(Via Rail issued the following news release on October 24.)
MONTREAL — Effective October 29, 2006, VIA Rail Canada will introduce a number of changes to its Train schedules, including improvements on a number of routes in Ontario and Quebec.
The following changes are, in large part, based on feedback from customers and VIA’s tourism partners, as well as a review of Train operations and market performance:
Montreal-Quebec City – Series 20 Trains
To allow more customers to benefit from a productive day in Quebec City, VIA will move the departure of its first morning Train back by 40 minutes. Train 20 will now leave at 7:00 a.m. instead of 6:20 a.m.
Train 21 will depart from Quebec City for Montreal at 6:10 a.m. instead of 6:00 a.m.
Other Trains in the 20 series will now arrive 6 minutes earlier than indicated on the current schedule.
Montreal-Ottawa – Series 30 Trains
Montreal-Ottawa Trains will now arrive 5 to 7 minutes earlier than indicated on the current schedule.
Trains 32 and 39 will now depart/arrive from / to Fallowfield instead of Ottawa and will be in operation from Monday to Friday only. Train 32 will now depart from Fallowfield at 8:58 a.m. and arrive in Montreal at 11:06 a.m. and Train 39 will depart from Montreal at 6:00 p.m. and arrive at Fallowfield at 8:20 p.m.
Train 632 (departing from Ottawa) will be in operation Saturday and Sunday and offer VIA1 service.
Trains 38 and 39 will be in operation from Monday to Friday only and will be identified as trains 638 and 639 with slightly shorter schedules on Saturdays and Sundays with VIA1 service available.
Ottawa-Toronto – Series 40 Trains
The Series 40 Trains will experience one minor change: Train 43 will now depart from Ottawa at 8:35 a.m. instead of 8:40 a.m.
Toronto-London – Series 80 Trains
Train 85 departing from Toronto will now leave at 10:55 a.m. rather than 10:40 a.m.
Winnipeg – The Pas – Churchill Trains
Adjustments have been made to the travel times between Winnipeg and The Pas such that:
Train 692 from Churchill and The Pas will depart The Pas at the same time 8:00 p.m but will now arrive Winnipeg at 8:38 a.m. rather than 8:05 a.m.
Train 693 departing from Winnipeg will now leave at 8:13 p.m. rather than 8:45 p.m. but will arrive in The Pas at the same time 8:50 a.m.
For a complete listing of Train departures, on-board services as well as fare plans, visit VIA’s website at www.viarail.ca. Passengers can book their tickets by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245), at kiosks in major Corridor stations or through their travel agent.
As Canada’s national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada’s mandate is to provide efficient and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada’s busiest corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. Serving more than 450 communities across Canada, demand for rail services continues to grow as more Canadians turn to Train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice.