June 8, 2020

LATEST VIA RAIL JASPER-PRINCE GEORGE-PRINCE RUPERT OPERATIONS UPDATE

MONTRÉAL, June 8, 2020 Service provided by VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) between Jasper-Prince George-Prince Rupert will resume starting July 5, with one round trip per week on this route.

 

SERVICES

Train #

Service

5

(Jasper to Prince George)

Sunday only

5

(Prince George to Prince Rupert)

Monday only

6

(Prince Rupert to Prince George)

Wednesday only

 

6

(Prince George to Jasper)

Thursday only

 

 *This information is subject to change without notice.

THE PASSENGER’S JOURNEY

Resumption of service on this route will take place with the utmost consideration for the safety and health of our passengers and employees. 

VIA Rail will thus implement the following measures throughout the different steps of the customer’s journey. 

Bookings:

  • We have limited the number of bookable seats aboard our trains in order to provide passengers physical distancing space when travelling. Since capacity will be limited in Economy class, we recommend that our passengers reserve their trip prior to their departure.
  • Touring class will not be available.
     

Prior to boarding:

  • In order to limit the risks of propagation of COVID-19, VIA Rail recommends to all its passengers to wear a non-medical mask or face covering that covers the nose and the mouth when travelling on its trains and when it is impossible to respect a distance of 2 metres with others.
  • Passengers will be denied boarding our trains if they are experiencing symptoms similar to a cold or flu (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) or if they have been denied boarding for travel in the last 14 days due to medical reasons related to COVID-19.
  • Limited Baggage service will be available.
    On Board:
  • Access to the Dome car will not be permitted and we encourage our passengers to stay at their seat as much as possible to limit contact with other customers and employees.
  • All passengers will receive a complimentary snack which will be placed on their seat prior to boarding. As no other food or beverage service will be offered, we recommend that passengers bring their own meals and ask customers with dietary restrictions to plan accordingly.
  • On-board employees will be deployed in order to sanitize our coach cars while in operation. 
     

REMINDER 

VIA Rail continues to adjust its operations and deploys a strict protocol of sanitary measures on board its trains, in its stations, maintenance centres and call centres in response to the pandemic and in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19. We have limited the number of bookable seats aboard our trains in order to provide passengers physical distancing space when travelling.

Furthermore, we constantly remind our passengers and employees of the importance of following the recommendations of the public health authorities, to stay at home, avoid non-essential travel, practice physical distancing as much as possible, and to rigorously follow good hygiene practices (wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of their arm, avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth without first washing their hands).

We continue to monitor the developments of COVID-19 and we remain in close contact with public health agencies and the federal and provincial governments.

The most recent updates are available on our website.  

 

About VIA Rail

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 transported over 5 million passengers in 2019. 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 https://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.