VIA Rail Unveils 2030 Strategic Plan

(Image Courtesy of VIA Rail Canada)

VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) on May 23 released a new five-year strategic plan, which Canada’s national rail passenger service described as the blueprint for its “next chapter.”

VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking more than 400 communities across Canada.

Among the objectives of its VIAction 2030 plan (download below), the railroad said it is committed to:

• “Generating savings equivalent to 15% of its operating deficit.
• “Reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 2005.
• “Increasing its capacity by 18%.”

The government of Canada has invested more than C$3 billion in the modernization of VIA Rail, which included the replacement of its Québec City–Windsor corridor fleet. VIAction 2030 is the “next step of this major modernization effort,” the passenger railroad said.

According to VIA Rail, the strategic plan is built on five pillars:

1. Customers and Communities: The goal: to connect more communities and move more Canadians. The railroad reported that its key initiatives are to “[e]nsure the renewal of the long-distance, regional and remote fleet and the integration of mobility partners to connect more Canadians through VIA Rail.”
2. Safety and Security: The goal: “[s]afety and security as priority one, in everything we do, for our employees and our customers.” According to the railroad, adopting “best-in-class safety and security prevention and mitigation practices for our customers, employees and our organization, including leading in Canada the implementation of smart technology like Enhanced Train Control (ETC) along our routes,” are among its key initiatives.
3. People and Culture: The goal: to be a “high-performing workplace where our people can bring their authentic selves to work, are empowered for impact and thrive.” The railroad’s key initiatives are to “[e]ncourage collaborative problem solving; promote leadership development; [have a] commitment to results, safety and security at all levels”; “[a]chieve year-on-year measurable improvements of workforce diversity metrics; and enhance overall experience in terms of inclusion and belonging.”
4. Environment: The goal: to be an “environmental champion in our services and the way we operate.” According to the railroad, contributing “to the efforts toward a greener world by adopting best-in-class environmental practices through our operations and supply chain; aim[ing] for zero-waste onboard experience; and driv[ing] a circular economy for all aspects of the business,” plus ensuring that VIA Rail “remains one of the most environmentally friendly options for intercity travel; and reduc[ing] our climate impact,” are the railroads key initiatives.
5. Organizational Sustainability: The goal: to be an “organization that is agile, innovative and delivers financial rigor to ​drive performance.” The railroad’s key initiatives include leveraging innovation, digitalization and continuous improvement “to transform the way we deliver our services and generate greater efficiency.”

These pillars will enable the railroad to, among other things, “improve our operations through innovation and continuous improvement and to collaborate with the various players of the transportation industry to better serve Canadians from coast to coast,” VIA Rail Chief Strategy Officer Vanessa Cherenfant said. “Thanks to this five-year strategy, we are convinced that even more people will choose the train as the comfortable, sustainable and accessible transportation solution.”

“Canada was built by rail, and I fundamentally believe in the transformative potential of this industry,” VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin said. “I have the ambition to act now to create meaningful change for our passengers, and this plan gives us a clear roadmap which allows us to aim higher and transform the way we operate.”

According to VIA Rail, the following projects are already under way:

• New trains “from coast to coast”: The federal government’s latest budget “confirmed support for VIA Rail to replace its long-distance, regional, and remote trains across the country,” VIA Rail reported. “Over the coming years, our passengers from coast to coast will be able to enjoy new modern and comfortable trains meeting the highest accessibility standards.”
• Integrated mobility: The railroad said it “aims to position itself as a unifying force for integrated mobility in the country, particularly by contributing to the integration of its stations with the cities’ various transportation networks and by helping densify surrounding neighborhoods.”
• Improving the rider journey: As part of the strategic plan, VIA Rail said it “wants to improve its service and offer the best passenger experience by, for example, meeting the diverse accessibility needs of its customers and offering one of the first zero-waste experiences on board a train in the world.”