HIGHLIGHTS
From January 1st to December 31, 2023
- Total revenues increased by $197.7 million (29.2%) compared to 2022 due to an increase in frequencies and higher demand;
- 4.1 million passengers rode VIA Rail trains in 2023, an increase of 815,000 (24.7%) compared to 2022;
- The Corporation pursued its modernization with the introduction of more new trains in the Corridor and the launch of a new reservation system offering a more intuitive booking experience for our customers.
MONTRÉAL, May 14, 2024 – More than four million passengers chose to travel by train in 2023 with VIA Rail marking its highest ridership numbers since 2019. Year over year, ridership was up 24.7 per cent, and the Corporation achieved important milestones in its modernization projects delivering on its vision to be the smarter way to move people.
“2023 was a pivotal year for VIA Rail as we introduced new equipment, launched a modern new reservation system, restored several key train frequencies in the Québec City–Windsor corridor, and achieved a significant increase in revenues,” said Françoise Bertrand, VIA Rail’s Chairperson of the Board of Directors. “The end result is that we were able to better serve our customers and build the foundation for our future growth.”
2023 also marked the arrival of VIA Rail’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, Mario Péloquin, who joined the Corporation in June.
“It has been an exciting journey to be jumping aboard at a time when VIA Rail and passenger rail worldwide are in the midst of a profound and far-reaching transformation,” said Mario Péloquin. “VIA Rail has already made substantive progress towards shaping the future of rail travel in Canada, and in 2023 we took significant steps forward, reflecting our commitment to modernization and a better travel experience for our passengers.”
ALL ABOARD THE NEW FLEET
The progressive entry into service of the new Corridor fleet continued in 2023, allowing VIA Rail to offer a more comfortable, fully accessible, and more sustainable experience to more Canadians along the Québec City – Windsor corridor.
In October 2023, VIA Rail officially launched the commercial service of the new fleet on the Ottawa – Toronto route. As a result, the four major cities in the Corridor (Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, and Toronto) and all communities in between are now connected by these new trains. As of December 31, 2023, 12 of the 32 new train sets had been received, and the Corporation eagerly anticipates connecting more Canadians in the Corridor with its new fleet in 2024.
A NEW RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR AN EASY AND INTUITIVE EXPERIENCE
In November, VIA Rail launched its new reservation system offering a simplified, more convenient, accessible, and autonomous experience for our customers. More than an update of the reservation process, this modernization project fully overhauled all related infrastructure and systems (such as the loyalty program and point-of-sale system).
This new reservation system allows customers to enjoy new features, such as autonomous seat selection, as well as a simplified process to book online for a wider variety of needs.
PASSENGERS FIRST
VIA Rail always aims for excellence. This year its efforts were recognized in Léger’s 2023 Reputation Study, where the Corporation earned the title of most reputable company in the transportation sector. VIA Rail increased its point total in the survey by 4 points from the year prior and bypassed all other transportation companies for the first time since the launch of this study.
The study also recognized the efforts made by VIA Rail to foster a positive and inclusive company culture, by ranking VIA Rail as Canada’s first employer of choice among transportation companies.
THE FUTURE OF VIA RAIL’S SERVICES
Across Canada, VIA Rail operates on long-distance, regional, and remote (LDRR) routes, such as the Canadian or the Ocean. While parts of these services are geared toward offering a unique tourist experience to Canadians and visitors from around the world, these routes also serve as a lifeline for isolated communities across the country, who rely on them to access essential services and goods.
We are thrilled that the recent federal budget has allocated funding for VIA Rail to proceed with its transformative project to replace the trains operating on our long-distance, regional, and remote routes. This significant investment marks a milestone in our journey to redefine passenger rail in every region of the country over the coming years.
We’d like to thank the Government of Canada for their continued support and confidence in our vision. This demonstrates a shared commitment to enhancing sustainable transportation across the nation.
VIA Rail’s annual report is available at: https://media.viarail.ca/en/reports
FAQs
4.1 million passengers rode VIA Rail trains in 2023, an increase of 815,000 (24.7%) compared to 2022; The Corporation pursued its modernization with the introduction of more new trains in the Corridor and the launch of a new reservation system offering a more intuitive booking experience for our customers.
Why is Via Rail so slow? ›
The reason it's so slow is that we're sharing tracks with freight trains. There are so many freight trains, they have complete priority, and because of that, we're always delayed.
What is the on time performance of VIA Rail? ›
While Via's on-time performance has hovered around 70 per cent for roughly a decade, it dropped to 57 last year.
Why are via rail trains always late? ›
The majority of the tracks that Via Rail uses are owned by other freight companies, so the freight trains get priority (ex. The Canadian. Those tracks are owned by CN or CP, so the train has to wait on a side track until the freight train passes.).
Who owns Via Rail? ›
VIA Rail Canada, Inc., Canadian state-owned passenger-railway system.
Why is my train moving so slowly? ›
Most instances of reduced speeds are due to track work, according to the T's report, but other reasons include power or signal defects, structural issues, construction work, vehicle problems, and extreme weather conditions.
Is VIA Rail losing money? ›
But Via's operating losses grew eight per cent year-to-year to $381.8 million, as the company continues to rely on government funding. The Crown corporation received $773 million in subsidies in 2023, which represents a 15 per cent increase from 2022. It has not reached a full-year profit since 2017.
Is VIA Rail punctual? ›
In the 2022 fiscal year, 57 percent of Via Rail Canada's trains reached their end point on time.
What is the top speed of the VIA Rail? ›
VIA Rail trains' top speeds vary depending on the route and the type of train. In the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, which is the most heavily traveled and where their high-speed trains operate, trains can reach speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h).
Why are railroads so slow? ›
Tracks: None of the nation's rail lines are built for trains to run 200 mph. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor — the busiest intercity U.S. passenger route by a wide margin — is filled with sharp curves, bottlenecks, decaying tunnels, bridges and overhead power lines that slow down trains.
Usually, no refunds or credits will be given in instances where passengers miss the train, but you can always contact VIA Rail to inquire at 1 (888) 842-7245 or customer_relations@viarail.ca.
How long can a train be delayed before compensation? ›
If you're delayed and arrive at your destination more than half an hour late, you'll usually be able to get some money back. Some train companies will also give you compensation if your train is more than 15 minutes late.
What happens if my train is delayed and I miss a connection? ›
If your connecting train is with the same carrier as the delayed train you will be able to travel on the next available train to your destination. Speak to the train staff to find out if you can board the next train with your existing ticket as you may need to exchange the ticket for a new one, free of charge.
What railroad does Warren Buffett own? ›
On January 24, 2005, the railroad's name was officially changed to BNSF Railway Company using the initials of its original name. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway acquired BNSF Railway in February 2010, obtaining all of its shares and taking the company private.
Does Bill Gates own a railroad company? ›
Bill Gates acquired 54.8 Million Canadian National Railway shares worth $6.75 Billion. That's 15.15% of their entire equity portfolio (4th largest holding). The investor owns 8.42% of the outstanding Canadian National Railway stock. The first Canadian National Railway trade was made in Q3 2002.
Does VIA Rail go to the USA? ›
We have a partnership with Amtrak, the U.S. passenger rail service. If you are in Canada and wish to book a one-way or round trip between Toronto and New York City, you can do so on the VIA Rail website or by phone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing).
How fast is the Via Rail train? ›
Top speed of 160 km/h is attained on all routes where this locomotive is used.
Why are trains so slow in Canada? ›
If you ride Via Rail on its busiest corridors, you're planning for a delay — or at least, you should be. The trains and tracks we're using now haven't changed much in decades. If anything, thanks to more traffic, they've gotten slower. Gabrielle Drolet wrote about Canada's train system in Mainsonnneauve magazine.
Why is train network slow? ›
Tunnels, deep cuttings and the so-called “Faraday Cage” effect of the metal infrastructure of train carriages also interfere with mobile connections.
