TORONTO — A Montreal-based designer has landed on the fast track to fashion victory as the winner of the Via Rail uniform design contest.

Xiao Wei took home top honours at an event held Thursday at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week. 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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Civilized and unhurried travelling, slow cooking and refined dining, listening to re-mastered stereo albums of The Beatles on vinyl, film noir from the ’50s, nostalgia fashion and re-discovering weekend getaways without going far away are lifestyle trends that are coming back in style in Canada.

This means that the concept of leisured journeys like it used to be is currently being enjoyed by today’s generation of Canadian baby boomers and their elders who are enjoying their golden years.

Both groups have the time, the money and the ability to enjoy life to the fullest. They have countless opportunities to reshape contemporary lifestyle because of their demographic power. Slowing down does not mean slacking down on worldly activities.

Because of the economic downturn, more and more Canadians are staying at home and enjoying weekend getaways close to where they live.

One mode of transportation that is now enjoying a healthy comeback is travelling on VIA RAIL CANADA to enjoy once again Canada’s legendary and classic train journeys. It’s a travel experience unlike any other. It’s comfortable, luxurious and romantic. You travel in classic stainless steel and art deco-style cars, just like in the movies.

You don’t suffer the indignities of waiting at crowded airports, taking your shoes off when your luggage is checked, cramped airline seats at coach, bad or no food, suffer the noise of wailing children or being treated like a cow by a harassed attendant or fear that the customs officer may think that you have liquid explosive in your bottled water.

One can book a three-day and two-night journey on VIA RAIL from Vancouver to Jasper and back. The train travels 1,160 km between the Rockies and the north Pacific coast through breathtaking and varied landscapes. It is a voyage of discovery and the realization that Canada is truly a vast country and it has kept the beauty of rich forests, natural landscapes and its wilderness.

The Vancouver to Jasper run is short and long enough to experience trail travel. The train leaves Vancouver at 8:30 p.m. on a Friday, arrives Jasper Saturday afternoon. A night at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and dinner at the world-renowned Edith Cavell restaurant are highly recommended.

Return to Vancouver is on Sunday afternoon, to arrive Vancouver Monday morning around 9 a.m., fully refreshed. It is best to check the schedule that fits your travel plans.

I have vivid memories of sipping champagne in the observation dome car while Vancouver slowly faded from my eye level, drinking coffee while working at the game room with large picture windows, taking long naps in a functional private compartment and a long shower before breakfast. There were memorable breakfast, lunch, dinner, all freshly prepared by the on-board chef. The chefs prepare seasonal cuisine to fully showcase the best of Canadian ingredients, vegetables, meats and fruits.

Jasper was a revelation. Besides the National Park which is a wildlife sanctuary, there are unforgettable mountain lakes and views. It is no wonder that over two million visitors travel to Jasper and is among the country’s most-photographed places. It has a laidback mountain lifestyle but offers first-class accommodations and gourmet dining in several renowned restaurants.

By Mel Tobias, Philstar.com, >>> continue reading
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Canada By Train: The Complete VIA Rail Travel Guide

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If you’re looking to save a bundle on a train trip this year, the clock is ticking.

The whopping 60-per-cent discount Via Rail Canada offered as a way to make up with passengers angered by a two-day strike that paralysed the rail line expires tomorrow night.

Via spokesperson Ashley Doyle said from Toronto commuters have until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time July 31 to take advantage of the massive discount, applicable to trips through Dec. 14.

The original deadline for discounted tickets was yesterday, but Via extended the promotion for 48 hours because an overwhelming response clogged the railway’s website, tied up phone lines for reserving tickets and resulted in long lineups at train stations.

Doyle confirmed the response to the deeply discounted tickets has been phenomenal.

“The website never crashed per se, but it was much slower than normal and as a result we did add bandwidth yesterday afternoon,” she said.

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Source: Winnipeg Free Press, >>> continue reading

A plan to add a third rail line to the Toronto-Montreal corridor will cut 30 minutes from the five-hour trip.

The joint Via Rail and CN announcement – part of a $300 million investment in the Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa region – means building a third line along existing track in four of the corridor’s busiest sections from Oshawa to Brockville. Construction begins this summer and is to be completed by 2011.

The third line will let Via and CN trains pass each other in congested areas where three trains often converge, eliminating the need for Via passenger trains to idle on sidings while CN freight trains pass. New high-speed turnouts will also be installed so trains don’t have to come to a near-stop to avoid derailing when they’re switching tracks.

Three-quarters of Via’s 4.5 million passengers use the Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa triangle. The rail carrier expects the track improvements to result in a 40 per cent passenger increase over five years.

“We want to transform passenger rail travel,” said Gary Goodyear, federal minister of state for science and technology. “We expect that more people will choose to leave their cars at home and use the train for intercity travel. We will get people off the highways and relieve traffic congestion.”

Source: By Patsy Winsa, TheStar.com

Toronto-Niagara Bike Train returns for a third year – VIA Rail Canada has your ticket to experience all the excitement of the Niagara region this summer thanks to the return of VIA’s enhanced seasonal schedule between Toronto and Niagara Falls. From June 25 to September 21 VIA will operate 3 departures in total between the two destinations, making it easier than ever to plan an exciting getaway to the falls or a relaxing visit to one of the region’s many award-winning wineries.

Also included in VIA’s summer schedule to Niagara is the return of the popular Bike Train. For a third consecutive year, the award-winning Toronto-Niagara Greenbelt Express makes exploring the Niagara region by bike easy and stress free. On select departures between June 26 and October 18, passengers can travel in comfort while their bikes are safely secured in a baggage car complete with bike racks. The Toronto-Niagara Greenbelt Express can accommodate up to 56 bicycles per trip, making it an excellent option for groups looking to travel and bike together. Full fare and schedule information
is available at www.biketrain.ca.

With so much to see and do, the Niagara region makes for the perfect summer destination – and with VIA’s summer schedule getting there is a breeze!

For more information on VIA’s summer schedule to Niagara or to reserve tickets anywhere in the VIA system, customers can visit viarail.ca or call 1 888 VIA RAIL (842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired). To book tickets on the Toronto-Niagara Greenbelt Express, customers can visit www.biketrain.ca.

For further information: VIA Media Contact: Ashley Doyle, Corporate Communications, (416) 956-7613, Ashley_doyle@viarail.ca