VIA Rail prepared to ease impact on travellers in light of potential Air Canada work stoppage

MONTRÉAL, October 11, 2011 - VIA Rail Canada has announced that the company will ensure that its passenger capacity is augmented as required, should there be a disruption of services at Air Canada.

"As the national passenger rail carrier, we want to reassure passengers by informing them of their available options, in the event air transportation is affected later this week. To that end, we plan on adding capacity to our trains, particularly in the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor, to meet increased demand", said Mr. Denis Pinsonneault, VIA’s Chief Customer Experience Officer.

For more information or to book your travel now, visit viarail.ca or call VIA at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245) (or 1-800-268-9503 for the hearing impaired).

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable passenger transportation to passengers in Canada, in both official languages. Every week, VIA operates 503 intercity, transcontinental and regional trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500 kilometre route network. Every year, VIA ensures that over four million passengers arrive at their destination. Follow VIA on Twitter at twitter.com/via_rail. Visit the VIA Facebook page at facebook.com/viarailcanada.