VIA’s Canadian Included in World’s Top 25 Train Journeys

Good Service and Knowledgeable Staff Score High

Montréal -VIA Rail Canada is honoured to announce that its flagship train, The Canadian, was recently recognized by The Society of International Railway Travelers in their 2008 list of the “World’s Top 25 Trains”.

The list recognized top train journeys from North and South America, Africa, Asia/Indian Subcontinent, Europe and Australia. VIA’s Canadian was the only regularly-scheduled train in North America to be included in the list. The train’s cross-country odyssey was cited for a number of attributes including excellent service, efficient, polite staff, diverse scenery and a memorable cross-country experience.

For 25 years, The Society of International Railway Travelers has been recognized as the leading authority on international railway travel. The nomination is the result of experiences shared by writers, editors, society members, staff and rail enthusiasts. “The trains met stringent standards for service, accommodation, scenery, itinerary, off-train experiences and passenger enjoyment,” said Eleanor Hardy, Society President. “As a year-round, cross-country voyage, travellers on VIA’s Canadian are free to stop and spend time experiencing some of the memorable locations along the route.”

VIA President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Côté was thrilled by the nomination. “As a customer-focused organization, it’s this kind of recognition that validates the efforts of all our staff to provide a travel experience that will delight travellers and nurture loyal customers. All employees in the organization are committed to ensuring that through our collective efforts we continue to anticipate the needs and exceed the expectations of our customers.”

VIA’s Canadian is a legendary and remarkable three-day, three-night journey from Toronto to Vancouver. No matter the time of year, the images are unforgettable: mountain sheep grazing in the Rockies, elk loitering outside Jasper, the skyline of Toronto looming on the horizon. Add a touch of elegance to your journey with VIA’s first-class Silver & Blue service, which begins with a bon voyage reception and continues with award-winning service that includes fine dining, accommodations and attention par excellence. Passengers can enjoy the scenery from the large picture windows of their seats or from the 360° scenic dome.

For more information on train schedules or to book a trip anywhere in the VIA system, customers can visit VIA’s secure Web site at viarail.ca. Passengers also can book their tickets at self-ticketing kiosks in most Québec City-Windsor Corridor stations, by calling 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired), or through their travel agent.

As Canada’s national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada’s mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally sustainable and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada’s business corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. VIA serves more than 450 communities with a network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains. Increasingly travellers are turning to train travel as a hassle-free and cost-efficient alternative to congested roads and airports as well as a more environmentally responsible way to travel.