Following a meeting with Gaspé regional leaders in February, VIA Rail Canada has announced that it will reinstitute hot meals in the dining car of the Montréal - Gaspé train on a year-round basis. In addition, a VIA-Gaspé region joint working group was created to study ways of enhancing service on the Montréal-Gaspé line and promoting tourism in the region. Read the full story

Via Rail may be forced to cut routes and lay off staff as part of a government cost-cutting exercise, warns a transport watchdog group.

Earlier this year, the Conservative government asked the Crown corporation to identify lower priority and lower performing programs that represent 5% of its parliamentary allocation.

“Via doesn’t have any fat to cut,” said Transportation 2000 Canada’s president David Jeanes. “The only way they have to achieve those types of budget cuts is to completely eliminate or drastically reduce services, for example cutting the number of trains across the country.”

Jeanes is worried declining passenger rates on Via Rail’s western and eastern routes to Gaspe and Halifax will make the regions particularly vulnerable to cuts.

The Canadian Auto Workers’ Bob Chernecki said the union met with Via Rail management three weeks ago and raised the issue with them, but so far it has not been notified of any cuts.

“Absolutely no decisions have been made regarding any effect that this process could have on any part of our operation, let alone the passenger rail network,” said Via Rail’s spokesman Malcolm Andrews. “None would be taken until some time in early 2010.”

Andrews said fewer passengers are riding the railway because of the economic crisis and a drop in tourism.

By ALTHIA RAJ, NATIONAL BUREAU, >>> continue reading
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Canada By Train: The Complete VIA Rail Travel Guide

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MONTREAL, VIA Rail Canada has been advised by the Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie that repair work on the portion of rail between New Carlisle and Gaspé, which has been out of service for a month
or so, has now been completed. As a result, regular thru-service on VIA’s Chaleur from Montréal to Gaspé is scheduled to resume as of Friday, December 12, 2008. Hence, the first trains will operate eastbound and westbound over the affected part of the track (New Carlisle to Gaspé) Saturday, December 13.

The Chaleur operates from Montréal to Gaspé every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and from Gaspé to Montréal every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

Passengers are advised to book their seats aboard the Chaleur as early as possible as demand for tickets is expected to increase over the holiday period.

Customers wishing further information may visit viarail.ca or call 1 888-VIA RAIL (842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).

For further information: VIA Media contacts: Catherine Kaloutsky, (416) 956-7683; Nadia Seraiocco, (514) 871-6191.