VIA trains to move to new station in Belleville next Tuesday

• Initial phase of construction finished
• Full project slated for completion later this year
  

Montreal, March 16, 2012 - VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise travellers that trains will begin stopping at a new station in Belleville, ON, starting next Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The new station is located at 250 Station Street, just to the east of the current station.

This move to the new station building marks the end of the initial phase of construction. The project is expected to be fully completed later this year. Passengers are advised that for several months, all trains will arrive at and depart from a new island platform, accessible by an overhead walkway. During this time, VIA will be rebuilding the main station platform and completing other work on the surrounding tracks in order to improve train movements and enhance capacity.

Station Design Highlights:

• A fully accessible and welcoming environment with comfortable, relaxing waiting areas.
• Large, ample windows to allow plenty of light and views outside, including views of train arrivals and departures.
• Wider boarding platforms.
• Parking and drop-off facilities, designed for the convenience of customers.
• Landscaping that preserves and reinforces the natural environment.

For more information or to reserve tickets, customers are welcome to visit viarail.ca. For all questions, customers can contact VIA at 1 888 VIA RAIL (1 888 842 7245) or at 1 800 268 9503 (for the hearing impaired).

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's (www.viarail.ca) mandate is to provide safe, efficient, more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective passenger transportation, in the country's two official languages. Every week, VIA operates 503 intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500-kilometre route network. Winner of the 2011 RAC Safety Award, VIA transports over four million passengers annually. 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. Since 2007, the Government has invested nearly 1 billion dollars in VIA in order to meet growing demand and transform Canada's rail passenger service for the future. Follow the evolution of current projects at viarail.ca/transformingVIA. Follow VIA on Twitter at twitter.com/via_rail. Visit VIA on Facebook at facebook.com/viarailcanada.