Profile:
Chief Executive Officer: Mario Péloquin
Chairperson of the Board of Directors: Françoise Bertrand
Board of Directors: No less than three, but no more than thirteen directors (including the Chief Executive Officer)
Size: 3,438 employees
VIA Rail Inc.: $1,337.8 million in 2025-2026
- $178.4 million increase in funding compared to last year is mostly due to the Budget 2024 decision to offset increased operating costs and to allow the corporation to undertake renewal of its long-distance regional and remote fleet of trains.
Crown Corporation Main Estimates:
VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail)
SUBJECT: Crown Corporation Main Estimates: VIA Rail
LOCATION: National
Issue/Source: 2025-26 funding for VIA Rail
Date: June 3, 2025
Suggested Responses
- VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail) is seeking access to $1,337,761,231 in planned spending authorities.
- The funds will enable VIA Rail to continue operating national passenger rail services, on behalf of the Government of Canada, from coast to coast to coast, in a manner that is safe, accessible, efficient, reliable, sustainable and environmentally friendly.
IF PRESSED
- Platform commitments to introduce a “Canada Strong Pass” will provide children and youth under the age of 18 free fares on VIA Rail. It will also include discounted fares for travellers aged 18-24. This pass is expected to be available from mid-June 2025 to September 2025.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- VIA Rail operates Canada’s national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government of Canada, offering intercity rail services and ensuring transportation services to regional and remote communities.
- An independent Crown corporation established in 1977, VIA Rail provides a safe, accessible, efficient, reliable sustainable and environmentally friendly passenger rail service to Canadians in both official languages.
- VIA Rail is a non-agent Crown corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporation Act. VIA Rail does not have its own enabling legislation.
- Operating funding is required for VIA Rail’s general provision of national passenger rail services across Canada and investments that will improve fluidity. Capital funding includes regular funds to keep VIA Rail’s assets in a state of good repair, as well as investments in modernization and improved connectivity, including fleet renewal in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor.
- Services:
- Intercity Travel (Corridor) – In the densely populated Corridor area between Québec City and Windsor, VIA Rail trains provide travel between the downtown cores of major urban centres, as well as between suburban centres and communities.
- Long Distance, Regional and Remote (non-Corridor) – In Western and Eastern Canada VIA Rail’s trains provide intercity service connecting communities while supporting Canada’s tourism industry by attracting travellers from around the world. The Canadian, VIA Rail’s western transcontinental train, provides service between Vancouver and Toronto. In Eastern Canada, the Ocean runs between Montréal and Halifax.
- Regional Services – VIA Rail provides passenger service in several rural and remote regions of Canada (non-Corridor). Mandated by the Government of Canada to meet essential transportation needs, these trains serve many communities where alternative, year-round transportation is limited or unavailable.
- Budget 2018 provided funding for the renewal of VIA Rail’s corridor fleet. This new fleet of 32 trainsets started entering into service in 2022 and is expected to be fully delivered by 2025.
- Budget 2024 provided $462.4 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, with $120.7 million in remaining amortization, for VIA Rail network operations.
- Budget 2024 also announced new funding for VIA Rail to replace its aging fleet on routes outside the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. Funding amounts are not being released to protect the government’s negotiating position for an upcoming procurement.