February 21, 2019

FAMILY DAY LONG WEEKEND: VIA RAIL’S RIDERSHIP UP 5%

HIGHLIGHTS

From Thursday, February 14 to Tuesday, February 19, 2019

 

Total number of travellers

89,400 passengers (5% increase)

 

Most popular route

Ottawa – Toronto (13,800 passengers)

Most notable passenger increases

Ottawa – Québec | 31% increase compared to 2018

London – Windsor | 20% increase compared to 2018

Ottawa – Kingston |15% increase compared to 2018

 

MONTRÉAL, February 21, 2019 - New records were set by VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) over the Family Day long weekend and, once again, thousands of Canadians chose an easy, safe, sustainable and enjoyable travel experience to visit friends and family. Between February 14 and 19, VIA Rail welcomed a total of 89,400 people onto its trains, a 5% ridership increase compared to 2018.

 

The most popular segment was Ottawa – Toronto with 13,800 passengers and where VIA Rail offers 20 weekday departures. The most notable increases of the weekend were seen on trips between Ottawa – Québec (31% increase), London – Windsor (20% increase) and Ottawa – Kingston (15% increase).

 

In addition, 23,500 passengers travelled from Ontario to a destination in Quebec and vice versa, reflecting a 4.9% increase from the previous year.

 

“The upward trend in the number of travellers choosing the train is continuing and, clearly, more Canadians find the value in taking the train and believe in the quality of the services we provide,” said VIA Rail President and Chief Executive Officer Yves Desjardins-Siciliano. “The fact that Family Day long weekend ridership has increased for the third year in a row combined with the best financial results in 11 years attest to our growing popularity in Ontario and across the country.”

 

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada’s national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (
viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports nearly 4.8 million passengers annually. The Corporation has been awarded five Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2007. Visit the “About VIA Rail” section at corpo.viarail.ca/en.