VIA Rail – Connecting Canada from Coast to Coast
Who We Are
VIA Rail at a glance:
3,711
employees
4.4 million
passengers every year
400+
communities served
12,500
kilometers of network
$478 million
in revenue in 2025
2 official languages :
French and English
VIA Rail Canada is a federal Crown corporation owned by the Government of Canada. Its mandate is to operate a national public passenger rail service, connecting major cities, regions, and certain remote communities across the country. The name “VIA Rail” itself reflects this connection between the rails, Canadians, and their country.
Our Vision
To make train travel a sustainable, efficient, and effective mobility option that positively impacts the lives of passengers, employees, partners, and communities we serve. We also consistently integrate environmental, social, economic, and ethical considerations into our strategy and daily operations.
Our Mission
To provide a safe, accessible, efficient, reliable, comfortable, and eco-friendly rail service for people and communities across Canada.
Our Values
Go Further Together
We collaborate to yield better results. We deliver as one. We are accountable for our actions to gain and maintain the trust of our shareholder, our customers and our colleagues.
Act Today for a Better Tomorrow
We understand that our actions today will affect the world we live in tomorrow. We embed sustainability as an important criterion in our decisions. We rethink our ways and we challenge the status quo. We reimagine the possible.
Go the Extra Mile
We put the customer at the center of our decision making. We put ourselves in the shoes of our passengers and our colleagues. We create positive experiences for both our customers and our colleagues, so they stay on board.
Our Corporate Information
Because integrity is important to us, we publish clear, honest and transparent annual and quarterly public reports to highlight our journey and progress as an organization. We also hold annual public meetings to inform the public about our transformation and future growth.
Governance & Ethics
We pride ourselves on operating with integrity and transparency and building relationships of trust with our passengers, partners, and the general public.
Our Team
Behind every journey are dedicated people. Our board members, executives, and employees work together to deliver a rail service that is modern, inclusive, and sustainable. Meet those who, every day, help shape the future of mobility in Canada.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors ensures sound governance and guides VIA Rail’s major strategic decisions. Its members bring diverse expertise to serve both the public and the company’s mission.
Executive Team
Our Executive Team oversees project implementation and day-to-day operations, mobilizing their expertise to make VIA Rail a key player in sustainable transportation in Canada.
Careers
Being part of VIA Rail means helping connect Canadian communities while contributing to a mission that looks toward the future. Whether on board our trains, in our stations, or at our offices, every employee plays an essential role in our collective success.
Our History
VIA Rail Canada was established in 1977 by the Government of Canada to maintain and strengthen passenger rail service across the country. In a nation defined by vast distances and challenging winters, the railway has served a foundational role—connecting communities, supporting commerce, and fostering national unity.
As a Crown corporation, VIA Rail continues this mandate by delivering a safe, accessible, and environmentally responsible rail service from coast to coast. From its inception, the Corporation’s mission has been clear: to operate intercity routes, modernize rail travel, and provide an accessible public transportation service for all Canadians.
Key Milestones
- 1977: Creation of VIA Rail Canada by the Government of Canada.
- 1978: VIA Rail takes over passenger rail operations of both Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP). The company keeps the name The Canadian, in tribute to CP’s iconic train, and launches its first transcontinental service between Montréal and Vancouver.
- 1980: VIA Rail introduces service between Montréal and Toronto.
- 1981: Introduction of the first LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) trains at Montréal’s Windsor Station, making rail travel more practical and appealing.
- 1984: VIA Rail establishes its head office at Place Ville Marie in Montréal.
- Late 1980s: Expansion of premium services and enhancements to passenger comfort.
- 2025: Arrival of a modern, sustainable, and accessible new fleet.
Our Rail Network
With more than 450 destinations and 410 stations across Canada, our network connects major cities, regions, and many remote communities nationwide.
From Québec City to Vancouver, from Halifax to Winnipeg, VIA Rail allows travelers to cross the country safely while enjoying a mode of transportation that is practical, sustainable, accessible, and comfortable. By linking large urban centers with more isolated communities, our rail network plays a key role in both mobility and national unity.
Our Train Routes
The Corridor (Québec City–Windsor)
The busiest route in the country, the Corridor connects Québec and Ontario through cities such as Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor. Ideal for business or leisure travel, the Corridor offers multiple departures every day and forms the backbone of passenger rail in Canada.
The Ocean (Montréal–Halifax)
Travel across the Maritimes in a single day and discover the beauty of Eastern Canada aboard this iconic route. Combining practical travel, cultural discovery, and breathtaking scenery, the Ocean links Québec to the Atlantic provinces through cities such as Montréal, Moncton, and Halifax.
The Canadian (Toronto–Vancouver)
Renowned for its spectacular landscapes, this transcontinental journey offers a truly unique travel experience through the heart of Canada. From Toronto to Vancouver, passing through Winnipeg and Edmonton, the Canadian crosses the Prairies, climbs the Rockies, and connects East and West across a succession of awe-inspiring vistas.
Scenic Adventure Routes
Immerse yourself in unique panoramas and the vastness of Canada’s wilderness with a series of regional and seasonal journeys. Serving rural and remote communities such as Churchill, Prince Rupert, White River, and Senneterre, these routes let you experience Canada from a different perspective — more authentic and immersive.
Our Projects and Infrastructure
VIA Rail is redefining the way Canadians travel — with innovation at every stop. Our investments in safety, accessibility, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability are shaping a smarter, greener future. From our new cutting-edge fleet in the Québec–Windsor Corridor to the modernization of trains, stations, and our reservation system, we’re building the future of rail travel in Canada.
VIAction 2030 Strategic Plan
With VIAction 2030, VIA Rail is committed to transforming sustainable mobility in Canada through an ambitious roadmap that places passengers, communities, and the environment at the heart of its priorities.
Stay Connected
Head Office
VIA Rail Canada Inc.
3, Place Ville Marie, Suite 500
Montréal, Québec H3B 2C9
