/R A P P E L -- VIA Rail cancels two Canadian departures/

MONTRÉAL, May 25, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - VIA Rail announces today the cancellation of two departures of its Canadian train, operating between Toronto and Vancouver, in order to make up the extend travel time caused by delays over the past few weeks.

"We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused by the delays and the cancellation of these two departures. Over the last few months, we have taken several mitigation measures in order to limit the impact on the customer experience and on our employees' work environment. We would like for our passengers to have a relaxing travel experience, that our on-train and in-station staff be given the rest time needed to accomplish their work with diligence and peace of mind, and that our maintenance crews are able to maintain our trains in the best possible condition. As such, we are aware of the constant efforts made by our employees on our trains, in our stations, in our call centres and in our maintenance centers, and on behalf of myself as well as all their colleagues, we extend our sincerest gratitude," stated Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO of VIA Rail.

"At VIA Rail, nothing is more important than the safety and security of our passengers and employees. That is why we are currently working with our infrastructure partner on a new schedule, to start during the peak summer period, that will provide a longer but more predictable travel time," added Mr. Desjardins-Siciliano.

Westbound

The following departure has been cancelled:

• Train #1 scheduled to depart from Toronto on Thursday, May 24, postponed to Friday, May 25, arriving in Vancouver on Monday, May 28 (some passengers will travel on the train scheduled for departure on May 26) l Cancelled

Train #1 scheduled for departure on Saturday, May 26 will be maintained. Passengers are invited to arrive at Toronto Union Station at the usual time for departure at 10PM.

Eastbound

The following departure has been cancelled:

• Train #2 scheduled to depart from Vancouver on Tuesday, May 29 (arrival in Toronto on Saturday, June 2) l Cancelled

The next # 2 trains scheduled to depart from Vancouver on Friday, May 25 and Sunday, May 27 will be maintained. Passengers are invited to arrive at Central Pacific Station at the usual time for a departure at 8:30PM.

Offer to customers holding a reservation on affected trains

VIA Rail is in communication with customers affected by the situation. Several options are available to those with a reservation for canceled trains. Prior to departure, all travellers who have not received a call are advised to contact a sales representative by phone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or 1-800-268-9503 (for the hard of hearing).

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and all its employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and about 180 more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports approximately 4.4 million passengers annually. The Corporation has been awarded five Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada since 2007. Visit the "About VIA Rail" section at: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

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SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.