VIA Rail Canada reports what it calls an "excellent" recovery in 2022 revenues and ridership, as well as the launch of the first of a modernized fleet of trains.
Despite continued disruptions due to COVID-19 at the start of 2022, the rail company says that ultimately, passenger revenues increased by $198.8 million in 2022 over 2021. VIA attributes the gains to a restoration of service, both in trains and frequency, as well as higher demand.
The corporation also recorded an increase in ridership of 1.7 million passengers in 2022, up 118.4 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.
“2022 was a rebuilding year that demonstrated the enduring relevance and popularity of passenger rail service in Canada, a time in which VIA Rail was delighted to welcome back Canadians from across the country,” said Françoise Bertrand, Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
The corporation also reported on milestones achieved in 2022 in its modernization program. VIA introduced a new fleet of trains for its Québec City-Windsor corridor. The new trains are designed to be more accessible, featuring braille and embossed signage and improved on-board recycling options. The trains also have updated engines that can be converted to diesel-electric dual mode, and can communicate with maintenance centres for real-time status updates.
VIA Rail also announced continued development of its new reservation system, which is set to launch in 2023. The system will allow customers to better manage their trip throughout the booking process.
In 2022, VIA Rail also released a five-year sustainability plan, announcing that it will incorporate environmental, social and governance performance metrics across all of its operations, and submitted a multi-year accessibility plan under the Accessible Canada Act.
