MONTREAL, Nov. 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - VIA Rail Canada's Board of
Directors today released the Corporation's third quarter 2012 results.
Between July and September 2012, VIA Rail's ridership and revenues were
lower than last year for the same period, due partially to challenges
faced by the travel industry. However, as a result of stringent cost
management measures, the Corporation's bottom line was within approved
funding levels for the quarter.
"In the third quarter, VIA Rail continued to face significant challenges
with respect to both ridership and revenues, in all parts of its
passenger rail network. We launched new strategies to retain customers
and attract new ones, while at the same time, working harder than ever
to control costs, and improve our productivity. Now, we have to look at
the best ways to use our resources to deliver a better return for our
operating funding. As we move forward, our long term goal is to make
VIA Rail a financially and commercially viable operation, with a new
approach to operating as a publicly-owned business," explained VIA Rail
President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Laliberté.
The report also states that, by the end of the third quarter of 2012,
80% of the $923 million fund committed by the Government of Canada to
upgrade tracks, modernize passenger stations, and renew passenger
trains and technology had been invested.
Highlights include:
Tracks
-
Major safety improvements and signal work on the Guelph Subdivision;
-
Major work to increase the capacity of CN-owned tracks between
Brockville and Toronto to allow VIA Rail to add more frequencies
between Ottawa and Toronto, and Montréal and Toronto;
-
A new third track between Grafton and Cobourg was put in service;
-
Replacement of ties on VIA-owned infrastructure on the Alexandria and
Smiths Falls subdivisions and on the Chatham Subdivision, and
replacement of sections of track ballast and crossing rehabilitation;
-
Design work for the replacement of Centralized Traffic Control systems
in the Ottawa area and between Coteau - De Beaujeu;
Rolling stock
-
Delievery of 51 of VIA Rail's 53 F-40 locomotives, along with 16 of
VIA's 59 Renaissance passenger cars and 10 of 97 Light, Rapid
Comfortable (LRC) passenger cars, rebuilt in order to extend their
life, enhance environmental performance and efficiency, and to provide
better comfort and service to customers - including better
accessibility for people with special mobility needs;
Stations
-
The new Windsor Station and overhead walkway at Oshawa opened to the
public, and work at Cobourg and Oshawa Stations advanced well;
-
A new project to upgrade Winnipeg Station that will improve public areas
and passenger services was started;
IT
-
Introduction of a system that links many "back-end" systems with our
front-line employees, through Blackberry smartphones, including
on-board real-time passenger manifests, train status information (TSI),
such as estimated arrivals and departure information, and improved
communication between on-board VIA staff and other VIA departments;
-
Launching of an electronic ticketing and boarding passes system in the
Quebec City-Windsor Corridor in August;
-
Launching of a pilot for a new system that allows passengers to watch
news, TV shows and documentaries while they travel.
To read VIA Rail's quarterly financial results, go to: http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/our-company/quarterly-reports
About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's (www.viarail.ca) mandate is to provide safe, efficient, cost-effective passenger
transportation in the country's two official languages. VIA operates
intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking 450 communities
across its 12,500-kilometer route network. Recipient of the RAC's
Safety Award in 2012 for the 11th time in 12 years, and of the 2012 Agent's Choice Award voted on by
Canadian travel agents and presented by Baxter Travel Media, VIA safely
transports over four million passengers annually. Since 2007, the
Government of Canada has provided VIA Rail with nearly one billion
dollars in capital investment funding. Follow the evolution of current
projects at viarail.ca/TransformerVIA.
Follow us... Evolution Blog viaevolution.ca
On Twitter @VIA_rail
On Facebook
SOURCE: VIA RAIL CANADA INC.