VIA Rail: Transforming Canadian intercity transportation

Paul G. Smith recently appointed as VIA Rail Canada's chairman, spoke to members of Quebec MBA Association in Montreal and said "VIA Rail is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in the corporation's history." When it is completed, he concluded VIA Rail "will be a market leader, offering Canada's best travel experience." Smith explained that VIA is expanding track capacity, remanufacturing locomotives and rail cars and modernizing passenger stations and information technology systems, all as part of a major five-year $923M capital improvement program, due to be completed by 2013. He also described how VIA will make passenger rail a primary transportation "backbone" between major urban centers by offering faster, more frequent and more convenient service. Smith recognized the foresight of the Government of Canada which has provided close to one billion dollars for capital investments to VIA Rail, since 2007, in part through its Economic Action Plan. This infusion of capital represents the biggest capital investment in VIA's history. He underlined that passenger train investments are on the rise worldwide. Smith stressed the pressing need for sustainable solutions that address the real environmental and congestion-related challenges facing inter-city transportation in Canada today and in the future. He said that "through improved efficiency and integration with different modes of passenger transportation, the train is ideally positioned to help Canada meet these challenges."