VIA Rail's ridership dropped by more than 95% at the peak of the pandemic, and while numbers are still down, a steady increase in demand is driving a return to full service.
The rail operator says it is entering the final phase of a gradual service resumption plan, with new frequencies being added beginning in December 2021 and full operations across the country restored by the end of June 2022.
Here are some key dates for VIA's comeback:
December 2021
The final month of the yea will see the resumption of the second weekly frequency of The Ocean, which travels between Montreal and Halifax.
April 2022
Along with spring showers, April will bring an increase of service levels on the Quebec City-Windsor corridor to 85% of pre-pandemic frequencies. Second frequencies will also resume on regional routes, except for the Winnipeg-Churchill route, which will continue to operate its full three frequencies per week as it has since the beginning of the pandemic.
May 2022
The Canadian train, linking Toronto and Vancouver, will return to full service.
June 2022
Full service will return on the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, The Ocean and regional routes.
VIA says it is currently finalizing details, including access to the infrastructure, and will communicate information such as specific resumption dates as soon as it becomes available.
"Our objective has always been the safe resumption of all our services across the country when conditions allowed it, and we are encouraged to be able to proceed to this final phase of our gradual service resumption plan," said Cynthia Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer.
"We look forward to welcoming our passengers back on board our trains, and I would like to thank all our employees as we continue to weather this storm: their resilience and dedication are what keep us on track."
VIA Rail says it will continue to deploy strict health and sanitary protocols on board its trains and stations, including mandatory face coverings.
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