View source for Via Rail

{{Short description|Inter-city passenger rail operator in Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Via Rail Canada Inc.
| logo = VIA Rail Canada Logo.svg
| image = VIA_2311.jpg
| image_caption = The SCV-42 vehicles tested on the [[Quebec City–Windsor Corridor (Via Rail)|Quebec City–Windsor Corridor]] at the Toronto Maintenance Facility in 2024.
| type = [[Crown corporation]]
| industry = [[Rail transport]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1977|01|12}}
| hq_location = [[Place Ville Marie]]
| hq_location_city = [[Montreal]], Quebec
| hq_location_country = Canada
| area_served = Canada
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* [[Jonathan Goldbloom]] ([[Chair (officer)|Chairman]])
* Mario Péloquin ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
}}
| revenue = {{Increase}} {{CAD|430.7 million|link=yes}} (2023)<ref name="ar2023">{{cite web|url=https://media.viarail.ca/sites/default/files/publications/397_034_VIARAIL_ANNUAL-REPORT-2023.pdf|title=Annual Report 2023|publisher=Via Rail Canada|access-date=July 15, 2024}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{Decrease}} {{CAD|-381.8 million}} (2023)
| assets = {{Increase}} {{CAD|2.868 billion}} (2023)
| num_employees = 3,668 (2023)
| subsid = [[Alto (high-speed rail)]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Infobox rail
| system_map       = VIANetworkMap2019.png
| map_caption      = Geographic map of the Via Rail system
| marks            = VIA
| start_year       = 1977
| end_year         = present
| predecessor_line = Passenger services operated by the [[Canadian National Railway]] and the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]], as well as other smaller companies
| gauge            = {{Track gauge|1435mm|allk=on}}
| length           = {{convert|12500|km}}
| stations         = 378<ref>{{cite report |title=Sustainable Mobility Report 2018 |url=https://media.viarail.ca/sites/default/files/publications/2018_SMR_EN_FINAL.pdf |publisher=Via Rail Canada |page=5 |date= |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226190701/https://media.viarail.ca/sites/default/files/publications/2018_SMR_EN_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''Via Rail Canada Inc.''' {{Reporting mark|VIA}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|iː|ə}}), [[Trade name|operating as]] '''Via Rail''' or '''Via''' (stylized as '''VIA Rail'''), is a Canadian [[Crown corporation]] that operates intercity passenger [[Rail transport|rail service]] in Canada.

As of December 2023, Via Rail operates 406 trains per week across eight [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian provinces]] and {{convert|12500|km}} of track, 97 percent of which is owned and maintained by other railway companies, mostly by [[Canadian National Railway]] (CN). Via Rail carried approximately 4.1&nbsp;million passengers in 2023, 96 percent of which were along the ''[[Quebec City–Windsor Corridor (Via Rail)|Corridor]]'' routes connecting the major cities of the [[Quebec City–Windsor Corridor]], and had an on-time performance of 85.4 per cent.<ref name="ar2023" /> Attracting international tourism forms an important part of Via Rail's long distance trans-continental services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada's Pacific railway: an iron spine for a paper nation |url=https://engelsbergideas.com/reviews/canadas-pacific-railway-an-iron-spine-for-a-paper-nation/ |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Engelsberg ideas}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |title=Via Rail 2022 Annual Report |url=https://media.viarail.ca/sites/default/files/publications/VIA%20Rail_2022%20Annual%20Report_0.pdf |publisher=Via Rail Canada |page=8 |date= |access-date=April 24, 2024}}</ref>
{{toc limit|3}}

==History==
===Background===
{{See also|History of rail transport in Canada}}
[[File:19680706 15 CN Rapido Pickering, ON.jpg|thumb|[[Canadian National Railway|CNR]] [[Rapido (train)|Rapido]] train cars in [[Pickering, Ontario|Pickering]], July 1968. In an effort to attract riders, new train cars were acquired by CN in the 1960s.]]
Yearly passenger levels on Canada's passenger trains peaked at 60 million during [[World War II]]. Following the war, the growth of air travel and the personal automobile caused significant loss of [[mode share]] for Canada's passenger train operators. By the 1960s [[Canadian National Railway]] (CN) and the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CP) found that passenger trains were no longer economically viable. CP sought to divest itself of its passenger trains, but federal government regulators and politicians balked, forcing them to maintain a minimal service through the 1970s, with the government subsidizing up to 80 percent of losses. CN, being a [[Crown corporations of Canada|Crown corporation]] at that time, was encouraged by the federal government and political interests to invest in passenger trains. Innovative marketing schemes such as ''Red, White, and Blue'' fares, new equipment such as scenic [[dome car]]s and [[Budd Rail Diesel Car|rail diesel car]]s, and services such as [[Rapido (passenger train)|Rapido]] and the [[UAC TurboTrain]] trains temporarily increased numbers of passengers, reversing previous declines.<ref name="nelligan">{{cite book |title=Via Rail Canada: The first five years |first=Tom |last=Nelligan |publisher=[[Passenger Train Journal|PJT Publishing]] |year=1982 |isbn=0-937658-08-1}}</ref>{{rp|4–5}}

These increases proved temporary; by 1977, total passenger numbers had dropped below five million. The decline of passenger rail became a federal election issue in 1974 when the government of [[Pierre Trudeau]] promised to implement a nationwide carrier similar to [[Amtrak]] in the United States. Starting in 1976, CN began branding its passenger services with the bilingual name Via or Via CN. The Via logo began to appear on CN passenger locomotives and cars, while still carrying CN logos as well. That September, Via published a single timetable with information on both CN and CP trains, marking the first time that Canadians could find all major passenger trains in one publication. In 1977, CN underwent a dramatic restructuring when it placed various non-core freight railway activities into separate subsidiaries, such as ferries under [[CN Marine]], and passenger trains under Via Rail which was subsequently renamed Via Rail Canada.<ref name="nelligan" />{{rp|6–9}}

===Formation and early years===
[[File:Discontinued VIA Rail train, Ontario Northland Station, Cochrane, Ontario.jpg|thumb|A Via Rail train at [[Cochrane station (Ontario)|Cochrane station]] in August 1978. Earlier that year, [[Canadian National Railway|CNR]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway|CPR]] passenger rail service were spun off into Via Rail Canada.]]
On January 12, 1977, CN spun off its passenger services as a separate Crown corporation, Via Rail Canada. At its inception, Via acquired all CN passenger cars and locomotives. Following several months of negotiation, on October 29, 1978, Via assumed all CP passenger train operations and took possession of cars and locomotives. Passenger train services which were not included in the creation of Via Rail included those offered by [[BC Rail]], [[Algoma Central Railway]], [[Ontario Northland Railway]], [[Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway]], various urban commuter train services operated by CN and CP, and remaining CN passenger services in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]. At this time, Via did not own any trackage and had to pay right-of-way fees to CN and CP, sometimes being the only user of rural branch lines.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Via initially had a tremendous variety of equipment—much of it in need of replacement—and operated routes stretching from [[Sydney, Nova Scotia]], to [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia]], and north to [[Churchill, Manitoba]]. Over 150 scheduled trains per week were in operation, including transcontinental services, regional trains, and [[Quebec-Windsor Corridor|corridor]] services.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

While Via remains an independent federal Crown corporation mandated to operate as a business, it is hindered by the fact that it was created by an [[order in council]] and not from legislation passed by [[Parliament of Canada|Parliament]]. Had Via been enabled by legislation, the company would be permitted to seek funding on the open money markets as other Crown corporations such as CN have done in the past. It is largely for this reason that critics say Via—like [[Amtrak]] in the United States—is vulnerable to federal budget cuts and continues to answer first to its political masters, as opposed to the business decisions needed to ensure the viability of intercity passenger rail service.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/via-rail-seeking-federal-budget-funding-for-1-3b-passenger-car-upgrade-in-toronto-montreal-corridor |author=Jason Fekete |title=Via Rail seeking federal budget funding for $1.3B passenger car upgrade in Toronto-Montreal corridor |publisher=National Post |date=February 29, 2016 |access-date=March 2, 2016}}</ref>

===1980s===
[[File:Roger Puta shot VIA LRC-2 6903 at Port Hope, ON in October 1981 (34282991950).jpg|thumb|The [[LRC (train)|LRC]] in [[Port Hope, Ontario|Port Hope]], October 1981. Via Rail ordered the LRCs in the 1980s to replace its older train cars.]]
In 1981, Prime Minister [[Pierre Trudeau]]'s government endorsed [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister of Transport]] [[Jean-Luc Pépin]]'s plan which slashed Via's budget, leading to a 40 percent reduction in the company's operations. Frequently sold-out trains such as the ''[[Super Continental]]'' and the popular ''[[Atlantic (passenger train)|Atlantic]]'' were discontinued. The retrenchment of the former reduced Via to operating only one transcontinental train, ''[[The Canadian]]''.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Via also sought to reduce its reliance on over 30-year-old second-hand equipment and placed a significant order with [[Bombardier Transportation]] for new high-speed locomotives and cars which would be used in its corridor trains. The [[LRC (train)|LRC]] (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) locomotives and cars used advanced technology such as [[Tilting train|active tilt]] to increase speed, but proved troublesome and took several years to work out problems (by 1990 only a handful of LRC locomotives remained in service which were subsequently retired by the arrival of the [[GE Genesis]] locomotives in 2001).{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

The election of [[Brian Mulroney]]'s [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] government in 1984 brought an initial friend to Via, when several of Mulroney's commitments included rescinding the Via cuts of 1981 by restoring the ''[[Super Continental]]'' (under pressure from his western caucus), and the ''[[Atlantic (passenger train)|Atlantic]]'' (under pressure from his eastern caucus and then-[[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]] mayor [[Elsie Wayne]]). Prime Minister Mulroney's government gave Via funding to refurbish some of its cars, and purchase new locomotives, this time a more reliable model from [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]] diesel division.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

It was during this time on February 8, 1986, that Via's eastbound [[Hinton train collision|''Super Continental'' collided with a CN freight train]] near [[Hinton, Alberta]], as a result of the freight train crew missing a signal light, resulting in 23 deaths.

By the late 1980s, inflation and other rising costs were taking their toll on federal budgets and in the Mulroney government's [[1989 Canadian federal budget|1989 budget]], Via again saw its budget slashed by $1 billion,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Drost |first1=Philip |last2=Desson |first2=Craig |date=January 1, 2023 |title=What we can learn about the future of rail from its past |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/rail-travel-canada-1.6681160 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101090556/http://www.cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/rail-travel-canada-1.6681160 |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=CBC |url-status=live }}</ref> surpassing even the 1981 cuts under Trudeau.

===1990s===
[[File:VIA 6501 with Train 109 at Regina, SK in May 1982 (32098880841).jpg|thumb|left|A Via [[EMD FP7|GMD FP7]] leads the ''[[Canadian (train)|Canadian]]'' in Regina, May 1982. The ''Canadian'' was rerouted in the 1990s, ending service to several cities, like Calgary.]]
Minister of Transport [[Benoît Bouchard]] oversaw the reduction in service on January 15, 1990, when Via's operations were reduced by 55 percent.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} The privatization of CN rail in 1995 also negatively affected service as it resulted in an effective monopoly, with Via trains having to yield to CN trains.<ref name=":1" />

Services such as the ''[[Super Continental]]'' were again discontinued, along with numerous disparate rural services such as in [[Nova Scotia]]'s [[Annapolis Valley]] and [[Cape Breton Island]], [[western Canada]], and in the corridor. ''[[The Canadian]]'' was also moved from its home rails on CP to the northerly CN route (previously plied by the ''Super Continental''). The shift to the less populated route between [[Toronto]] and [[Vancouver]] severed major western cities such as [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] and [[Calgary]] from the passenger rail network and flared western bitterness toward the [[Government of Canada]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

The official justification for the rerouting was that the trains would serve more remote communities, but the concentration of ridings held by the Progressive Conservatives along the CN route attracted the charge that the move was chiefly political. [[Harvie André]], one of Alberta's federal cabinet ministers who represented Calgary, stated publicly that he did not care if he never saw a passenger train again in his life.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

The Mulroney cuts allowed Via to consolidate its fleet of cars and locomotives, resulting in a fleet of refurbished stainless steel ([[head end power|HEP]]-1 and HEP-2 rebuilds) and LRC cars, as well as rationalizing its locomotive fleet with GM and Bombardier (LRC) units.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Via was not spared from further cutbacks in [[Jean Chrétien]]'s [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] government elected in 1993. Minister of Finance [[Paul Martin]]'s first budget in 1994 saw further Via cuts which saw the popular ''[[Atlantic (passenger train)|Atlantic]]'' dropped from the schedule, focusing the eastern transcontinental service on the ''[[Ocean Limited|Ocean]]''. CP had sold off a large portion of track the ''Atlantic'' had operated on and, as Via at that time was only mandated to provide passenger services on tracks belonging to CN or CP, the route was discontinued.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} This move was seen as somewhat controversial and politically motivated as the principal cities benefiting from the ''Atlantic''{{'s}} service were [[Sherbrooke]], Quebec, and [[Saint John, New Brunswick]], where the only two Progressive Conservative Party [[Members of Parliament]] in Canada were elected in the 1993 federal election in which Chrétien's Liberal Party took power. The ''Ocean'' service which was preserved currently operates on track between Montreal and Halifax running through the lower St. Lawrence River valley and northern New Brunswick. The Minister of Transport in Chrétien's government at the time, [[Doug Young (politician)|Douglas Young]], was elected from a district that included [[Bathurst, New Brunswick]], on the ''Ocean''{{'s}} route. A remote Via service to Quebec's [[Gaspé Peninsula]], the ''[[Chaleur (passenger train)|Chaleur]]'' was also spared from being cut at this time, despite carrying fewer passengers than the ''Atlantic''.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

====Renaissance funding====
[[File:19961012 08 Amtrak E. Lansing, MI.jpg|thumb|A Via locomotive leads the ''[[International (Amtrak train)|International]]'' with [[Amtrak]] coaches. The International route was jointly operated by Via and Amtrak from 1982 to 2004.]]
By the late 1990s, with a rail-friendly Minister of Transport, [[David Collenette]], in office, there were modest funding increases to Via. Corridor services were improved with new and faster trains, a weekly tourist train, the ''[[Bras d'Or (train)|Bras d'Or]]'', returned Via service to [[Cape Breton Island]] for the first time since the 1990 cuts, and a commitment was made to continue operating on [[Vancouver Island]], but western Canada continued to languish with the only service provided by the ''Canadian'' and a few remote service trains in northern BC and Manitoba.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

In a significant new funding program dubbed "Renaissance", a fleet of unused passenger cars which had been built for planned ''[[Nightstar (train)|Nightstar]]'' sleeper services between locations in the United Kingdom and [[Continental Europe]] via the [[Channel Tunnel]] were purchased and adapted following the cancellation of the ''Nightstar'' project. The new "[[Renaissance (railcar)|Renaissance]]" cars were swiftly nicknamed ''déplaisance'' ("displeasure") by French-speaking employees and customers, due to early problems adapting the equipment for Canadian use. Doors and toilets froze in cold Atlantic Canada temperatures, resulting in delays and service interruptions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transport2000.ca/Hotlines/hl040130.htm |title=Transport 2000 Hotline |publisher=Transport2000.ca |date=January 30, 2004 |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420150023/http://www.transport2000.ca/Hotlines/hl040130.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> New diesel-electric [[GE Genesis|P42DC]] locomotives purchased from [[General Electric]] (GE) allowed the withdrawal of older locomotives, including remaining LRCs. LRC passenger cars were retained and continued to provide much of the Corridor service. This expansion to Via's fleet has permitted scheduling flexibility. Additionally, many passenger stations have been remodelled into passenger-friendly destinations, with several hosting co-located transit and regional bus hubs for various municipalities.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

===2000s===
[[File:VIA 66 with 901.JPG|thumb|right|Via Rail [[P42DC]] pulling [[LRC (train)|LRC]] coaches towards Montreal]]
On October 24, 2003, federal Minister of Transport David Collenette announced $700 million in new funding over the next five years. This funding was below the $3 billion needed to implement a high-speed rail proposal in the [[Quebec City-Windsor Corridor]] nicknamed [[ViaFast]]; however, the funding was intended to "provide for faster, more frequent and more reliable passenger service across Canada... [preserving] the option for higher speed rail, such as the Via Fast proposal," said Collenette. This new project was to be called "Renaissance II".<ref>{{cite news |title=Via upgrades to cost $700 million |url=http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/10/24/train031024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040605025751/http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/10/24/train031024 |archive-date=June 5, 2004}}</ref>

On December 18, 2003, Liberal [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] (PM) [[Paul Martin]] froze federal spending on all major capital projects, including Via's five-year $700&nbsp;million "Renaissance II" program announced just six weeks earlier by outgoing PM Chrétien's administration. Critics of Martin's cuts claimed that he was in a conflict of interest as his family through [[Canada Steamship Lines]] and various subsidiary and affiliated companies had once had a significant investment in the [[Voyageur Colonial Bus Lines]], an intercity bus line in Quebec and eastern Ontario that was a key competitor of Via.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Routes cut under the Martin government included the seasonal ''[[Bras d'Or (passenger train)|Bras d'Or]]'' tourist train, which ran for the last time in September 2004, and the Montreal-Toronto overnight ''[[Enterprise (Via Rail train)|Enterprise]]'', which was discontinued in September 2005. The Sarnia-Chicago ''[[International Limited (passenger train)|International]]'' was also discontinued in April 2004 by Amtrak. Via's portion of the route from Toronto-Sarnia remained in operation as Via was able to use their own equipment to operate the train.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

====Sponsorship scandal====
{{See also|Sponsorship scandal}}
The federal [[Auditor General of Canada|Auditor General]]'s report released on February 10, 2004, showed what appeared to be a criminal misdirection of government funds intended for advertising to key Quebec-based supporters of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. Included in the Auditor General's report was the fact that Via was used as one of several federal government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations to funnel these illicit funds. Forced to act on the Auditor General's report due to its political implications, Martin's government suspended Via President [[Marc LeFrançois]] on February 24, 2004, giving him an ultimatum of several days to defend himself against allegations in the report or face further disciplinary action.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Several days later during LeFrançois's suspension, former Via marketing department employee [[Myriam Bédard]] claimed she had been fired several years earlier when she questioned company billing practices in dealing with advertising companies. (According to [[CBC News]], an arbitrator's report later concluded that Bédard had voluntarily left Via.) She was publicly belittled by Via CEO [[Jean Pelletier]] in national media on February 27, 2004. Pelletier retracted his statements but on March 1, Pelletier was fired. By March 5, after failing to defend himself adequately against the allegations in the Auditor General's report, LeFrançois was fired as well.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

====Increasing problems and reinstated funding====
[[File:Qualicum Beach Station 3.jpg|thumb|left|Via RDCs at [[Qualicum Beach station]], a stop on [[Victoria–Courtenay train]]. The Victoria–Courtenay service was suspended in March 2010.]]
The reversal of funding in 2003 led to a backlog of deferred maintenance and left Via unable to replace or refurbish life-expired locomotives and rolling stock. Conversely, Via ridership increased from 3.8&nbsp;million in 2005 to 4.1&nbsp;million in 2006.<ref name="VIAMoney2007">{{cite news |title=Via gets hundreds of millions in federal funding |publisher=[[CBC News|CBC]] |date=October 11, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/via-gets-hundreds-of-millions-in-federal-funding-1.676328 |access-date=October 11, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012231440/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/10/11/via-money.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> On October 11, 2007, Finance Minister [[Jim Flaherty]] announced federal government funding of $691.9&nbsp;million over five years (of which $519&nbsp;million was for capital projects and the remainder additional operating funding). The capital funding was earmarked to refurbish Via's fleet of 54 [[EMD F40PH|F40PH-2]] locomotives to meet new emissions standards and extend their service lives by 15–20 years, refurbish the interiors of LRC coaches, reduce track capacity bottlenecks and speed restrictions in the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor, and make repairs to a number of stations across the network.<ref>{{cite web |title=Backgrounder: New Funding For Via Rail Canada |publisher=Via Rail |date=October 11, 2007 |url=http://www.viarail.ca/investmentprogram/pdf/en_plan_financement.pdf |access-date=October 23, 2007 |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025065420/http://www.viarail.ca/investmentprogram/pdf/en_plan_financement.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

This announcement was similar in content to the previous "Renaissance II" package, and once again was criticized for not including new equipment or funding for services outside the Windsor-Quebec City Corridor. Shortly afterwards, documents obtained by [[the Canadian Press]] under the ''[[Access to Information Act]]'' revealed that delays due to equipment failures had risen by 60 percent since the previous year. The company attributed this to problems with the aging F40 locomotive fleet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Via train late? You're not alone |publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=October 20, 2007 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071020.wvialate1020/BNStory/National/home |access-date=October 23, 2007 |location=Toronto |first=Dean |last=Beeby |archive-date=March 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314071554/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071020.wvialate1020/BNStory/National/home |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 27, 2009, the Government of Canada's 2009 Economic Action Plan increased funding to Via by $407 million to support improvements, including increased train frequencies and enhanced on-time performance and speed, particularly in the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada's Economic Action Plan |publisher=Department of Finance of Canada |date=January 27, 2009 |url=http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpc3d-eng.html |access-date=December 28, 2011 |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307083600/http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan/bpc3d-eng.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 21, 2009, Via began cancelling all trains in anticipation of an engineers' strike, which officially began at midnight on July 24. Engineers had been without a contract since December 31, 2006.{{update inline|date=March 2020}} Full service resumed on July 27.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/update |title=Update: Strike Action—Via Rail Canada cancels all services effective immediately |publisher=Via Rail Canada Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725082035/http://www.viarail.ca/en/update |archive-date=July 25, 2009}}</ref> An additional strike by the [[Canadian Auto Workers]] (CAW) union, representing around 2,200 employees, was planned to begin on July 4, 2010, but was called off after the union and Via reached a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=23693 |title=Via Rail, CAW reach tentative agreement to avoid strike |publisher=Progressive Railroading |date=June 28, 2010 |access-date=June 29, 2010}}</ref>

===2010s===

[[File:Thecanadiannearjasper.jpg|thumb|A Via [[EMD F40PH|F40PH-2]]D in [[Jasper, Alberta|Jasper]], February 2011. Via's fleet of F40PH-2Ds were refurbished in the late-2000s to meet emission standards.]]
Via experienced more service cuts at the dawn of the 2010s. In March 2011, the daily Victoria–Courtenay ''[[Victoria–Courtenay train|The Malahat]]'' RDC service on Vancouver Island was suspended indefinitely due to deteriorating track (it has yet to resume). By June 27, 2012, Via announced additional service cuts due to funding issues:
* The ''Canadian'' was reduced from three days a week to two days a week beginning November 2012; service operated twice weekly November–April and thrice weekly May–October until 2019. In 2019, only two trains per week operated on the full route, while the third train ran only between Vancouver and Edmonton once a week in each direction.
* The ''Ocean'' was reduced from six days a week to thrice weekly beginning October 2012.
* [[Corridor (Via Rail)|''Corridor'']] services west of Toronto were reduced, with weekend service reductions to [[Montreal]] and [[Ottawa, Ontario]].<ref name="cuts2012">{{cite press release | url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/media-room/latest-news/1819/27-june-2012-via-rail-continues-its-modernization-and-takes-action-to-better-meet-customer-demand | title=Via Rail continues its modernization and takes action to better meet customer demand | publisher=Via Rail | date=June 27, 2012 | access-date=June 27, 2012 | archive-date=November 9, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109202144/http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/media-room/latest-news/1819/27-june-2012-via-rail-continues-its-modernization-and-takes-action-to-better-meet-customer-demand | url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Corridor'' services to Sarnia and the Niagara region were reduced to once daily in October 2012, with additional taking effect in July 2012. Sarnia was left with a single daily round-trip.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2012/06/27/via-train-service-to-sarnia-cut-in-half |title=Via train service to Sarnia cut in half |access-date=July 6, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115194238/http://www.theobserver.ca/2012/06/27/via-train-service-to-sarnia-cut-in-half | archive-date=January 15, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]] lost all service except the joint Amtrak-Via daily [[New York City]]-Toronto ''[[Maple Leaf (train)|Maple Leaf]]'' service,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/06/27/niagara-travelers-impacted-by-via-cuts |title=Niagara travellers impacted by Via cuts |access-date=July 6, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115204553/http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/06/27/niagara-travelers-impacted-by-via-cuts | archive-date=January 15, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> although Toronto regional commuter service was later provided by [[GO Transit]].
* ''Corridor'' services to Kitchener,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.therecord.com/news-story/2607419-via-rail-blames-low-ridership-for-cuts-to-kitchener-service/ |title=Via Rail blames low ridership for cuts to Kitchener service |access-date=July 6, 2012 |archive-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018013008/http://www.therecord.com/news-story/2607419-via-rail-blames-low-ridership-for-cuts-to-kitchener-service/ |url-status=live }}</ref> London,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://metronews.ca/news/london/279361/london-area-hit-hard-by-nationwide-via-rail-cuts/ |title=London area hit hard by nationwide Via Rail cuts |access-date=July 6, 2012 |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221183328/http://metronews.ca/news/london/279361/london-area-hit-hard-by-nationwide-via-rail-cuts/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Windsor<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/06/28/via-rail-cuts-means-fewer-trains-tofrom-windsor/ |title=Via Rail cuts means fewer trains to, from Windsor |access-date=July 6, 2012 |archive-date=July 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704095048/http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/06/28/via-rail-cuts-means-fewer-trains-tofrom-windsor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> were reduced starting in October 2012, with at least two daily round trips surviving.
* In September 2013, the [[Montreal – Gaspé train|Gaspé]] service, which had been [[Rail replacement bus service|"bustituted"]] in 2011, was suspended indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web |title=Via Rail service between Matapédia, New Carlisle and Gaspé suspended |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/media-room/latest-news/66251/22-august-2013-via-rail-service-between-matapedia-new-ca |access-date=August 23, 2013 |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826020945/http://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/media-room/latest-news/66251/22-august-2013-via-rail-service-between-matapedia-new-ca |url-status=live }}</ref>

To address declining on-time performance due to freight train traffic on Via routes, MP [[Olivia Chow]] drafted a private member's bill in 2014 that would reorganize the company and allow the government to force freight rail carriers to give scheduling priority to public passenger rail. However, as with most private member's bills, it was not passed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://openparliament.ca/bills/41-2/C-577/ |title=Bill C-577 Via Rail Canada Act: An Act respecting Via Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to another Act |last=Chow |first=Olivia |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724113541/https://openparliament.ca/bills/41-2/C-577/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Global News">{{Cite news |last1=De Souza |first1=Mike |last2=Robinson |first2=Megan |date=March 11, 2020 |title=Does Via Rail's survival depend on a new route through Ontario and Quebec? |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6635203/via-rail-survival-hfr/ |access-date=May 3, 2020 |publisher=[[Global News]]}}</ref>

====Service improvements====
The Quebec-Windsor corridor was the focus of service restorations and implements. A direct Ottawa-Quebec City train was restored, with additional trips between Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto being added. In 2016, LRC passenger cars used for the corridor were refurbished; in the Via 1 class, this included single seating.
[[File:Via Rail Canada 150, 2017 (20170814 170743).jpg|thumb|left|A passenger car adorned in [[Canada 150]] livery, August 2017. For the country's sesquicentennial, Via released a special youth rail pass.]]
In March 2017, Via announced the release of a new category of rail pass valid for the month of July 2017 (corresponding to Canada's sesquicentennial celebrations) for youth aged 18–25, costing $150 (several hundred dollars cheaper than a comparable rail pass would typically cost). A larger than expected response resulted in the temporary loss of functionality for Via's website. Despite plans to cap the number of passes sold at 1867 (the year of [[Canadian Confederation]]), over 4,000 passes were ultimately sold. The company received significant backlash, as it initially appeared there was no limit on the number of passes available.<ref>{{cite web |title=Via Rail's $150 passes for unlimited travel sold out |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/via-rail-passes-sold-out-1.4047338 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531211625/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/via-rail-passes-sold-out-1.4047338 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Extreme winter conditions had always been an operational hazard for Via, with the Ottawa routes and ''Canadian'' being most vulnerable.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/winters-extreme-weather-made-trains-extremely-late-via-rail-reports/article675745/ |title=Winter's extreme weather made trains extremely late, Via Rail reports |work=The Globe and Mail |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309030244/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/winters-extreme-weather-made-trains-extremely-late-via-rail-reports/article675745/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Equally, summer repairs and construction often delayed trains systemwide, even though schedules were regularly adjusted in an attempt to minimize delays.<ref name="auto2"/>

However, by 2018, freight traffic on the heavily used CN lines had become a significant concern for maintaining on-time service.<ref name="auto5">{{cite web |title=2018 Annual Public Meeting Questions and Answers — Part 1 |url=https://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/About_VIA/our-company/annual-public-meeting/2018%20ANNUAL%20PUBLIC%20MEETING-Part%201.pdf |publisher=Via Rail Canada |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125115919/https://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/About_VIA/our-company/annual-public-meeting/2018%20ANNUAL%20PUBLIC%20MEETING-Part%201.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{Cite web |url=https://vancouversun.com/opinion/opinion-will-the-liberals-save-via-rail |title=Opinion: Passenger-train service falling off the rails |work=Vancouver Sun |date=August 29, 2016 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125115921/https://vancouversun.com/opinion/opinion-will-the-liberals-save-via-rail |url-status=live }}</ref> This issue arose due to typical siding sizes, which were not long enough to accommodate modern freight trains. Passenger trains were consequently placed on sidings whenever two trains passed (rather than freights), which meant that passenger trains did not have priority on CN lines.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/via-train-chronically-late-rail-advocates |title=Via train chronically late: Rail advocates |date=October 22, 2018 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604093100/https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/via-train-chronically-late-rail-advocates |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto6">{{Cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/freight/whats-holding-up-vias-canadian/ |title=What's holding up Via's Canadian? (Updated) |date=May 30, 2018 |work=[[Railway Age]] |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604094604/https://www.railwayage.com/freight/whats-holding-up-vias-canadian/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The issue existed in all parts of the Via network, although it became most extreme on the ''Canadian'', where delays increased from an average of five hours to as much as 50 over the four-day journey.<ref>{{cite news |last=Small |first=Kaylen |date=May 24, 2018 |title=Pain on the train: Via Rail passengers frustrated with delays on cross-Canada journey |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/via-rail-train-delayed-from-toronto-to-vancouver-1.4675680 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=November 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126224256/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/via-rail-train-delayed-from-toronto-to-vancouver-1.4675680 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto6"/><ref name="auto3"/> Via ultimately addressed the issue by eliminating its late policy on its cross-Canada trains but retaining it for the ''Corridor'' routes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/booking/travel-credits |title=Travel credits |website=www.viarail.ca |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604093057/https://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/booking/travel-credits |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> However, Via continues to compensate inconvenienced guests with necessary hotel accommodations prior to the journey, as well as ensuring continued transportation where a connection to a second Via train had been missed.<ref name="auto4"/> As such, compensation costs were factored into Via's 2018 budget.

By the end of 2018, the full route time on the ''Canadian'' had been increased twice to absorb freight delays.<ref name="auto5"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fitzhugh.ca/via-cn-cook-up-new-vancouver-jasper-sked/ |title=New Via sked to keep 'Canadian' on time in Jasper – Jasper's source for news, sports, arts, culture, and more |work=The Fitzhugh |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604095347/https://www.fitzhugh.ca/via-cn-cook-up-new-vancouver-jasper-sked/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> The second extension – to five days – has been mostly successful in decreasing delays, and also allowed for a daytime transit of [[Hells Gate (British Columbia)|Hells Gate]] in BC, previously transversed overnight in the dark. The scheduled increased running time actually resulted in the ''Canadian'' arriving early on several occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ridingthebuses.com/2018/12/did-via-rail-keep-its-promise-lets-ask/ |title=Did Via Rail keep its promise? Let's ask. |date=December 6, 2018 |website=Riding the buses |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604123650/http://ridingthebuses.com/2018/12/did-via-rail-keep-its-promise-lets-ask/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g155025-d2230208-r621514304-VIA_Rail_Canada-Quebec.html |title=Lovely trip - Review of Via Rail Canada, Quebec, Canada |website=TripAdvisor |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604104111/https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g155025-d2230208-r621514304-VIA_Rail_Canada-Quebec.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Toronto–Vancouver service frequencies were reduced to only twice weekly during peak summer period, with a third Toronto–Edmonton run suspended entirely.
[clear]

On December 12, 2018, Via announced that it had awarded a contract to [[Siemens Canada]] for 32 train sets to replace the entire Quebec City-Windsor ''Corridor'' fleet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Via Rail Selects Siemens Canada to Replace its Quebec-Windsor Corridor Fleet |url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/media-room/latest-news/50168/12-december-2018-via-rail-selects-siemens-canada-to |access-date=December 19, 2018 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220033908/https://www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/media-room/latest-news/50168/12-december-2018-via-rail-selects-siemens-canada-to |url-status=live }}</ref> This marked the completion of a procurement process launched following the 2018 federal budget, which allocated funding for the fleet replacement. During the request-for-proposals stage, Via had narrowed the potential suppliers down to Siemens, [[Bombardier Transportation|Bombardier]], [[Talgo]] and [[Stadler Rail]]. Siemens was ultimately selected after finishing first on the key criteria, which included the ability to deliver in a timely fashion, the quality of the product offering, and the price. The new fleet will consist of [[Siemens Charger|Siemens SC-42]] locomotives hauling a combination of coaches, business-class cars, and cab cars from the [[Siemens Venture]] series to allow bi-directional operation. The trains will be built at Siemens plant in [[Sacramento, California]], and Siemens committed to including at least 20 percent Canadian content in the final product. The order includes an option for an additional 16 train sets to be exercised if the federal government approves Via's high-frequency dedicated-corridor project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Via Rail places 989 million train order with Siemens |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4755621/via-rail-places-989m-train-order-with-siemens-over-bombardier-for-key-rail-corridor/ |access-date=December 19, 2018 |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219230953/https://globalnews.ca/news/4755621/via-rail-places-989m-train-order-with-siemens-over-bombardier-for-key-rail-corridor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first train set is to be delivered for testing by winter 2021, with the first sets in service by 2022 and all trains in service by 2024. The delivery of the new trains will allow Via to retire LRC and Renaissance equipment from the corridor, and re-allocate the HEP2 and corridor-based HEP1 cars to other parts of the network.

===2020s===
[[File:SCV-42-2202 pushing Train 33 through Michael St. in Ottawa (2).jpg|thumb|right|A Via Rail SCV-42 Charger pushing [[Siemens Venture]] trainsets in 2023]]
On October 30, 2021, Via Rail implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy in line with new [[Transport Canada]] regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which required all Via Rail staff and passengers aged 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel aboard Via Rail trains. Until November 30 a negative COVID test was also considered an alternate to show proof of vaccine prior to boarding.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://media.viarail.ca/en/press-releases/2021/rail-unveils-its-mandatory-vaccination-policy |title=VIA RAIL UNVEILS ITS MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY &#124; VIA Rail |access-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210163842/https://media.viarail.ca/en/press-releases/2021/rail-unveils-its-mandatory-vaccination-policy |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 9, 2022, Minister of Transport [[Omar Alghabra]] announced that the federal government would seek private proposals for operation of the proposed [[High Frequency Rail]] corridor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Transport Canada |date=March 9, 2022 |title=Government of Canada launches the next phase in the procurement process for High Frequency Rail |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/03/government-of-canada-launches-the-next-phase-in-the-procurement-process-for-high-frequency-rail.html |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=Government of Canada}}</ref> Labour union [[Unifor]] criticized this move, calling it a first step toward eventual [[privatization]] of Via Rail, and launched the Get Canada Back on Track campaign to raise awareness and call for "a legislative framework that protects public, accessible, safe passenger rail and directs immediate public investments" to service improvements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Unifor |title=Via Rail P3 privatization must be stopped in its tracks |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/via-rail-p3-privatization-must-be-stopped-in-its-tracks-816758174.html |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Back on Track |url=https://backontrack.unifor.org/ |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=Back on Track |language=en}}</ref>

== Insignia ==
In addition to using commercial logos, Via Rail is one of several Crown corporations that has been granted heraldic symbols by the [[Canadian Heraldic Authority]].

The [[coat of arms]] was granted on May 15, 2020, and presented by Canada's Chief Herald.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=General|first=The Office of the Secretary to the Governor|title=Via Rail Canada Inc. [Civil Institution]|url=https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=3218&ShowAll=1&fbclid=IwAR2ysWUMlw29J8GwRzpttmFccSdcZ_CGP35MlLC488KflPV3hbrKeU6CH8w|access-date=September 14, 2021|website=reg.gg.ca|date=November 12, 2020 |language=EN|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914193838/https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=3218&ShowAll=1&fbclid=IwAR2ysWUMlw29J8GwRzpttmFccSdcZ_CGP35MlLC488KflPV3hbrKeU6CH8w|url-status=live}}</ref>

An [[heraldic badge]] was approved for use at the same time as the coat of arms. The badge design follows the design of a law enforcement agency badge in Canada, denoting the responsibilities of [[Via Rail Police Service]]. The Royal Crown indicates that Via Rail has police constables appointed for the enforcement of the laws relating to the protection of persons and property.<ref name=":0" />

A flag was also granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority. It is black and charged with Via Rail's badge.<ref name=":0" />

==Budget and management==
Via is operated as an independent crown corporation and receives a subsidy from the [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister of Transport]] to provide service to remote communities. Via operates more than 500 trains per week from coast to coast. The sum of {{CAD|369}} million was earned from passenger revenues in 2018. Over 4.74 million passenger voyages were taken in 2018. An on-time ratio of 71 percent was achieved in that year. Over 3,115 persons were employed by Via by the end of 2018.

Via president Yves Desjardins-Siciliano stated that the subsidy for passenger rail travel in Canada in 2015 was about 200 percent: for every $1 travellers spend on fares, Canada pays $2 in subsidy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Roger |title=Via looks at expanding Atlantic service |url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1321579-taylor-via-looks-at-expanding-atlantic-service |access-date=November 20, 2015 |work=Chronicle Herald |publisher=Herald Limited |date=November 9, 2015 |archive-date=November 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120204244/http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1321579-taylor-via-looks-at-expanding-atlantic-service |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of May 2019, the chair of the board of directors is Françoise Bertrand. The Annual accounts of Via are audited to [[Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Canada)|GAAP]] principles by the [[Auditor-General of Canada]], under the ''[[Financial Administration Act]]''. As a federal [[Crown corporations of Canada|Crown corporation]], Via Rail Canada Inc. operates under the ''[[Canada Business Corporations Act]]'' and is subject to income taxes, should a profit ever be declared by it. The corporation had $9,300,000 in share capital as of 2018. Via also received $394.4 million of government funding in 2018.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===Expansion plans===
====Maritimes====
Via has explored the introduction of daily regional service in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (connecting [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]], [[Moncton]], and [[Campbellton, New Brunswick|Campbellton]]) to complement the thrice-weekly ''Ocean'' service to Montreal. As of 2017, Via's statement was that it was "exploring an eastern intercity corridor service" and that further developments were dependent on infrastructure upgrades and equipment testing.<ref name=CorpPlan />

Via has also expressed interest in operating commuter rail service on [[Canadian National Railway|CN]] tracks in Halifax that would run from the city's [[Halifax station (Nova Scotia)|downtown station]] as far as [[Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia|Windsor Junction]].<ref name=CorpPlan /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/local/commuter-rail-far-from-dead-in-halifax-265409/ |title=Commuter rail 'far from dead' in Halifax |date=December 8, 2018 |first=Francis |last=Campbell |publisher=[[The Chronicle Herald]] |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226151838/https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/local/commuter-rail-far-from-dead-in-halifax-265409/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, in June 2019, Halifax regional council voted unanimously to direct staff "not to pursue commuter rail service further&nbsp;... due to infrastructure requirements and associated financial implications, as well as operational considerations and restraints".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/halifax/2019/06/18/halifax-council-kills-commuter-rail-proposal.html|title=Halifax council kills commuter rail proposal|last=Woodford|first=Zane|date=June 18, 2019|work=Toronto Star|access-date=February 3, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203205836/https://www.thestar.com/halifax/2019/06/18/halifax-council-kills-commuter-rail-proposal.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/halifax-commuter-rail-not-coming-but-councillor-still-holding-out-hope-324307/|title=Halifax commuter rail not coming, but councillor still holding out hope|last=Peddle|first=Stuart|date=June 19, 2019|work=[[The Chronicle Herald]]|access-date=February 3, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203205836/https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/halifax-commuter-rail-not-coming-but-councillor-still-holding-out-hope-324307/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====High-frequency rail project ====
Via developed a $4.4 billion high-frequency rail (HFR) service plan as a response to delays faced by sharing tracks with freight trains. The plan opts for a dedicated track between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, offering more frequent trains (although running at conventional speeds). In Ontario, Via would run a new rail line on currently underused tracks from Toronto to Ottawa through [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]] instead of Kingston. In Quebec, corridor trains would travel from Montreal to Quebec City through [[Trois-Rivières]] on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River rather than on the south shore through [[Drummondville]].<ref name="Global News" /> Via claimed this would allow them to run more trains in the corridor, reduce trip times by 25 percent and improve on-time performance to over 95 percent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/projects-infrastructure/high-frequency-rail |title=Proposal for High Frequency Rail in the Quebec City – Toronto Corridor |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Via Rail |access-date=May 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605205811/https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/projects-infrastructure/high-frequency-rail |url-status=live }}</ref>

Feasibility studies were funded by the federal government in the 2016–2018 budgets, and the 2018 budget allowed for the funding of the fleet replacement portion of the plan, though not the dedicated rail lines.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Platt |first=Brian |date=February 28, 2018 |title=Federal budget approves new fleet of trains for Via Rail, but dedicated tracks still under study |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/federal-budget-approves-new-fleet-of-trains-for-via-rail-but-dedicated-tracks-still-under-study |access-date=June 12, 2018 |work=National Post}}</ref> Contrary to expectations, the 2019 federal budget did not include a final decision for new funds for HFR.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ontario.transportaction.ca/via-high-frequency-rail-hfr-project-not-part-of-2019-federal-budget-but-continues-to-be-evaluated/|title=Via high Frequency Rail (HFR) Project not part of 2019 Federal Budget, but Continues to be Evaluated – Transport Action Ontario|date=March 27, 2019|access-date=June 4, 2019|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604115108/http://ontario.transportaction.ca/via-high-frequency-rail-hfr-project-not-part-of-2019-federal-budget-but-continues-to-be-evaluated/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, in January 2020 Via announced the hiring of a joint venture of engineering firms AECOM and Arup to undertake a detailed engineering study of the proposal.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=High Frequency Rail: AECOM and Arup consortium selected as Owner's Engineers |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/high-frequency-rail-aecom-and-arup-consortium-selected-as-owner-s-engineers-858078227.html |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada |publisher=Via Rail Canada, Inc. |date=January 28, 2020 |access-date=May 5, 2020 |archive-date=June 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605211019/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/high-frequency-rail-aecom-and-arup-consortium-selected-as-owner-s-engineers-858078227.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Toronto city council passed a motion supporting the project on March 30, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|last=DeClerq|first=Katherine|date=March 31, 2023|title=The Toronto to Montreal high-speed train just got another step closer|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/the-toronto-to-montreal-high-speed-train-just-got-another-step-closer/|work=[[CTV News]]|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref>

In February 2025, the federal government announced that the VIA HFR project had now become [[Alto (high-speed rail)|Alto]], a [[high-speed rail]] network in the [[Toronto]] - [[Quebec City]] corridor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caruso-Moro |first=Luca |date=February 19, 2025 |title=A 'game changer': Trudeau gives update on high-speed rail project |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/trudeau-announces-high-speed-rail-network-in-toronto-quebec-city-corridor/ |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref>

===Service suspensions===
Two former Via routes—''[[Victoria–Courtenay train|The Malahat]]'' (service ended in 2011) and ''[[Montreal–Gaspé train|Chaleur]]'' (service ended in 2013)—are currently suspended due to poor track conditions. Via plans to reintroduce service once track upgrades have been completed.<ref name=CorpPlan /> The Quebec government announced funds for repairs to ''Chaleur'' trackage in 2017, with a completion date stated only as being "several years away."<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec funds Gaspé railway revival |date=May 9, 2017 |url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/north-america/quebec-funds-gaspe-railway-revival.html |access-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211040/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/north-america/quebec-funds-gaspe-railway-revival.html |url-status=live }}</ref> No concrete plan to restore trackage along ''The Malahat'' has been announced {{as of|2020|lc=on}}.
[[File:Hudson Bay Line train viewed from the rail at Thompson2.JPG|thumb|A Via F40PH-2D leading the [[Winnipeg–Churchill train]], November 2012. The service was suspended from May 2017 to December 2018 for track maintenance.]]
The [[Winnipeg–Churchill train]] was disrupted by severe spring flooding on May 23, 2017, when the [[Hudson Bay Railway (1997)|Hudson Bay Railway]] tracks were damaged beyond standard maintenance. Winnipeg–Gillam service continued.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Via Rail service between Churchill and Gillam suspended indefinitely due to closure of the railway infrastructure in northern Manitoba |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/via-rail-service-between-churchill-and-gillam-suspended-indefinitely-due-to-closure-of-the-railway-infrastructure-in-northern-manitoba-627562033.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604120621/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/via-rail-service-between-churchill-and-gillam-suspended-indefinitely-due-to-closure-of-the-railway-infrastructure-in-northern-manitoba-627562033.html |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=June 9, 2019 |website=www.newswire.ca}}</ref> [[OmniTRAX]], the original owner of the track, refused to make the repairs, saying that the track was no longer viable, despite the matching federal subsidy.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/ship-brings-propane-to-churchill-will-leave-with-stranded-via-rail-train/ |title=Ship brings propane to Churchill, will leave with stranded Via Rail train |date=October 15, 2017 |publisher=CTV News |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604115107/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ship-brings-propane-to-churchill-will-leave-with-stranded-via-rail-train-1.3633463 |url-status=live }}</ref> The railroad was Churchill's only land link to southern Canada, and its loss resulted in significant cost-of-living increases for residents along the corridor (a stranded train was removed by ship in October 2017).<ref name="auto1"/>

Service to Churchill was restored in late 2018, after the tracks, Churchill port, and Churchill marine tank farm were purchased by [[Arctic Gateway Group]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/churchill-train-service-to-be-back-to-normal-by-end-of-november-trudeau |title='We are free:' Churchill celebrates return of train service with prime minister |work=Edmonton Journal |date=November 1, 2018 |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604115121/https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/churchill-train-service-to-be-back-to-normal-by-end-of-november-trudeau |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://arcticgateway.com/news/ |title=Newsroom – Arctic Gateway Group |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604115109/http://arcticgateway.com/news/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The federal government assisted in the purchase with $74 million of dedicated northern infrastructure money up front and an additional commitment of $43 million over 10 years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/western-economic-diversification/news/2018/09/government-of-canada-announces-support-for-acquisition-and-repair-of-churchill-rail-line-by-arctic-gateway-group.html |title=Government of Canada announces support for acquisition and repair of Churchill rail line by Arctic Gateway Group |first=Western Economic Diversification |last=Canada |date=September 14, 2018 |website=gcnws |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604115107/https://www.canada.ca/en/western-economic-diversification/news/2018/09/government-of-canada-announces-support-for-acquisition-and-repair-of-churchill-rail-line-by-arctic-gateway-group.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto"/> To restore passenger rail service before winter, Arctic Gateway repaired 29 washouts in 35 days. Although a special Via train arrived in Churchill on November 1, the first regular Via train arrived in Churchill on December 4, 560 days after service initially ceased.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 2, 2018 |title='It's very exciting': First rail tourists in 560 days depart for Churchill, Man. |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/churchill-passenger-rail-departs-winnipeg-1.4929478 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207071254/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/churchill-passenger-rail-departs-winnipeg-1.4929478 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cangeotravel.ca/article/via-rail-returns-to-churchill-manitoba/ |title=Churchill reconnected |website=cangeotravel.ca |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604115109/https://cangeotravel.ca/article/via-rail-returns-to-churchill-manitoba/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 13, 2020, following several days of blockades during the nationwide [[2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests|Coastal GasLink Pipeline protests]], Via Rail announced that it would be shutting down most of its passenger train service across Canada until further notice, with the exception of the [[Sudbury–White River train]] line and the [[Winnipeg–Churchill train]] between Churchill and [[The Pas]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tasker |first1=John Paul |title=Via Rail cancels most trains nationwide, CN closes Eastern Canadian network as Indigenous protests continue |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cn-rail-shutdown-1.5463266 |access-date=February 14, 2020 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=February 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213232418/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cn-rail-shutdown-1.5463266 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shah |first1=Maryam |title=Via Rail cancels most trains across the country as CN shuts down rails in eastern Canada |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6548528/via-rail-cancels-trains-cn-shutdown/ |access-date=February 14, 2020 |work=Global News |date=February 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214004658/https://globalnews.ca/news/6548528/via-rail-cancels-trains-cn-shutdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Slaughter |first1=Graham |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/via-rail-cancels-trains-across-canada-cn-shuts-down-eastern-canada-network-amid-pipeline-protests/ |title=Via Rail cancels trains across Canada, CN shuts down Eastern Canada network amid pipeline protests |access-date=May 15, 2020 |work=CTV News |date=February 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213233741/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/via-rail-cancels-trains-across-canada-cn-shuts-down-eastern-canada-network-amid-pipeline-protests-1.4811036 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later in 2020, in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada|COVID-19 pandemic]], nearly all Via Rail trains were suspended with the exception of the Winnipeg-Churchill train as well as one train daily on each route within the corridor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/covid-19-via-rail-suspends-all-toronto-vancouver-passenger-trains-until-may-1/|title=COVID-19: Via Rail continues suspension of all Toronto-Vancouver passenger trains until May 1|website=vancouversun.com|access-date=April 24, 2020|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417003943/https://vancouversun.com/news/covid-19-via-rail-suspends-all-toronto-vancouver-passenger-trains-until-may-1/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Via Rail announces service changes in response to COVID-19 - Travelweek |url=https://www.travelweek.ca/news/via-rail-announces-service-changes-in-response-to-covid-19/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519084602/https://www.travelweek.ca/news/via-rail-announces-service-changes-in-response-to-covid-19/ |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=www.travelweek.ca |language=en}}</ref> Along with the previous protest-related service suspensions, it is the most extensive temporary reduction of service in Via Rail's history.

==Travelling on Via==
Travel on Via varies by region as much as class. Many of Via's policies and protocols are the product of running a national train system with varying pressures and needs of different passengers, communities, and contexts. The results are wide-ranging travel experiences depending on the distance and location of the journey.

===Unscheduled stops===
Some Via routes outside the corridor offer the option of unscheduled stops at places where there is no station. With 48 hours notice, a passenger can request to entrain or detrain at a specified milepost. This option is available on all of the Adventure Routes, as well as the ''Canadian'' between Capreol and Winnipeg.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/stops-between-two-explore-our-destinations/stations |title=Stops in between two stations |publisher=Via Rail |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718152410/https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/stops-between-two-explore-our-destinations/stations |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Classes of service===
[[File:Viarailcoach.jpg|thumb|Economy-class seating in a Via Rail long-distance coach car, with one fully reclined]]
*'''Escape Fare:''' Discounted seats from economy class, with restrictions on refunds and exchanges. 
*'''Economy''': [[Economy class]] seating in coach cars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-information/board-services/seat-assignment |title=Seat Assignment |date=February 11, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806095633/http://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-information/board-services/seat-assignment |url-status=live }}</ref> Snacks and beverages are sold by employees with service carts, in a lounge car, or in a restaurant car. Free Wi-Fi access is provided in the ''Corridor'' and on the ''Ocean''.<ref name="viarail.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains |title=Train routes by region |publisher=Via Rail |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105125604/http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Chatham Ontario VIA station and freight shed 27.jpg|thumb|Business-class coach on the [[Quebec City–Windsor Corridor (Via Rail)|''Corridor'']]]]
* '''Business''': (formerly called Via 1): First-class seating available on most ''Corridor'' trains in southern Quebec and Ontario.<ref>{{cite web |author=Via Rail |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/businessclass |title=Helpful links for the business traveller |publisher=Viarail.ca |access-date=January 12, 2012 |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126203736/http://www.viarail.ca/en/businessclass |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Touring''': Available on the ''[[Jasper-Prince Rupert train|Skeena]]'' only in peak travel months.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/rockies-and-pacific/jasper-prince-rupert/classes |title=Classes aboard the Jasper-Prince Rupert train |publisher=Via Rail |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-date=July 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731152700/http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/rockies-and-pacific/jasper-prince-rupert/classes |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Sleeper Plus''': Sleeping accommodations aboard overnight trains. This service class was formerly known as Sleeper in some cases, including on the now-suspended [[Montreal–Gaspé train|''Chaleur'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/atlantic-canada/montreal-halifax-ocean/classes |title=Classes aboard the Montréal-Halifax train (the Ocean) |publisher=Via Rail |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-date=June 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624003057/http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/atlantic-canada/montreal-halifax-ocean/classes/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/rockies-and-pacific/toronto-vancouver-canadian/classes |title=Classes aboard the Toronto-Vancouver train (the Canadian) |publisher=Via Rail |access-date=March 10, 2011 |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813125202/http://www.viarail.ca/en/trains/rockies-and-pacific/toronto-vancouver-canadian/classes |url-status=live }}</ref> Each car has access to a washroom and, optionally, a shower. Access to business lounges where available or the Sleeper Plus Lounge in Halifax is available on departure day.
* '''Prestige''':  Available on the ''Canadian'' only. In addition to the Sleeper Plus amenities, includes modernized luxurious sleeping accommodations at the rear of the train.

===On board===
====Amenities====
[[File:VIADiningCarA79.JPG|thumb|A Via dining car preparing for the first serving of breakfast]] 
Smoking is prohibited on all Via trains. Smoking tobacco has been banned on the ''Corridor'' routes since 1993<ref>{{cite news |title=Smoking to be banned on Via train |work=The Gazette |date=April 15, 1993 |location=Montreal, QC |pages=A3}}</ref> and this policy was gradually extended to all trains, while smoking ''[[cannabis]]'' was banned on all Via routes on the same day it was made legal in Canada. The last remaining on-board smoking was permitted in a smoker's lounge on some long-distance routes, only at certain times of day until 2002.<ref>{{cite journal |title=All Aboard! |author=DeMont, John |author-link=John DeMont |journal=Maclean's |date=August 2002 |volume=115 |issue=34 |page=16}}</ref>

Washrooms are provided for each car. On sleeper cars, every private room has its own separate washroom.

Food service varies by train. All trains besides the [[Sudbury–White River train]] offer snacks, light meals, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. Long-distance trains offer traditional sit-down dining and full meals to sleeper class passengers. Economy-class passengers can purchase hot take-out meals prepared in the dining car on long-distance trains during the peak season, and eat in the sit-down dining car in the off-peak.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/onboard-train/meals/all-onboard-menus |title=Onboard menus for all trains |author=Via Rail |access-date=February 24, 2013 |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216051755/http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/onboard-train/meals/all-onboard-menus |url-status=live }}</ref>

Complimentary Wi-Fi service is available in the ''Corridor''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/onboard-train/wireless-internet |title=On-Train Entertainment |publisher=Via Rail |access-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621192050/http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/onboard-train/wireless-internet |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.21net.com/en/viarail.html |title=As of November 2008, the Internet Wi-Fi services on Via Rail Canada trains running between Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City are operated by 21Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613102310/http://www.21net.com/en/viarail.html|archive-date=June 13, 2010}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uknomad.com/press-nomad-awarded-contract-by-via-rail-and-government-of-canada-details-94.html |title=NOMAD awarded contract by Via Rail and Government of Canada |publisher=Nomad Digital Ltd. |date=December 13, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110717150009/http://www.uknomad.com/press-nomad-awarded-contract-by-via-rail-and-government-of-canada-details-94.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011}}</ref> Via was the first North American transportation service to offer Wi-Fi to its passengers in early 2006, and was one of the first in the world to do so.

Wi-Fi service has been added to the ''Ocean'' train in the service cars,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/onboard-train/wireless-internet |title=Free Wi-Fi |author=Via Rail |publisher=Viarail.ca |access-date=February 24, 2013 |archive-date=June 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621192050/http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/onboard-train/wireless-internet |url-status=live }}</ref> although connections are unreliable in most places outside urban centres.

====Accessibility and safety concerns====
All Via trains are capable of accommodating wheelchairs, although capacity is limited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/special-needs |title=Special needs |author=Via Rail |access-date=February 24, 2013 |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216060304/http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/special-needs |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Routes and connections==
{{see also|List of Via Rail routes}}
[[File:Viafrequencies.svg|thumb|A map of Via Rail routes, showing the frequency of Via trains on it]]
Via operates in the provinces of [[Alberta]], [[British Columbia]], [[Manitoba]], [[New Brunswick]], [[Nova Scotia]], [[Ontario]], [[Quebec]], and [[Saskatchewan]]. The only province or territory connected to the continental railway network and not served by Via is the [[Northwest Territories]]. [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], [[Nunavut]], [[Prince Edward Island]], and [[Yukon]] have no rail connections to the continental network and thus no Via service.

Via operates over 475 trains per week over 19 routes, marketed in four broad categories:<ref>{{cite web |title=Explore Our Train Journeys |url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains |publisher=Via Rail Canada |access-date=December 7, 2018 |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209123649/https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Ontario and Quebec'''/''[[Corridor (Via Rail)|Corridor]]'' service: comprising frequent regional and local trains between major cities in a band from [[Southwestern Ontario]] to [[Quebec City]]. The vast majority of Via's trains – over 400 per week – operate here. Cities served by Corridor trains include [[Windsor, Ontario|Windsor]], [[Sarnia]], [[London, Ontario|London]], [[Toronto]], [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]], [[Ottawa]], [[Montreal]], and Quebec City. In 2017, corridor service accounted for 95 percent of Via's ridership and 77 percent of its revenue.<ref name=Annual2017>{{cite web |title=Via Rail Annual Report 2017 |page=2 |url=https://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/About_VIA/our-company/annual-reports/2017/2017_Annual%20Report_EN.pdf |publisher=Via Rail Canada |access-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713131841/https://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/About_VIA/our-company/annual-reports/2017/2017_Annual%20Report_EN.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''The Maritime Way'''/''[[Ocean (train)|Ocean]]'': providing long-distance service between [[Quebec]] and the [[The Maritimes|Maritime provinces]]. In 2017, the ''Ocean'' accounted for 2 percent of Via's ridership and 3 percent of its revenue.<ref name=Annual2017 />
* '''The Great Western Way'''/''[[Canadian (train)|Canadian]]'': providing both long-distance service between [[Southern Ontario]] and [[Western Canada]], as well as essential rail services through [[Northern Ontario]]. In 2017, the ''Canadian'' accounted for 2 percent of Via's ridership and 20 percent of its revenue.<ref name=Annual2017 />
* '''Adventure Routes''': Five regional and long-distance routes that offer essential rail transportation in rural northern areas. In 2017, these routes in aggregate accounted for 1 percent of Via's ridership and revenue.<ref name=Annual2017 /> The routes included in this category are:
**[[Jasper–Prince Rupert train]] (former name: ''Skeena'') - Alberta and British Columbia
**[[Montreal–Jonquière train]] (former name: ''Saguenay'') - Quebec
**[[Montreal–Senneterre train]] (former name: ''Abitibi'') - Quebec
**[[Sudbury–White River train]] (former name: ''Lake Superior'') - Ontario
**[[Winnipeg–Churchill train]] (former name: ''Hudson Bay'') - Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Unlike Amtrak, which gives every route a specific name, most Via trains are identified only by their route number and destination. The only named Via trains are the ''Canadian'' and the ''Ocean''. The five "Adventure Routes" were previously branded as the ''Skeena'', the ''Saguenay'', the ''Abitibi'', the ''Lake Superior'', and the ''Hudson Bay'', respectively, and may still{{when|date=July 2025}} be referred to by these names in local usage.{{according to|date=July 2025}}

===Track ownership===
[[File:VIA Rail Train 60 6355 (6928638070).jpg|thumb|A Via Rail train passes by a Canadian National Railway train. The majority of the track Via operates on is owned by CNR.]]
As of 2017, the mileage makeup of Via's route network by track owner/host railway was as follows:<ref name=CorpPlan>{{cite web |url=https://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/About_VIA/our-company/corporate-plan/CorporatePlan_2017_2021.pdf |title=Summary of the 2017 – 2021 Corporate Plan and 2017 Operating and Capital Budgets |publisher=Via Rail Canada |access-date=February 26, 2019 |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713133246/https://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/About_VIA/our-company/corporate-plan/CorporatePlan_2017_2021.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Since the most recent corporate plan was published, the Guelph Subdivision, used by Via between Kitchener and London, has reverted to CN from the [[Goderich-Exeter Railway]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Host |first=Stephen C. |date=November 20, 2018 |title=GEXR leased segment reverts to CN |url=https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/gexr-leased-segment-reverts-to-cn/ |work=Railway Age |location=New York |access-date=March 11, 2019 |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120181852/https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/gexr-leased-segment-reverts-to-cn/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
{{col div}}
* 84 per cent: [[Canadian National Railway]]
* 8 per cent: [[Hudson Bay Railway (1997)|Hudson Bay Railway]]
* 4 per cent: [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]
* 3 per cent: Via Rail
* 2 per cent: [[Metrolinx]] ([[GO Transit]])
{{col div end}}
In total, about 88 percent of Via trackage is owned by [[Class I railroad]]s, 8 percent by [[shortline railroad]]s, and 5 percent by government agencies.

===Connections===
[[File:Niagara Falls Station.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Maple Leaf (train)|Maple Leaf]]'' train outside [[Niagara Falls station (Ontario)|Niagara Falls station]]. The route is jointly operated between Via and Amtrak, providing Via riders with a connection to Amtrak stations based in [[New York (state)|New York]].]]
The ''[[Maple Leaf (Amtrak)|Maple Leaf]]'', operating between [[New York City]] and [[Toronto]] via [[Albany, New York|Albany]], [[Buffalo, New York|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 (Amtrak)|Adirondack]]'' (Montreal-New York) and the [[Amtrak Cascades|Amtrak ''Cascades'']] (Vancouver-[[Seattle]]-[[Portland, Oregon|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.

Via also has connection agreements with several local and intercity bus operators, car-sharing services, and airlines. Passengers who are flying with some airlines can combine their air and rail trips under the same [[record locator]].<ref name=Connections>{{cite web |url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/transport-services/intermodality/overview |title=Our partners |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-date=April 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412212511/http://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/transport-services/intermodality/overview |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Rolling stock==
{{main|List of Via Rail rolling stock}}
Via owns 74 locomotives and 501 passenger cars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/projects-infrastructure/train-fleet|title=Train fleet - Rolling stock {{!}} Via Rail|website=corpo.viarail.ca|access-date=February 5, 2020|archive-date=January 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124233851/https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/projects-infrastructure/train-fleet|url-status=live}}</ref> Examples include the [[EMD F40PH|GMD F40PH-2]] [[diesel locomotive]] and the famed [[Park series|"Park"-class sleeper-dome-lounge cars]] found on the rear of the ''[[Canadian (train)|Canadian]]'' and the Jasper–Prince Rupert train.

==Accidents and incidents==
* On February 8, 1986, a [[Hinton train collision|Via train collided with a CN freight train]] near [[Hinton, Alberta]], killing 23 people and injuring 71.
* On November 20, 1994, at approximately 18:20, Via train No.&nbsp;66 travelling eastward at approximately 96&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1994/r94t0357/r94t0357.asp |title=Railway Investigation Report R94T0357 |website=Transportation Safety Board of Canada |date=June 26, 1996 |access-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-date=April 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150421225942/http://tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1994/r94t0357/r94t0357.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On September 3, 1997, the ''Canadian'' (train No.&nbsp;2) from Vancouver to Toronto, travelling eastward at 67&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1997/r97h0009/r97h0009.asp |title=Railway Investigation Report R97H0009 |website=Transportation Safety Board of Canada |date=August 5, 1998 |access-date=August 16, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207193036/http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1997/r97h0009/r97h0009.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 April 23, 1999, Via train No.&nbsp;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&nbsp;m of the main track and 100&nbsp;m of the yard track were destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1999/r99h0007/r99h0007.asp |title=Railway Investigation Report R99H0007 |first=Government of Canada, Transportation Safety Board of |last=Canada |date=February 13, 2001 |access-date=December 12, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312170236/http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/1999/r99h0007/r99h0007.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On April 12, 2001, the ''Ocean'' bound for Montreal [[2001 Stewiacke Via derailment|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2001/r01m0024/r01m0024.asp |title=Railway Investigation Report R01M0024 |website=Transportation Safety Board of Canada |date=January 7, 2003 |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194927/http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2001/r01m0024/r01m0024.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> A 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to the charge of mischief endangering life relating to the lock tampering.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/teen-faces-victims-of-n-s-train-wreck-1.348279 |title=Teen faces victims of N.S. train wreck |website=CBC |agency=CBC News |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924185324/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/teen-faces-victims-of-n-s-train-wreck-1.348279 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* On February 26, 2012, [[Burlington derailment|Via Train No.&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/two-men-arrested-over-al-qaeda-inspired-plan-to-attack-a-via-rail-train-in-the-greater-toronto-area |title=Canadian terrorist plot to attack Via train thwarted, two arrested: RCMP |website=National Post |date=April 22, 2013 |first=Tom |last=Blackwell |access-date=April 23, 2013 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629225106/http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/22/two-men-arrested-over-al-qaeda-inspired-plan-to-attack-a-via-rail-train-in-the-greater-toronto-area/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, both men were convicted of terrorism-related offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mehta |first=Diana |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Men convicted in Via terror plot handed life sentences |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/men-convicted-in-via-terror-plot-handed-life-sentences/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106012014/http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/men-convicted-in-via-terror-plot-handed-life-sentences-1.2577416 |archive-date=January 6, 2017 |work=[[CTV News]]}}</ref> One of the two men was mentally unstable and misdiagnosed with [[schizophrenia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Warnica |first=Richard |date=January 13, 2016 |title=Legal battle over convicted terrorist Chiheb Esseghaier's sanity set as lawyers appointed for appeal |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/legal-battle-over-convicted-terrorist-chiheb-esseghaiers-sanity-set-as-lawyers-appointed-for-appeal |work=[[National Post]] |publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Warnica |first=Richard |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Would-be terrorist Chiheb Esseghaier is clearly insane, but should that even matter in court? |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/would-be-terrorist-chiheb-esseghaier-is-clearly-insane-but-should-that-even-matter-in-court |work=[[National Post]] |publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]}}</ref>
* On September 18, 2013, [[2013 Ottawa bus–train crash|a collision]] occurred between train No.&nbsp;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 {{convert|100|–|200|ft}} down the track.<ref>{{cite news |title=Via train and city bus crash in Ottawa, at least six dead, 30 injured |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/via-train-and-city-bus-crash-in-ottawa-at-least-6-dead-30-injured-1.1459799 |publisher=CTV News |access-date=September 18, 2013 |date=September 18, 2013 |first1=Christina |last1=Commisso |first2=Sonja |last2=Puzic |archive-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125115906/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/6-killed-dozens-injured-in-collision-involving-ottawa-bus-via-rail-train-1.1459799 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* On July 5, 2018, a train with 16 passengers and five crew members derailed north of [[Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan]], 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2018/r18w0168/r18w0168.html|title=Rail transportation safety investigation R18W0168 - Transportation Safety Board|last=Canada|first=Transportation Safety Board of|date=July 11, 2018|website=www.tsb.gc.ca|access-date=October 26, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026172228/https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2018/r18w0168/r18w0168.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/news/stories/Pages/2018/Oct/Railway-incident.aspx|title=Railway incident presents emergency responders with unique challenge|website=www.saskhealthauthority.ca|access-date=October 26, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026172227/https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/news/stories/Pages/2018/Oct/Railway-incident.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On December 31, 2019, a train with five crew and seven passengers derailed and tipped on its side near Katrime, Manitoba. No one was seriously injured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6351541/manitoba-rcmp-passenger-train-derailment-katrime/|title=Manitoba RCMP respond to passenger train derailment near Portage La Prairie|website=CJOB|language=en|access-date=February 5, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205231250/https://globalnews.ca/news/6351541/manitoba-rcmp-passenger-train-derailment-katrime/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Transportation Safety Board of Canada|date=January 20, 2020|title=Rail transportation safety investigation R19W0329|url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/rail/2019/r19w0329/r19w0329.html|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=www.tsb.gc.ca}}</ref>
* On December 23, 2022, Via shut down its Toronto–Ottawa and Toronto–Montreal corridors amid a winter storm, with nine trains becoming trapped overnight including one on the Toronto–Windsor corridor. Two other Via trains that had departed were ordered to return to station. A tree fell on train 55 from Ottawa to Toronto resulting in passengers being trapped on board for 15 hours; a rescue train was required which coupled onto train 55. Subsequently, a car on a CN train derailed in Kingston shutting down the entire Toronto–Montreal corridor on December 25 and 26. On December 25 alone Via cancelled 25 trains. Via compensated the hundreds of affected customers with refunds and vouchers.<ref name="TheStar-2022/12/24">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/12/24/snowstorm-strands-hundreds-on-motionless-via-rail-trains.html |title=Passengers reach destinations after storm strands hundreds on Via Rail |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=December 24, 2022}}</ref><ref name="G&M-2022-12-24">{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-via-rail-service-between-toronto-ottawa-and-montreal-cancelled-due-to/ |title=Via Rail service between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal cancelled due to winter storm and CN train derailment |newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=December 24, 2022}}</ref><ref name="TheStar-2022/12/25">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/12/25/via-rail-cancels-25-trains-on-christmas-day-after-cn-derailment.html |title=Via Rail cancels 25 trains on Christmas Day after CN derailment |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=December 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Coat of arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = VIA Rail Canada Escutcheon.png
|escutcheon = Per fess Sable and Or, in chief a bar fracted of five pieces Or and in base two bendlets sinister Sable all within a bordure Or.
|crest = A locomotive wheel Or issuant from a coronet erablé Gules.
|motto = {{langnf|la|Via per fines nostros|the way across the country}}
|notes = Granted May 15, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3218 |title=Via Rail Canada Inc. |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority |accessdate=September 21, 2023}}</ref>
|supporters = Two lynx Or each standing on a sandy base set with a bed of crushed stone Proper.}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Trains|Railways|Companies}}

*[[Via Rail Police Service|Via Rail Canada Police Service]]
*[[List of Via Rail stations]]
*[[List of Via Rail rolling stock]]
*[[Proposed high-speed rail by country]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Rolling Home: A Cross-Canada Railroad Memoir |author=Allen, Tom |year=2001 |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin]] |location=Toronto |isbn=0-670-88473-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rollinghomecross0000alle }}
* {{Greenlaw-Via Rail}}
* {{cite book |title=Last train to Toronto: a Canadian rail odyssey |author=[[Terry Pindell|Pindell, Terry]] |year=1992 |publisher=Henry Holt and Company, Inc. |location=New York|isbn=0-8050-1574-4}}
* Hanus, Chris & Shaske, John (2009). [https://archive.today/20130205210547/http://www.wayoftherail.com/canada-by-train-the-complete-via-rail-travel-guide/ Canada By Train: The Complete Via Rail Travel Guide] {{ISBN|978-0-9730897-5-2}}

==External links==
{{Commons and category|VIA Rail}}
{{Wikivoyage|Across Canada by train}}
{{Wikivoyage|Rail travel in Canada}}
* {{Official website}}

{{VIA Rail}}
{{Canadianmetros}}
{{North America class I}}
{{Crown corporations of Canada}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Via Rail| ]]
[[Category:Class I railroads in North America]]
[[Category:Companies based in Montreal]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1978]]
[[Category:Canadian federal Crown corporations]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in Alberta]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in Saskatchewan]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in Manitoba]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in Ontario]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in Quebec]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Passenger railways in Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1978]]
[[Category:Government-owned railway companies]]
[[Category:Transport agencies in Canada]]