VIA Rail's Ocean /Halifax To Montreal

USPA NEWS - VIA Rail Canada will resume Ocean service between Halifax and Montreal with 1 round trip per week. This journey covers 1,346 km one way. The first trip from Halifax will depart on August 11th, and the first trip from Montreal will depart on August 15th. The Ocean's route provides service to the following communities; Halifax, Truro, Amherst, Moncton, Miramichi, Bathurst, Campbellton, Matapedia, Mont-Joli, Rimouski, Rivière-du-Loup, Sainte Foy and Montreal. In Montreal, passengers are able to make connections with other trains for many destinations throughout Canada.

VIA Rail Ocean service was suspended on March 13, 2020 due to the pandemic and was scheduled to resume on November 1st, 2020, however, due to the second wave of the Covid-19 in the fall, VIA felt there was no other option, but to postpone the resumption of service at that time.

In a media release posted on the VIA Rail Canada's website, Cynthia Garneau President and Chief Executive Officer, said " The COVID-19 pandemic has had an important impact on the travel options of Canadians in Eastern Canada. To follow and respect guidelines and recommendations from public health authorities and provincial governments, we could not provide our passengers the service and frequencies offered under normal circumstances. Our objective has always been the safe resumption of the Ocean when conditions allowed it, and we could not be happier to be able to finally proceed with this gradual return to service in this region.”

According to the July 9th media release posted on VIA Rail's website, VIA station staff will be conducting a health check to screen for COVID-19 symptoms. Each passenger must complete the screening process before being permitted to board any VIA train. This screening process involves asking simple health questions, determining possible exposure to the virus, or visible display of symptoms before being permitted to board the train.

The statement goes on to say that to ensure the safety of all passengers and VIA Rail staff, masks will be worn at all times in all VIA stations and all VIA trains, with the exception of passengers within the confines of a private cabin. Otherwise, masks can only be removed when eating or drinking and must be put back on immediately after consumption of food or beverage. Passengers who do not wear a mask while onboard the train will be required to disembark or will not be permitted to board.

USPA News has been told that VIA will only be offering "sleeper plus" and "economy class" at this time. Passengers must limit their movement throughout the train to their cabin or their assigned seat for the duration of the trip. Meals which are included in the "sleeper plus" class will be delivered to cabins and food cart service will be offered to "economy class" passengers. There will be no live entertainment and no park car at this time.

Via Rail has said resumption of "full inventory" is hoped to be in place for the Ocean service by October 1st. The passenger rail carrier will provide updates to customers closer to that date when it becomes clear what service will actually be possible based on progress made within the pandemic recovery.

For questions and concerns visit www.viarail.ca

Email: service@viarail.ca

Phone: 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245)