VIA Rail Canada and Communauto offer the completely new combo train + auto:

QUÉBEC CITY September 16, 2010 — VIA Rail Canada and Communauto are proud to announce today a completely new program available to all passengers that combines the train and the automobile on the Montréal-Québec City line for as little as $99.

Starting today, in fact, it will be possible for anyone to register with Communauto to reserve a vehicle and a train ticket in a single online operation. At the end of a comfortable train ride, passengers can take possession of their vehicle right at the station or at any other Communauto point of service, and return it to the same location at the end of their stay. For a limited time, the price agreed by VIA and Communauto is highly attractive, making it possible to enjoy a Montréal-Québec City return trip, including the car, for only $99. The distance traveled by car will be billed additionally at the rate of 12 cents per kilometre. This offer includes the train trip and 24 hours of car rental. Gas and insurance are also included. For only $25 per day, it will be possible to extend the car rental up to a maximum of 72 hours.

"This program represents another step in our collaboration with Communauto. Since May, car sharing subscribers have enjoyed a 10% train ticket discount off the lowest fare when traveling in Canada. Also, VIA’s Préférence members who subscribe to Communauto’s Le Lièvre package, enjoy discounts of up to 20% on hourly rates when using Communauto vehicles. With today’s offer, we are offering extra convenience at an extra low price", declared Marc Laliberté, VIA's President and CEO.

Communauto cars are located nearby the stations involved in this offer: in Montréal, at the Saint-Lambert and Central stations, and in Québec City, at the Sainte-Foy and Gare du Palais stations. Communauto and VIA anticipate being able to extend this agreement to other stations in Canada in the future, in cities where car sharing and the train are available.

Communauto CEO, Benoît Robert, affirmed that the program announced today represents an important step in strengthening Communauto's mission of encouraging sustainable transportation. "Thanks to this agreement between VIA Rail and Communauto, for the first time in North America, the self-service automobile and the train unite to offer passengers a competitive alternative to the private car. The intermodal offering we are introducing combines the best of both worlds at a very competitive price: the safety and comfort of train travel with the flexibility of the car for short trips".

"The important thing for us, is not only that we are offering substantial discounts on our regular fare, but especially that we are providing an ecological and safe alternative to the automobile for trips of a few hours. As we say at VIA, welcome aboard! », concluded Marc Laliberté.

For more details about the Combo Train + Auto, please visit www.communauto.ca/viarail
This offer is valid until December 15, 2010. Some conditions may apply.


About VIA Rail

Every week, VIA operates 503 intercity, transcontinental and regional trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500-kilometre route network. The demand for VIA services is growing as travellers increasingly turn to train travel as a safe, hassle-free and environmentally responsible alternative to congested roads and airports.

About Communauto

Founded in 1994, Communauto provides its 21,000 subscribers with some 1000 self-service vehicles, distributed among 315 stations located in Québec City, Lévis, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Montréal, Longueuil, Saint-Lambert, Laval and Saint-Bruno.