For immediate distribution - Wednesday, December 31, 2008
VIA's Flagship Canadian Moves to a New Schedule
New departure times improve coast-to-coast service and connections
Vancouver – In two short weeks, on December 2, 2008, VIA’s flagship western transcontinental Canadian will depart at a new time. A new evening departure time from both Vancouver and Toronto will enable passengers to make connections in Toronto to/from eastern Canada, as well as provide customers with more daylight viewing through the Rockies. The cross-country journey will move from a three-day, three-night trip to a three-day, four-night schedule. It will also include additional time at select enroute stations where the opportunity for brief city tours is possible.
“The redesign of the Canadian’s schedule was undertaken with our customers in mind,” said VIA’s Chief Customer Officer, Steve Del Bosco. “We want to provide the best total travel experience for our customers, from the service in our stations and on board, to the overall on-time operation of the train itself. This new schedule addresses not only the needs of our customers but tour operators as well.”
Highlights of the redesigned schedule:
• The operating departure days from Vancouver and Toronto remain unchanged;
• Thrice weekly departures from Toronto on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday;
• Thrice weekly departures from Vancouver on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday;
• One additional night is added to the schedule in each direction thus changing the arrival days in Toronto and Vancouver;
• The departure times at both originating terminals move to an evening departure.
o Train #1 – departs Toronto at 22:00 and arrives in Vancouver +4 at 09:42
o Train #2 – departs Vancouver at 20:30 and arrives in Toronto +4 at 09:30
Westbound
Departs
Westbound
Arrives
Eastbound Departs
Eastbound Arrives
Toronto–22:00
Winnipeg–8:01 +2
Vancouver–20:30
Kamloops–6:00 +1
Winnipeg–12:00
Saskatoon–23:22
Kamloops–6:35
Jasper–16:00
Saskatoon–23:47
Edmonton–6:37 +1
Jasper–17:30
Edmonton–23:00
Edmonton–7:37
Jasper–13:00
Edmonton–23:45
Saskatoon–8:45 +1
Jasper–14:30
Kamloops–23:09
Saskatoon–9 :10
Winnipeg–20:30
Kamloops–23:44
Vancouver–9:42 +1
Winnipeg–23:30
Toronto–9:30 +2
With the increase in total rail traffic on this heavily travelled route, the Canadian’s new schedule should mean an improvement in on-time performance. It will also mean a change in train operations for some communities. For example, in the Prairies and British Columbia (Saskatoon, Kamloops) the new eastbound operation will make daylight train travel a viable option.
For more information on VIA’s Canadian, train schedules or to book a trip anywhere in the VIA system, customers can visit VIA’s secure Web site at viarail.ca. Passengers also can book their tickets at self-ticketing kiosks in most Québec City-Windsor Corridor stations, by calling 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired), or through their travel agent.
As Canada’s national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada’s mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally sustainable and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada’s busiest corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. VIA serves more than 450 communities with a network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains. Increasingly travellers are turning to train travel as a hassle-free and cost-efficient alternative to congested roads and airports as well as a more environmentally responsible way to travel.
