VIA Rail introduces new schedules to attract more passengers

Yesterday, VIA Rail Canada Inc. introduced new schedules in the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle as part of an effort to attract more than 100,000 new riders per year.

The anticipated ridership growth could generate a revenue increase of several million dollars a year, VIA Rail officials said in a prepared statement.

Among the changes: Riders on the new Ottawa-Toronto express trains will be able to make the non-stop trip in just under four hours; and riders traveling from Montreal to Toronto will be offered two new trains, bringing the total number of weekday departures to 10.

The schedule changes are the result of the federal government’s investment of $923 million (Canadian dollars) in VIA Rail capital improvements since 2007, agency officials said.

During the coming year, VIA Rail officials expect to complete other major rail infrastructure projects tween Toronto and Brock in order to improve service reliability.