Via Rail - B
Via Rail - Continued
Via Rail Connections
The Maple Leaf, operating between New York City and Toronto via Albany, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, is jointly managed by Via and Amtrak. The train operates using Amtrak equipment, but on the Canadian side of the border is staffed by Via employees and operated as a typical Via train.
Two other train routes link Canada and the US: the Adirondack (Montreal-New York) and the Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver-Seattle-Portland). While both of these routes share stations with Via at their Canadian termini, they are fully operated by Amtrak and single-ticket connections to Via trains are not offered.
In addition to Amtrak, Via passengers can book connecting tickets on the following services:
- GO Transit - Toronto regional commuter trains
- Train de Charlevoix - summer tourist train between Quebec City and the Charlevoix region (no shared station in Quebec City; bus shuttle available)
- Union Pearson Express - airport rail link from downtown Toronto to Toronto Pearson International Airport
- Maritime Bus - coach operator in Eastern Canada
- Robert Q Airbus - transportation to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport and Detroit Metro Airport to several locations in Southern Ontario
- BC Ferries Connector - offers service between downtown Vancouver and downtown Victoria
- Réseau de Transports de la Capitale - Public transit in the Québec City area.
- Red Arrow - coach operator in Alberta
- Ontario Coachway - provides transportation to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport
- RéGÎM - public transit in Gaspésie-Les Îles
Via also has connection agreements with several local and intercity bus operators, car-sharing services, and airlines. Passengers who are flying with these airlines can combine their air and rail trips under the same record locator:
- Mexico AeroMexico
- Canada Air North
- Canada Air Transat
- Hong Kong Cathay Pacific
- Canada First Air
- China Hainan Airlines
- Poland LOT Polish Airlines
- Qatar Qatar Airways
- Jordan Royal Jordanian
Rolling stock
Via owns 73 locomotives and 501 passenger cars. Examples include the GMD F40PH-2 diesel locomotive and the famed "Park"-class sleeper-dome-lounge cars found on the rear of the Canadian, Jasper–Prince Rupert train and the Ocean between Montreal QC and Halifax NS.
Carbon emissions
In 2010, Via's carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions per passenger kilometre were 0.117 kg. For comparison, this is similar to Amtrak or a car with two people, about twice as high as the UK rail average, about four times the average US motorcoach, and about eight times a Finnish electric intercity train or fully loaded fifty-seat coach.
Accidents and incidents
- The most serious Via accident to date occurred on 8 February 1986, when a Via train collided with a CN freight train near Hinton, Alberta, killing 23 people and injuring 71.
- On 20 November 1994, at approximately 18:20, Via train No. 66 travelling eastward at approximately 96 mph, struck a piece of rail intentionally placed on the track at Mile 242.07 of the CN North America Kingston Subdivision, in Brighton, Ontario. A fire erupted and the trailing portion of the locomotive and the first two passenger cars behind the locomotive became engulfed in flames. Forty-six of the 385 passengers were injured, most while exiting the train in life-threatening conditions. 2 local residents were charged and convicted after an investigation by the local police.
- On 3 September 1997, the Canadian (train No. 2) from Vancouver to Toronto, travelling eastward at 67 mph, derailed at Mile 7.5 of the CN Wainwright Subdivision, near Biggar, Saskatchewan. Thirteen of nineteen cars and the two locomotives derailed. Seventy-nine of the 198 passengers and crew on board were injured, 1 fatally and 13 seriously. Approximately 600 feet of main track was destroyed. The cause was determined to be an axle bearing failure which was detected but erroneously ignored. Via was heavily criticized for a lack of attention to safety.
- On 23 April 1999, Via train No. 74 travelling eastward at Mile 46.7 on the CN Chatham Subdivision in Thamesville, Ontario derailed after a switch was left open by a CN worker causing the train to jump the tracks and collide with stationary hoppers on the adjacent track, derailing the locomotive and its four-passenger cars. The two engineers were killed and 77 of the 186 passengers injured, four seriously. Approximately 50 m of the main track and 100 m of the yard track were destroyed.
- On 12 April 2001, the Ocean bound for Montreal derailed in Stewiacke, Nova Scotia, at a manually operated main track switch. A standard CN switch lock used to secure the switch in correct position had been tampered with. The two locomotives and the first two cars continued on the main track, but the following cars took a diverging route onto an industrial track adjacent to the main track. Nine of the cars derailed and a farm supply building, as well as the industrial track were destroyed. Four occupants of the building escaped without injury prior to impact. There were 132 persons on board the train. 22 persons were transported to hospital in either Truro or Halifax. Nine were seriously injured. A 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the charge of mischief endangering life relating to the lock tampering.
- On 26 February 2012, Via Train No. 92 en route to Toronto, derailed in Burlington, Ontario, killing all three railroad engineers and injuring 46 (three seriously). The cause of the derailment is attributed to the excessive speed of the train travelling through a switch from track 2 to track 3.
- 2013 Via Rail Canada terrorism plot: In April 2013, two men inspired by al-Qaeda were charged with plotting to derail a Via train in the Greater Toronto Area. In 2015, both men were convicted of terrorism-related offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment. One of the two men was mentally unstable and misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
- On 18 September 2013, a collision occurred between train No. 51 and a double-decker OC Transpo bus that failed to stop at a level crossing in Ottawa, Ontario. Six people were killed and 31 injured (11 critically), all of whom were on the bus. The impact resulted in the train derailing approximately 100–200 feet (30–61 m) down the track.
- On 5 July 2018, a train with 16 passengers and five crew members derailed north of Hudson Bay, SK while travelling from Winnipeg to Churchill. Passengers and crew sustained only minor injuries, but it took several hours for emergency crews to arrive due to the remote location of the incident. Paramedics and firefighters had to wait near the tracks for CN rail trucks to arrive that could transport them to the crash site.
- On 31 December 2019, a train with five crew and seven passengers derailed and tipped on its side near Katrime, Manitoba; the incident is still under investigation, and no one was seriously injured
Via Rail Canada Inc.
Overview
Type: Crown corporation
Industry: Rail transport
Founded January: 12, 1977; 44 years ago
Headquarters: Place Ville Marie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Area served: Canada
Key people: Cynthia Garneau (President and CEO)
Françoise Bertrand (Chairperson)
Revenue Increase: CA$392.6 million (2018)
Operating income: Decrease CA$−272.6 million (2018)
Total assets: Decrease CA$1,467 million (2018)
Number of employees: 3,234 (2020)
Stations called at: 378
Reporting mark: VIA
Dates of operation: 1977–present
Predecessor: Passenger services operated by the Canadian National Railway
and the Canadian Pacific Railway, as well as other smaller companies
Technical Track gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length: 12,500 kilometres (7,800 mi)
List of Via Rail stations
Stations Province Services
- Abbotsford British Columbia Canadian
- Agassiz British Columbia
- Aldershot Ontario Corridor
- Alexandria Ontario Corridor
- Aleza Lake British Columbia
- Allanwater Bridge Ontario Canadian
- Amery Manitoba
- Amherst Nova Scotia Ocean
- Amqui Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Anjou Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Armstrong Ontario Canadian
- Arnot Manitoba
- Ashcroft British Columbia Canadian
- Atikameg Lake Manitoba
- Auden Ontario Canadian
- Back Manitoba
- Barachois Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Bathurst New Brunswick Ocean
- Belcher Manitoba
- Belleville Ontario Corridor
- Bend British Columbia
- Biggar Saskatchewan Canadian
- Bird Manitoba
- Blue River British Columbia Canadian
- Bonaventure(closed 2013) Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Boston Bar British Columbia Canadian
- Boyd Manitoba
- Brampton Ontario Corridor
- Brantford Ontario Corridor
- Brereton Lake Manitoba Canadian
- Bridgar Manitoba
- Brockville Ontario Corridor
- Buckley Bay British Columbia
- Budd Manitoba
- Burns Lake British Columbia
- Button Manitoba
- Bylot Manitoba
- Campbellton New Brunswick Ocean
- Canora Saskatchewan
- Canyon Ontario Canadian
- Caplan Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Capreol Ontario Canadian
- Caramat Ontario Canadian
- Carleton Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Casselman Ontario Corridor
- Cassidy British Columbia
- Causapscal Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Cedarvale British Columbia
- Central Station(Montreal) Quebec Corridor, Montreal–Senneterre train
- Chambord Quebec
- Chandler Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Charlebois Manitoba
- Charlo New Brunswick Ocean
- Charny Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Chatham Ontario Corridor
- Chemainus British Columbia
- Chesnaye Manitoba
- Chilliwack British Columbia Canadian
- Churchill Manitoba
- Clearwater British Columbia Canadian
- Cliffside British Columbia
- Clova Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Cobble Hill British Columbia
- Cobourg Ontario Corridor
- Collins Ontario Canadian
- Copelands Landing Ontario
- Cormorant Manitoba
- Cornwall Ontario Corridor
- Coteau Quebec Corridor
- Courtenay British Columbia
- Cowichan British Columbia
- Cromarty Manitoba
- Dauphin Manitoba
- Deep Bay British Columbia
- Dering Manitoba
- Digges Manitoba
- Dome Creek British Columbia
- Dorreen British Columbia
- Dorval (VIA) Quebec Corridor
- Drummondville Quebec Ocean, Corridor
- Duncan British Columbia
- Dunlop Manitoba
- Dunsmuir British Columbia
- Dunster British Columbia
- Dyce Manitoba
- Earchman Manitoba
- Edmonton Alberta
- Edson Alberta Canadian
- Elma Manitoba Canadian
- Elsas Ontario Canadian
- Endako British Columbia
- Endeavour Saskatchewan
- Esquimalt British Columbia
- Evansburg Alberta Canadian
- Fallowfield Ontario Corridor
- Farlane Ontario Canadian
- Felix Ontario Canadian
- Ferland Ontario Canadian
- Finger Manitoba
- Fitzpatrick Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Flindt Landing Ontario Canadian
- Foleyet Ontario Canadian
- Fort Fraser British Columbia
- Gananoque Ontario Corridor
- Gare du Palais Quebec Corridor
- Gaspé Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Georgetown Ontario Corridor
- Gilbert Plains Manitoba
- Gillam Manitoba
- Gladstone Manitoba
- Glencoe Ontario Corridor
- Glenella Manitoba
- Goat River British Columbia
- Gogama Ontario Canadian
- Grande-Rivière Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Grand-Mère Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Grandview Manitoba
- Grimsby Ontario
- Guelph Ontario Corridor
- Guildwood Ontario Corridor
- Halcrow Manitoba
- Halifax Nova Scotia Ocean
- Harvey British Columbia
- Hayward British Columbia
- Hébertville Quebec
- Herchmer Manitoba
- Hervey-Jonction Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Hillbank British Columbia
- Hillsport Ontario Canadian
- Hinton Alberta Canadian
- Hockin Manitoba
- Hope British Columbia Canadian
- Hornepayne Ontario Canadian
- Houston British Columbia
- Hudson Bay Saskatchewan
- Hutton British Columbia
- Ilford Manitoba
- Ingersoll Ontario Corridor
- Jacquet River New Brunswick Ocean
- Jasper Alberta Canadian
- Joliette Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Jonquière Quebec
- Kamloops North British Columbia Canadian
- Kamsack Saskatchewan
- Katz British Columbia
- Kellett Manitoba
- Kettle Rapids Manitoba
- Kingston Ontario Corridor
- Kitchener Ontario Corridor
- Kitwanga British Columbia
- Kwinitsa British Columbia
- La Perouse Manitoba
- La Pocatière Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- La Tuque Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Lac-Bouchette Quebec
- Lac-Édouard Quebec
- Ladysmith British Columbia
- Laforest Ontario Canadian
- Lamprey Manitoba
- Langford British Columbia
- Laurier Manitoba
- Lawledge Manitoba
- Le Gardeur Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Leven Manitoba
- London Ontario Corridor
- Longlac Ontario Canadian
- Longworth British Columbia
- Loos British Columbia
- Luke Manitoba
- Lyddal Manitoba
- Malachi Ontario Canadian
- Malahat British Columbia
- Matapédia Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- McBride British Columbia
- McCreary Manitoba
- McGregor British Columbia
- McKee's Camp Ontario Canadian
- M'Clintock Manitoba
- Melville Saskatchewan Canadian
- Mikado Saskatchewan
- Minaki Ontario Canadian
- Miramichi New Brunswick Ocean
- Mission Harbour British Columbia
- Moncton New Brunswick Ocean
- Mont-Joli Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Montmagny Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Mud River Ontario Canadian
- Munk Manitoba
- Nakina Ontario Canadian
- Nanaimo British Columbia
- Nanoose Bay British Columbia
- Napanee Ontario Corridor
- New Carlisle Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- New Hazelton British Columbia
- New Richmond Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Niagara Falls Ontario Corridor
- Nonsuch Manitoba
- North Bend British Columbia
- Nouvelle Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Oakville Ontario Corridor
- Oba Ontario Canadian
- Ochre River Manitoba
- O'Day Manitoba
- Odhill Manitoba
- Ophir Manitoba Canadian
- Orok Manitoba
- Oshawa Ontario Corridor
- Ottawa Train Station Ontario Corridor
- Ottermere Ontario Canadian
- Pacific British Columbia
- Pacific Central (Vancouver) British Columbia Canadian
- Palmer British Columbia
- Parent Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Parksville British Columbia
- Parry Sound Ontario Canadian
- Paterson Manitoba
- Penny British Columbia
- Percé Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Petit Rocher New Brunswick Ocean
- Pikwitonei Manitoba
- Pipun Manitoba
- Pit Siding Manitoba
- Plumas Manitoba
- Pointe-aux-Trembles Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Ponton Manitoba
- Port Hope Ontario Corridor
- Portage la Prairie Manitoba Canadian
- Port-Daniel Quebec Montreal–Gaspé train
- Prince George British Columbia
- Prince Rupert British Columbia
- Qualicum Beach British Columbia
- Rawebb Manitoba
- Red Lake Road Ontario Canadian
- Redditt Ontario Canadian
- Reserve Saskatchewan
- Rice Lake Ontario
- Richan Ontario Canadian
- Rimouski Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Rivers Manitoba
- Rivière-à-Pierre Quebec
- Rivière-du-Loup Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Roblin Manitoba
- Rogersville New Brunswick Ocean
- Ruel Ontario Canadian
- Sackville New Brunswick Ocean
- Sainte-Foy Quebec
- Saint-Hyacinthe Quebec Ocean, Corridor
- Saint-Lambert Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train, Corridor
- Saint-Tite Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Sarnia Ontario Corridor
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canadian
- Sauvé Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Savant Lake Ontario Canadian
- Sayabec Quebec Ocean, Montreal–Gaspé train
- Senneterre Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Shawinigan Quebec Montreal–Senneterre train
- Shawnigan British Columbia
- Silcox Manitoba
- Sinclair Mills British Columbia
- Sioux Lookout Ontario Canadian
- Sipiwesk Manitoba
- Smithers British Columbia
- Smiths Falls Ontario Corridor
- South Wellington British Columbia
- Springhill Junction Nova Scotia Ocean
- St. Catharines Ontario Corridor
- St. Marys Ontario Corridor
- Starks British Columbia
- Stratford Ontario Corridor
- Strathcona Lodge British Columbia
- Strathroy Ontario Corridor
- Sturgis Saskatchewan
- Sudbury Ontario Sudbury-White River
- Sudbury Junction Ontario Canadian
- Telkwa British Columbia
- Terrace British Columbia
- The Pas Manitoba
- Thibaudeau Railway Station Manitoba
- Thicket Portage Manitoba
- Thompson Manitoba
- Tidal Manitoba
- Togo Saskatchewan
- Tremaudan Manitoba
- Trenton Junction Ontario Corridor
- Trois Pistoles Quebec
- Truro Nova Scotia Ocean
- Turnbull Manitoba
- Union Bay British Columbia
- Union Station (Toronto) Ontario Corridor, Canadian
- Union Station (Winnipeg) Manitoba Canadian
- Unity Saskatchewan Canadian
- Upper Fraser British Columbia
- Usk British Columbia
- Valemount British Columbia
- Vanderhoof British Columbia
- Veregin Saskatchewan
- Victoria British Columbia Closed
- Viking Alberta Canadian
- Wabowden Manitoba
- Wainwright Alberta
- Washago Ontario Canadian
- Watrous Saskatchewan
- Weir River Manitoba
- Wekusko Manitoba
- Wellington British Columbia
- Westree Ontario Canadian
- Wilde Manitoba
- Willow River British Columbia
- Windsor Ontario Corridor
- Winnitoba Manitoba
- Wivenhoe Manitoba
- Woodstock Ontario Corridor
- Wyoming Ontario Corridor
