WINDSOR, Ontario — The Windsor Star reports that Via Rail passenger service is back on track.
After more than a decade of decline, with many observers predicting its demise, Canada’s passenger train service is flush with a new infusion of federal government funding, new locomotives and rolling stock, improved railbed infrastructure and burgeoning ridership.
Via rolled into Windsor Thursday for an open house to show off its “renaissance” in train travel.
Local train travel afficionados lined up, some for more than an hour, at the Windsor station on Walker Road to get a glimpse of the renovated waiting room, climb into the cab of a powerful new GE locomotive or tour the refitted Via 1 passenger cars.
“It’s a real improvement, a nice way to travel,” said William Marentette of Windsor, after touring the passenger cars. “Who would want to travel the 401? I think travelling by train is much better. Get off the highways.”
Catherine Kaloutsky, senior public affairs officer with Via Rail, said the improvements are due to a $402 million federal investment, a solid business plan, increasing revenue and increasing ridership.
She said at one point following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., its rail ridership jumped 70 per cent over the previous year. Even after the fear of flying began to abate, rail ridership remains 15-per-cent higher.
“Demand was way up for our service but we were at our limit,” Kaloutsky said. “There was no way we could do more. But now we are able to improve and increase our service.”
She said the improvements are as tangible as better signs and more comfortable waiting areas equipped with television terminals in all train stations, including Windsor.
The GE Genesis locomotives, such as the one on display Thursday, are capable of speeds up to 200 km/h. The Via 1 passenger cars are outfitted with bigger, more comfortable seats, electrical outlets for personal computers and even business-meeting facilities.
“I think the turning point came two years ago,” said Kaloutsky.
Demand up
“For 10 years before that there were cuts made, reduced subsidies, aging equipment. Then transport Minister (David) Collenette said ‘revitalize rail service in Canada.’ Demand was on the way up.”
Much of that, she said, was in the Windsor-to-Quebec corridor, which accounts for 80 per cent of the Via market. She said travellers are choosing the train over air travel because of the extra and intrusive security to board airplanes creating longer advance check-ins.
She said when extra check-in time at airports is taken into account, along with time spent in ground transport from the airport to downtown, taking the train from Windsor to Toronto can take less than one hour longer and is hassle-free.
Kaloutsky said train travel also has the added cache of romanticism and offering passengers a panoramic view of Canada. She said the popularity of the transcontinental trains, complete with dining cars, sleepers and dome, has made the western route through the Rocky and Coastal mountains one of the five best rail trips in the world, according to international judges.
NEW LOOK
Via Rail’s upgraded service may take two or more years to get up to speed. Although new locomotives are capable of travelling 200 km/h, many of the passenger cars are not yet up to that standard. In addition, improvements to infrastructure such as rail beds and switching equipment are needed from coast to coast to enable trains to travel at high speed. Via Rail has added 21 new GE Genesis locomotives and 139 new cars, increasing the fleet by one third.