VIA Rail reports its 4th consecutive ridership and revenue increase for Canada Day long weekend

MONTREAL, July 9, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Between June 28 and July 4, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) transported 98,000 passengers during the Canada Day long weekend, a 5% increase compared to 2017. The Quebec City ? Windsor corridor welcomed 91,000 travellers while the Canadian, the Ocean and regional services welcomed 7,000 travellers. This is VIA Rail's fourth consecutive report of ridership and revenue increase for the Canada Day long weekend.

Over seven days, passengers travelled a total of 36 million kilometers, the equivalent of more than 1,400 trips around the earth. Friday, June 29, was the most popular day of travel, with Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto remaining top travel destinations.

HIGHLIGHTS

For the period of Thursday, June 28 to Wednesday, July 4, 2018

VIA Rail's cross-Canada services

• 98,000 passengers took the train, a 5% increase compared to 2017
• Over 36 million kilometers travelled total
• 5% increase in passenger revenues compared to 2017
• Busiest day: Friday, June 29
• Most popular destinations: Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal
• Most popular segment: Ottawa ? Toronto
• 90,767 passengers in Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, an 8% increase in ridership and revenues compared to 2017

"Travelling over the Canada Day long weekend can be stressful. With VIA Rail, people had the option to select from a multitude of daily departures to Canadian destinations that hold a rich and meaningful history of Canada. Thanks to our employees' dedication, 98,000 people got to their destinations for festivities across our great country. Ridership and revenue growth continue their significant progression mainly in the Quebec-Windsor Corridor." said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail.

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports nearly 4.4 million passengers annually. The Corporation has been awarded five Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2007. Visit the "About VIA Rail" section at: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

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SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.