Via Rail gets $1B to compete with flight
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/10/2010 (5774 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
MONTREAL — Nearly $1 billion in capital investment should help Via Rail better compete against air services, including additional flights between Montreal and Toronto’s downtown Billy Bishop airport, the president of Canada’s largest passenger rail service said Monday.
“That’s competition, that’s part of life and we’re ready for that,” Marc Laliberte told reporters following a speech Monday to a North American rail conference.
He said the funding will be used to improve network bottlenecks add new rolling stock, introduce improved WiFi and reservations systems and upgrade stations.
Ultimately, train times will shrink, allowing Via to use its trains to add more frequent service, including later trains between Ottawa and Montreal.
Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) plans to begin offering up to 15 daily flights between Montreal and Billy Bishop airport beginning in February. Porter Airlines is currently the lone commercial airline connecting Canada’s two largest cities through the downtown airport.
While he’s always concerned about competition, Laliberte said he’s not scared by it. “It just gives me an incentive to work better.”
Negotiations with CN Rail (TSX:CNR) have already removed freight bottlenecks on the Quebec City to Montreal route, cutting about 20 minutes from the early morning trips. On-time performance has increased to about 90 per cent, reducing a passenger irritant.
Via Rail has received 18 more fuel-efficient locomotives. Rebuilt train cars will be added by the end of 2011.
Improved WiFi, with faster service and a larger broadband will be added to trains on the Quebec City to Windsor corridor by next summer.
— The Canadian Press