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.