Quarter 2016 highlights included:
- Capital investments – the launch of a $20 million renovation project at Ottawa station and announcement of a $34 million federal infrastructure funding allocation for the improvement of two VIA Rail maintenance centers and of various VIA Rail stations along the Québec City-Windsor corridor.
- Service improvements – the launch of VIA Rail’s partnership with Maritime Bus adding 47 destinations to the VIA Rail service offering; new table extensions for Business class passengers; and enhancements to the Canadian service’s Prestige class.