VIA introduces schedule improvements between Montreal and Ottawa

MONTREAL - May 10, 2010 - VIA Rail Canada announced today that as of May 11, 2010 travel times on the Montréal – Ottawa route will improve with the introduction of new schedules.

Trip times will be shortened by as much as 15 minutes, while arrival and departure times for certain trains will be changed to better suit customer needs. For example, the first morning train (train 30) now leaves Fallowfield at 06:14 a.m., Ottawa at 6:38 a.m. and arrives in downtown Montréal at 08:30 a.m., as opposed to 08:38 a.m. in the past. Also, a conditional stop at Casselman has also been added for the Saturday morning service between Montréal and Ottawa.

"I am pleased to see that the government's strategic capital investments in rail infrastructure have directly led to VIA providing improved passenger service in terms of both quality and timing," said the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Canada's Minister of State (Transport).

“Making our train operations more efficient is just one example of changes we are implementing at VIA to improve our environmental performance and provide our customers with better service,” said VIA’s President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Laliberté. “We hope that these enhancements will encourage more people to make a smart and green choice by leaving their cars at home in favour of the train.”

With the introduction of these new schedules, when you leave the driving to VIA, a trip between Ottawa and Montréal can take less than two hours.

Saving time, money and being kinder on the environment are just some of the reasons why more and more travellers are choosing VIA Rail as their principal means of transportation for business and recreational trips.  Compare the train to other means of transport and you be the judge! Visit /en/fares/compare-fares/compare-train-and-car to calculate just how much you or your company could save by choosing the train rather than taking the car.
 
To view VIA’s new Montreal - Ottawa schedules, please click here.

For more information on VIA’s train schedules and fares, customers can visit www.viarail.ca or call 1 888 VIA RAIL (842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).

About VIA Rail
As Canada’s national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective passenger transportation – in both official languages. 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, reliable and environmentally responsible alternative to congested roads and airports.