RAC welcomes federal investment in Quebec City-Windsor corridor passenger rail fleet
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) today welcomed the announcement of federal funding for VIA Rail to replace its fleet in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. This historic investment will help to make passenger rail service in Canada safer, greener and more reliable.
VIA Rail train at Belleville Station in Belleville, Ont. (Photo: VIA Rail Canada Inc.)
“We are pleased to see Canada invest in innovative technologies that will improve the passenger rail experience,” said RAC Acting President Gérald Gauthier. “Each year, intercity railways transport more than four million passengers safely and efficiently across Canada. A new, modern fleet of locomotives and railcars will foster sustainable mobility and enhance the attractiveness of rail transportation for Canadians.”
In its 2018 pre-budget submission, RAC recommended that the federal government allocate funding to the Quebec City-Windsor corridor fleet-renewal program, and empower VIA Rail to leverage this investment to secure funding for its high-frequency rail project. In addition, RAC called on Canada to ensure that government investments in passenger rail are coordinated so that intercity and commuter rail services are interoperable and interconnected.
Budget 2018 proposed funding for Transport Canada to replace VIA Rail’s fleet in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, “ensuring that VIA Rail’s rolling stock in the Corridor will remain safe and comfortable, and generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”
Canada’s railways offer a safe, efficient and sustainable way to travel to more than 84 million passengers each year. Passenger rail helps Canada limit its environmental footprint by relieving road congestion, reducing emissions and saving energy.
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About the Railway Association of Canada
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents more than 50 freight and passenger railway companies that move more than 84 million passengers and $280 billion worth of goods in Canada each year. The RAC advocates on behalf of its members and associate members to ensure that the rail sector remains globally competitive, sustainable and, most importantly, safe. Learn more at www.railcan.ca. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
