- Good afternoon, ladies and
gentlemen. Welcome to Via Rail's
Annual Public Meeting.
My name is Marie-Anna Murat.
I'm Senior director of
communications for Via Rail,
and I will be
your host this afternoon.
(interpreter): This year,
we are once again holding
this meeting as a webcast,
with the purpose of reaching
as many Canadians
as possible. This webcast is
translated simultaneously.
You may watch it entirely in
English or entirely into French,
depending on your choice. You
can also follow this broadcast
live. In this case, we will be
going back and forth between
French and English, but there
will be no translation. In order
to choose the language
of your choice, please click
on the headset icon
which is on your screen.
(end of translation)
This webcast is simultaneously
translated in French and
English, and in its original
language. Please click on
the headphone icon to select
the language of your choice
to see this webcast.
(interpreter): I would like
to take this opportunity
to say hello to all those
following us live on Facebook.
(end of translation)
So, let me guide you through
what is going to happen
in the next hour. You will be
hearing from Françoise Bertrand,
Chairperson of the Board
of directors, from Mr. Yves
Desjardins-Siciliano,
Chief Executive Officer
of Via Rail Canada,
and from Patricia Jasmin,
our Chief Financial Officer.
We will be reviewing the
financial results of 2017 and
of the first quarter of 2018.
And we will be discussing
some of the initiatives
that the corporation launched
in the past year.
Following the speeches, we will
be answering the questions
that you, the public, sent us.
But please note that we are
also taking questions for
the duration of the broadcast.
So you can send them by email
at questions@viarail.ca
or on Twitter, using
the hashtag VIA_Rail.
(interpreter): During
the webcast, if you wish to,
you can also send us questions
live. Please write us
at questions@viarail.ca
or use the VIA_Rail hashtag.
A document answering all of
the questions that we will have
received during the last few
weeks will be published on our
website in the next few weeks.
In the next few days, as well,
this webcast will be available,
subtitled, on YouTube. Without
any further ado, I would like to
invite Mrs. Françoise Bertrand,
Chair of the Board of Directors
of Via Rail Canada, to come
and address herself to you.
- (interpreter): Hello to
everyone. It is a pleasure
for me to be able to participate
in this second Annual Public
Meeting with Via Rail. I am
very happy to be able to start
my speech with a very positive
note: 2017, in fact, was
a very successful year.
It showed us great results
in terms of ridership. We wish
to thank our clientele for his
loyalty and for taking the train
more and more often. Thanks to
those people, we have an upper
trend that has maintained
itself throughout
the first quarter of 2018.
(end of translation)
These strong results provide
the energy and conviction
we need to continually deliver
better services to Canadians.
Of course, we will still face
our challenges, which we work
to overcome and improve on every
day. Today, as for decades ago,
Via Rail is committed
to transporting more passengers
across Canada, in a safe,
sustainable and accessible way.
It has become part of our DNA
to keep striving for better and
to never rest on our laurels.
In order to keep meeting
the high expectations
of our passengers, we have
to push ourselves
like every successful company.
Over the past few years,
Via Rail has been working on a
company-wide modernization plan,
in order to better meet
the needs of all Canadians.
This year, Via Rail's efforts
were recognized in the federal
budget through a historical
investment in our corporation.
We thank the Government
of Canada for their vote of
confidence, and we are excited
about what the future has
in store for our passengers.
The budget confirmed funding for
the acquisition of a brand new
fleet of modern trains, which
means that within a few years
time, we will be welcoming
our clients onto more
comfortable and accessible cars.
Our modernization plan also
includes another important
and ambitious project, which we
are calling High Frequency Rail.
Thanks to funding allocated
through the most recent budget,
further analysis will be done
on the project, which should
support the government
decision-making process.
(interpreter): Last year,
many people watched our Annual
Public Meeting with a lot
of interest. But for a handful
of them, our broadcast was
particularly important as they
were submitting their candidacy
for our Board of Directors.
These candidates were convinced
that working with Via Rail
would be both challenging and
rewarding, although it is also
demanding. And I am thrilled
that the Government has chosen
them in order to join us today
and to be able to participate
in our Board. They are present
among us today, and I would like
to take two moments
to introduce them to you.
And I am very proud to do so.
(end of translation)
So let me introduce to you
my colleagues of the Board.
First, Jane Mowat, from Toronto,
Ontario, Daniel Gallivan,
from Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Gale Stephens, from Victoria,
British Columbia, Kenneth Tan,
from Richmond, British Columbia,
Kathy Baig, from Laval, Quebec,
Glenn Rainbird, from Belleville,
Ontario, Geneviève Tanguay,
from Montreal, Quebec. Jonathan
Goldbloom... He had a meeting
this afternoon, so he is
excusing himself. And, last but
not least, Ramona Materi, from
Vancouver, British Columbia.
I would like you to notice that
we are six women, five men
on the Board. And that is the
diversity challenge that our CEO
is really promoting really...
very hard in the team
as well as on the Board.
It is a remarkable time
to be part of this Canadian
institution, as we continue
making every effort towards our
vision of a more modern Via Rail
to better serve Canadians.
The excitement is palpable at
the Board level and among all
of Via Rail's outstanding
employees, who have contributed
to our recent successes.
In 2017, our great results are
in part due to the celebration
of Canada's 150th anniversary,
which encouraged many people
to explore Canada. Via Rail
also make great efforts by both
participating in and supporting
numerous events and activities
across the country.
Through our own successful
initiative, the Canada 150 Youth
Pass, we invited young Canadians
to discover their country,
and we welcomed over 4000
young Canadians on board
our trains in July.
This year, Via Rail
is celebrating an historic
milestone of its own. It was
40 years ago that the first
official Via Rail train,
proudly displaying the company
logo, transported
passengers in Canada.
Our 40th year is a time
to reflect and reminisce on this
important part of our Canada's
heritage. But even more, it is
a time to look to the future.
Over the last four years, Via
Rail has been showing an upper
trend that supports our vision
of becoming the back
bone of sustainable
transportation in Canada.
(interpreter): I'm looking
forward to the coming years and
to see what they will bring, as
well as to actively contributing
to the future of Via Rail, along
said my colleagues on the Board.
Congratulations to the entire
organization, led by a very
talented team of managers
and by our very energetic CEO.
A special thank you to the
impeccable on board and customer
care staff, who are the faces
of Via Rail and who serve
our passengers with pride,
and in the same spirit that we
find throughout the company. It
is because or all of you that we
are posting these praised worthy
results. I wish to thank you.
♪♪♪
- (interpreter): Hello, ladies
and gentlemen. Thank you for
joining us at this year's Annual
Public Meeting. My name is Yves
Desjardins-Siciliano and I have
the honour of being the CEO.
(end of translation)
I'll be reporting good news,
and then, more good news,
and then, I will forward into
the future for more good news.
This is a good news story.
2017: Via Rail produced again
a stellar year of results.
(interpreter): Without any
doubt, 2017 continues with
a trend that is growth, whether
be ridership, as well as income.
(end of translation)
... that there is a
sustainable business to be built
at Via Rail. More Canadians have
chosen to spend more money
riding on our trains more often
than ever before. All across
our services, you can see
how our services
are becoming popular
for all sorts of reasons.
A big reason is this reason:
35% growth in our business
is a key success
that nobody can ignore.
But it is based on employees.
Business is all about people.
(interpreter): Doing business
is putting people in
contact with one another...
... as well as giving people the
feeling that their work is
important, and that their
interaction with clients can
change lives or improve the
quality of lives. That is what
makes that Via Rail employees
do the work that they do,
and that they do so well.
(end of translation)
... commitment to service and
to excellence that you see the
financial results, the ridership
results that we have.
For over that period
of four years, the equipment has
been getting older every year...
as the CEO of the company! Over
those four years, we have run
on the same infrastructure.
Over those for years, we have
dealt with the same climates,
the same challenges that
any large operation brings.
(interpreter): So, what has
made the difference is not
the equipment, it is not
the temperature, it is not the
infrastructure, it is the people
of Via Rail who have made the
difference, as well as the way
that they interact with clients.
So thank you to each employee
for that continuous effort,
without which would not
be able to be as successful
as we are right now.
But that success is reflected
not only with client
satisfaction, but as well
as their encouragement
with those who have not
yet become clients.
(end of translation)
... extends to those who have
not seen the light yet, that
have not made the smart
choice to take the train.
For our clients are our best
ambassadors. They are the
ones who promote our services
to their friends and family.
And that is why we are growing
ridership, not only by repeated
business from current customers,
but also by acquiring new
customers. So thank you for our
customers to continue to promote
our services, for the more
Canadians get on board these
trains, the better we all are.
And talking about
a lot of Canadians taking
that train... July 2017.
(interpreter): In July 2017,
over 4000 young Canadians used
the Youth Pass for the 150th
anniversary of Canada in order
to travel throughout the
country, from one ocean to
the other to the other.
(end of translation)
4000 young Canadians
discovered Canada.
They built memories
to last them a lifetime.
(interpreter): Memories that
will last their entire lives
will have been produced by
the people of Via Rail who put
themselves at their service
in order to celebrate Canada.
And we have seen these
testimonies throughout
Twitter and Facebook.
(end of translation)
Instagram was bursting of
pictures of youth on our trains,
discovering the country, and
most importantly, discovering
each other and what makes us
proud to be Canadians. So thank
you to all of them for their
travels and to all our employees
who supported that young
crowd discovering Canada.
But there are also
tangible sides of changes
at Via in 2017.
(interpreter): We have also
brought tangible changes in our
operations. We have increased...
frequency between Ottawa
and Toronto. And in this way,
since 2014, ridership between
Ottawa and Toronto has had
nearly 40% in increase.
(end of translation)
- ... by adding this tenth
frequency, we have grown
the Ottawa-Toronto market by
almost 40%. Because having more
frequency is the reason people
take the train over their car.
Because their car is always
available. If train
service is as available,
almost, as your car,
most people will make the smart
change to take the train,
and this proves that case.
(interpreter): We have also
added stops. For example,
here in Saint-Hyacinthe...
(end of translation)
We have increased our capacity
on the corridor over 5%, by
adding cars where traffic
demands and taking cars off
where there is less demand
for traffic on given periods
of time. We have also continued
our pursuit of Canadian
products on board.
(interpreter): We like to have
Canadian products when we offer
food and drinks. So we have
improved that offering in
the past few years. And also,
to better serve our clients,
we have improved technology
of our calling centres...
(end of translation)
... in Moncton and Montreal.
They are not only equipped with
the best call centre people
in the industry, they are also
equipped with the best
technology available
for call centres.
And therefore, the dedication
that they have shown to
our customers when they call
in for service will be
enhanced by that technology.
(interpreter): The combination
of an agent in a call centre
with very modern technology
will improve client services.
And therefore,
the results that we will keep
growing are anticipated.
In 2017, we published our
Sustainable Mobility Report,
which shows once again
our continuous commitment of
reducing CO2 emissions. On our
end, close to 34% since 2015.
(end of translation)
... has been to reduce
our footprint by over 34%
by enhancing our locomotives. We
have also continued to promote
our services and see how,
and explore how we can be of
better service to the forehead
of communities we serve by
meeting officials and boards
of trade and all types
of stakeholders across
this great country.
(interpreter): By meeting
representatives of the different
communities throughout Canada,
we have been able to draw not
only how we can improve
our services today, but how
we can keep improving them
tomorrow with the projects
that we are working on.
And finally, we have doubled
the number of passengers
who have chosen to use Via Rail
services together with another
road of transportation.
(end of translation)
... over the period and more
passengers are combining
the Via service with a third
party, an intermodal service.
But most importantly, the over
4 million passengers who
have chosen Via Rail in 2017
reduced the carbon footprint
of travelling in Canada
by 261 000 tons of CO2.
(interpreter): Over 260 000 tons
of greenhouse gas emissions will
have been eliminated from the
air by people who have chosen
to take the train rather
than taking their car.
And it is with that choice that
an individual... It is that kind
of choice that makes sense
that individuals make and it
improves the quality of life
of their entire community.
(end of translation)
Each of us making the smart
choice to travel by train, make
a choice to enhance the life
of the rest of us, who depends
on quality environments,
quality climates.
Now, what about 2018?
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- This is a ticket
- No way!
- Oh, my Goodness!
♪♪♪
- (interpreter):
So, there you are.
(end of translation)
... 2018 a contest.
(interpreter): A contest
for 2018 to launch the 40th
anniversary of Via Rail.
All that you have to do is to
buy a ticket between the 17th of
May and the 10th of June to
be able to travel in Canada.
(end of translation)
... go on our website,
no purchase necessary, and just
enter to win one of 40 pairs
of tickets allowing you
to travel anywhere in Canada
that Via Rail serves.
That is our way of allowing
40 Canadian couples
to travel and discover Canada.
(interpreter): And that is
only the beginning. This contest
which allows either those who
buy a ticket between the 17th of
May and the 10th of June, or by
going online without necessarily
buying anything, participating
in this contest, allowing you to
win one of 40 pairs of tickets,
that will allow you to travel
throughout Canada anywhere that
Via Rail goes. And these tickets
are made of steel. And this will
allow us to celebrate, or allow
you to celebrate the 40th
anniversary in your way.
(end of translation)
... prizes to
mark this anniversary. There
will be from time to time
on some of our trains
an anniversary car and should
you happen to be in that car,
well, it will be your birthday.
(interpreter): Throughout
our services, every once in
a while, there will be a train,
an anniversary train, and if
ever you seat is to be found
within that one, it will be your
birthday indeed. Therefore, many
surprises are coming up. You
will see, of course, our trains
will be decorated with the 40th
anniversary, and the rest of the
year, there will be initiatives
as well to be able to keep
going with the anniversary.
(end of translation)
... celebrating 2018, it starts
off the year, maintaining
the growth trend
that we have been on
for the last four years.
(interpreter): The beginning of
2018 keeps going with the trend
that has started in 2014 with
spectacular results. There is
an increase in revenue
of more than 11%, as well
as ridership of over 12%.
(end of translation)
...the trend is our friend. It
is being maintained, as I said
earlier, because our employees
are maintaining that commitment.
To make people feel welcome
and to make them feel well
treated on board our trains.
(interpreter): This trend
continues for the reason
I mentioned earlier. That is a
continuous commitment on part of
our employees that make that our
clients feel welcomed and well
treated when they are on board
of our trains or when they
call one of our calling
centres. And we also
have other surprises for 2018.
Major projects. First, as Mrs.
Bertrand was mentioning it,
thanks to the decision or
the federal government that was
announced in the March federal
budget, they have relaunched
their bid offer to acquire a new
fleet for the Windsor corridor.
So, all the equipment that is
today serving between
Quebec and Windsor will be
replaced by a new fleet...
... between now and 2024.
(end of translation)
... 2018, as mentioned by Mrs.
Bertrand earlier, the federal
government gave Via
the authority and defending
to acquire a new fleet that
will replace all the equipment
currently available in the
Quebec-Windsor corridor. And
therefore, by 2024, rolling
in this corridor will be a
brand new 21st-century fleet.
But as well, we are renovating
the fleet that is rolling in
the rest of the country. We have
announced several contracts
to modernize that fleet,
from accessibility features
to make the national fleet
as accessible as the corridor
fleet. To facilitate the
participation of more Canadians,
regardless of their physical
or other challenges to travel
with Via, we are
modernizing that fleet.
(interpreter): The rest
of the Via Rail fleet will also
be modernized outside of the
Quebec-Windsor corridor. We have
already announced many contracts
in order to modernize it,
to make sure, for example,
that it remains the means
of transportation that is
the most accessible for
intercity transport. This
will allow more Canadians,
regardless of the mobility
difficulties that they may
be faced with, to be able
to get on board a train
and to cross the country.
Because accessibility is
one of the main reasons why
the train service exists.
(end of translation)
... and disabilities is one of
the core missions of Via
Rail, and is one of the
core reasons it exists.
(interpreter): And that is why
we have committed ourselves to
modernize all of our equipment
as we have been doing now,
thanks to the support of the
Government of Canada. As well as
acquiring a new fleet, that will
meet the highest accessibility
standards, universally
accessibility standards.
(end of translation)
When we talk about
accessibility, it is also about
the rest of our environments,
whether they be online,
or whether they be in stations.
Ottawa station is being updated
to be really the landmark
station in our network
when regards to universal
accessibility. We have installed
elevators, we have installed
signage, and we are continuing
to work in enhancing that
station to make it the standard.
(interpreter): So, it is not
only a question of trains
and cars, but it is a question
of accessibility throughout all
the Via Rail services, whether
be online, for people who cannot
hear, who cannot see, or whether
be in our train stations. And
for example, the Ottawa train
station is being renovated.
We have put in access ramps,
elevators, high platforms, in
order to ease the access to our
trains and to the station for
people who have mobility issues.
(end of translation)
So, to lead this change,
one needs to be surrounded
by a great team.
And luck would have it that
I have the best team to run
this company that any CEO
could have ever asked for.
And I am pleased to be
surrounded by them every day,
and I hope they are as pleased
as I am to be surrounded by me!
But I am pleased to be
surrounded by them today.
(interpreter): And I am very
happy to be able to share with
you the fact that I work on a
daily life with colleagues that
are just as committed and just
as ambitious as I am for the
success of Via Rail. They are
here with me today and I would
like to introduce them to you,
starting with Linda Bergeron,
Head of Human Resources, Martin
Landry, Head of Commercial
Affairs and the person
responsible for the
acquisition of a new fleet.
Mrs. Sonia Corriveau, Head
of Business Transformation
and responsible for the High
Frequency Train project. Marc
Beaulieu, Head of Transportation
and Safety, Anne Gauthier,
Head of Communications,
Mario Bergeron, Head
of Mechanics and Maintenance,
Robert St-Jean, Chief Asset
Management Officer, Jean-François Legault,
Head of Judicial Affairs
and Risks, and finally,
Mrs. Gabrielle Caron,
Corporate Secretary.
These are talented people,
committed into serving other
citizens, who leave no ambition
objectors unexplored,
and in whom no challenge is not
too big that they will not
be able to meet it.
(end of translation)
... and never see any tasks
too big to not be met. We are
blessed to have them as members
of this team. But there is one
member left, and it
is now my pleasure to
introduce the last but not
the least member of this team...
(interpreter): ... our last,
but not the least,
our Chief Financial Officer,
Patricia Jasmin.
- (interpreter): Thank you,
Yves. Hello. I am so happy to be
amongst you today in order
to share the financial results
for 2017, which was a very
important year for Via Rail.
(end of translation)
...results were strong with
increases of 12.8% and 10.5%
respectively compared to 2016.
These results were achieved
through enhancing our trains
and the optimization
of capacity to better align
with customers' demands.
(interpreter): Overall, Via
Rail's revenues for 2017
increased to 366 million
dollars. This amount includes
passenger revenue, which reads
nearly 343 million dollars,
and an additional
23 million dollars of station
and third-party revenue.
The revenue increases are
attributable to an improved
service offering, including
added and optimized capacity
in the corridor east, as well
as an increase in average fares
for most major train services.
Our operating expenses total
593 million dollars. That is a
6.9% increase compared to 2016.
This growth stands in part
from the added capacity deployed
in the corridor, as well as
the additional cost related
to on-time performance issues
that particularly affected
the Canadian service, which runs
between Toronto and Vancouver.
Contributions to our Pension
and Benefits Plan totalled
33 million dollars in 2017,
compared to 37 million dollars
in 2016. This slight increase
is associated with higher costs
for employee compensation.
This financial performance
enabled us to slightly reduce
government operating funds to
265.3 million dollars, which
is a 2 million dollar or 1%
decrease compared to 2016.
(end of translation)
To reduce the government
funding to 265 million, which is
2 million or 1% lower than 2016.
(interpreter): In 2017, the
government subsidy represented
42% of our overall operating
expenses. This is an improvement
of three percentage points
compared to 2016, meaning
that Via Rail reduced its
dependence on taxpayer dollars
once again this year.
That was one of the goals
Via Rail set for itself,
and we are very pleased to have
achieved it again this year.
Now, in terms of capital
investments, a total of
88 million dollars was invested
in improving services
for passengers. The biggest
investments went to
the following projects:
29 million dollars for
station-related projects,
including Ottawa,
Oshawa and Kingston;
17 million dollars for rolling
stock projects, including
12 millions for the LRC
car refreshment program;
16 million dollars for
information technology projects
such as a reservation system, a
planning and capacity management
system, and our training program
for locomotive engineers;
and finally, 15 million dollars
for infrastructure projects like
the program to improve track and
road crossings on infrastructure
owned by Via Rail.
(end of translation)
These results reflect the
success of Via Rail in the past
few years. We have been working
to modernize and improve
our services and we are
thankful to the passengers
who support us every day.
And now, thanks to
the Government of Canada, this
modernization will continue.
As previously mentioned by
my colleagues, funding has been
allocated to acquire
a brand new fleet of trains
for our corridor service.
We are excited and proud to know
that we will be able to offer
Canadians a more comfortable
ride and I look forward
to the coming years of further
improvements. Thank you.
- (interpreter): That video
shows you why our employees are
our best ambassadors. I would
like to thank Mrs. Jasmin
for having given us
the 2018 results.
(end of translation)
The reason why we hold
our Annual Public Meeting
is the opportunity to hear
from you, the public.
So, along with the invitation
to participate today,
we had asked you to send us
your question about Via Rail.
Your enthusiastic response
showed us that you are not only
engaged, but you are very much
interested in the public
service we offer. In fact, as of
this morning, we have received
more than 1500 questions.
So, many of you were curious
about the same questions,
and certain questions
were asked multiple times.
Therefore, for the first time
this year, we have compiled
the 20 most asked questions
and put them to a vote.
Once again, you showed your
interest and you voiced your
opinion. We have gathered
the ten questions that received
the most votes, and the top 10
will now be answered
by our President and CEO,
M. Yves Desjardins-Siciliano.
- (interpreter): Thank you,
Marie-Anna. So, yes, in fact,
here are the ten most popular
questions which were
asked... which were voted,
rather by the public.
(end of translation)
So here are the top 10
questions that the public
selected, and therefore,
make them most popular.
Question number 10. I will
do them going from 10 to 1,
just to make it more exciting.
"When will Via Rail add more
bike racks to the trains?"
So I like the word "add more
bike racks"... "Add more",
because we don't really have
any, but the intent is the same.
The new fleet that we have
announced, in terms of the new
corridor fleet, being a 21st-
century fleet, will be able to
accommodate large objects, like
skis and bikes, and the likes.
And so, starting soon as
the delivery of the first
cars, 2022 to 2024, bike
racks will be available.
(interpreter): So, the first
question was "When will Via Rail
add more bike racks to their
trains?" And we don't really
have any right now. It is
more... You know, we try
to accommodate, as reasonably as
possible, people with bikes, but
more often than not, we cannot.
So the answer is that with the
new fleet that is coming out and
that was announced earlier on,
they should be available as
of 2022. From 2022 to 2024, this
will able to accommodate bigger
objects, specifically bikes.
(end of translation)
Question number 9: "Why is
the cost of tickets for shorter
routes sometimes as high as
longer routes between
larger cities? Should it not
be based on distance?"
So, although the distance
typically is the basis for
the pricing structure, there are
other factors that affect
the pricing in the fares
that are displayed,
one being capacity constraints,
or the other way to look at it,
demand for that service. Then,
the nature of the market in
terms of not only distance,
but also the type of market.
Is it a business market
or a leisure segment market?
And then, the notion of
competition in that market
from other modes of transport,
including obviously the car.
Juggling all of these elements
brings us to the pricing regime.
But I can tell you, if we look
at a specific example...
For example, Toronto-Ottawa
versus Toronto-Kingston:
Toronto-Ottawa, today,
the lowest fare is $48, whereas
Toronto-Kingston is $44. So,
clearly, it is a lower fare for
a shorter distance. But again,
from time to time,
you will have the reverse
based on these factors.
(interpreter): Question number 9
was... "Why is the cost
of tickets for shorter routes
sometimes as high or more
expensive as for longer routes
between two larger cities?
Shouldn't the price
reflect the distance?"
So yes, in fact, mainly, the
price is based on the distance.
But there are other to be taken
into account as well, and one of
them is the available capacity
on that particular segment,
the demand for that segment,
on the part of the travellers,
as well as the nature of the
segment, that is to say, is this
a place where there are more
tourists or more
business travellers?
And finally, competition
on the part of other modes
of transportation, of course,
including cars. But generally
speaking, prices are lower for
shorter distances. And I have
an example here: between Toronto
and Ottawa, and Toronto and
Kingston. Between Toronto and
Ottawa, the lowest price is $48,
which is a longer distance
than Toronto-Kingston, which is
at $44. So that is a standard,
but of course, sometimes,
there are exceptions.
(end of translation)
Question number 8: "When will we
see the new train fleet in the
Quebec City- Windsor corridor?"
(interpreter): "When will we
see the new fleet?
(end of translation)
As I said earlier in my remarks,
staring 2022 all the way
to 2024, that new fleet will be
available in the corridor.
(interpreter): I was mentioning
earlier on, the new fleet will
be available as of 2022
until 2024. When the total
present fleet is replaced.
(end of translation)
I see that question as an
anxiety on your part for a new
fleet and I welcome that anxiety
and I share it with you.
(interpreter): Thank you for
your encouragement to go forward
with this new fleet, because
the government has heard you.
(end of translation)
- Question number 7: "Can
you improve the Wi-Fi on board?"
(interpreter): "Could
the Wi-Fi on board be improved?
Are you working on it?"
(end of translation)
The Wi-Fi on board should
be, could be, made
better, could be enhanced.
And we are working on it. It is
a challenge. It is a challenge
based on a variety of factors,
one being different types of
cars that are in that corridor,
that give different propagation
qualities to the environments.
But we are working at empowering
or growing the power or
the ability of the systems
to support more demand.
Because in the course of
the last five years, as you may
expect, due to mobile devices
and other applications, the
demand for Wi-Fi has just grown
exponentially. It is beyond a
hockey stick, it is a straight
line going up year... month
after month, quarter after
quarter, year after year.
So the ability of those systems
to support growing demand for
people who have more devices
and more usage for their
devices, and more passengers
on the same cars
that we never had before,
creates the compounding effect
that we are short on
the delivery from time to time.
So, more to come. Obviously
again, the new fleet will have
a Wi-Fi system that will be
state-of-the-art and will
be built from the ground up
with new equipment versus the
retrofits we are doing today.
In the meantime, we are
continuing to try to enhance
the system and reduce the
inconveniences to our customers.
(interpreter): Yes, we do want
to improve it, because there is
more and more people that have
more applications, that have
more devices with which they
have access to Wi-Fi on board
the train. And on top of that,
there are more passengers
on board of each train. So,
the combination of usage, more
frequent usage, and of more
people at the same time makes
that our ability to support all
of these different users as well
as usages is becoming more and
more limited. We continue to
try to improve the service
within the complexity
of mixed environments,
such as what we have right now.
We have three different kinds
of equipment in the corridor.
But we continue trying to
improve it to the best of our
ability with, of course,
the ray of hope, which is
the replacement of the fleet.
Because a new fleet will come
with a Wi-Fi system that will
have been designed for the kind
of fleet in which it will be
rather than what we have
right now, which are retrofitted
systems that were added
obviously since the fleet,
you know, is older than the
Internet! And so, the Wi-Fi was
added after. So the broadcast
is not as great as it could be.
(end of translation)
Question number 6: "When
the Service Churchill will be
repaired and ready
for passenger use?"
(interpreter): "When will the
line to Churchill be repaired
and ready for passenger use?"
(end of translation)
Well, as you may know,
the Government of Canada is
in negotiations with the owner
of that railway infrastructure
as well as the province.
And as soon as those issues
are addressed and the railway
infrastructure is brought up
to our safety standards, we will
resume service. But we have no
visibility as to when that is.
The only thing I can assure
you is we will not be running
a passenger train on an
infrastructure, anywhere in
Canada, including Churchill,
unless it is safe
for passengers to board.
(interpreter): The answer is
complicated, of course, because
right now, the Government of
Canada as well as the Manitoba
Government and the owner of
the present infrastructure are
all having discussions as far as
the upgrade of that particular
infrastructure. Via Rail has
committed itself to set up
the service again as soon as
the infrastructure is safe.
The only thing that I can assure
you of is that we will not run
a passenger train service where
the infrastructure is not safe
for the passengers, regardless
of where that infrastructure is
to be found, including Manitoba.
(end of translation)
Question number 5:
"Why are fares so high?
Can you offer lower prices?"
(interpreter): "Why your fares
so high? Can you lower them?"
(end of translation)
Well, I was asked that question
last year, it seems to me, and
my answer is always the same:
I don't think fares are high
at all. As a matter of fact, I
think fares are quite reasonable
when you compare with the
alternatives. If you compare
the price of fuel and parking in
the metropolitan area, and then
the amortization of your car and
insurance and the rest of it,
I think our fares are way below
that cost to you. And therefore,
I believe that we should
all be prepared to pay
for services rendered.
And therefore, I am
comfortable with
the prices as they are today.
(interpreter): That question is
often asked and it was asked to
me last week... last year, and
my answer is the same. To me,
the prices seem to me very
reasonable, when you compare
them to the alternative
of your car, the price
of parking, of gas.
And you add the amortization of
the cost of your car. Clearly,
the Via Rail prices and the
economy price between two
cities, regardless of where
it is in Canada, is a lot less
than your car. Therefore, in my
opinion, it is reasonable, and
people have to be ready to pay
a reasonable price
for a superior service,
which is the case in Via Rail.
And therefore, I am satisfied
that the prices are reasonable.
"The Gaspé service."
(end of translation)
"When will the train
service will be resumed?"
(interpreter): "When will
train service resumes in Gaspé?"
Same answer as Churchill.
(end of translation)
The infrastructure is in
the hands of a provincial
agency, here in Quebec.
As soon as the infrastructure is
brought up to safety standards
for passenger rail, we will
resume service on one of the
most scenic routes of Canada.
(interpreter): As I was
mentioning it in the past, the
soon as that infrastructure
is once again updated and is
safe for passenger rail, we will
start again with the service.
It is one of the most
scenic places in Canada.
(end of translation)
"When will we see the High
Frequency Rail project be
implemented?" Well, not soon
enough, unfortunately,
is my answer to that. But the...
We are hoping that should
we get a positive decision from
our government within the next
year, four years within that
decision, the High Frequency
Rail project will be deployed
between Quebec, Montreal,
Ottawa and Toronto, or any
of those segments within which
the government will have
provided authority in financing.
(interpreter): "So when will we
see the High Frequency Rail
project be implemented?" Well,
as far as possible, as far as we
are concerned. But of course, we
have to wait for the decision of
the shareholders. And once that
decision is made, within
four years, we believe that the
infrastructure will be finished
and will relay Quebec, Montreal,
Ottawa, Toronto, or any
other segments amongst those,
any segment that the government
will have chosen to finance.
(end of translation)
Question number 2: "What is
being done to improve Via Rail's
on-time performances,
especially for the Canadian
service in Western Canada?
So we are on that service
challenged. Why? Because freight
service between Toronto and
Vancouver is extremely busy.
The good news for Canadians
is Canada's economy is booming.
The bad news for passenger rail
service is that Canada's economy
is booming. And therefore,
freight lines are very busy
with long, heavy, slow freight
trains. And Via runs on
that same infrastructure.
And therefore, our time
to the destination is getting
longer and longer, and more
and more unpredictable.
That is the problem.
The solution is that we are
working with our partners,
our infrastructure partners,
who share our concerns for this
deteriorating service. And
hopefully, within the next few
weeks, or months at the most,
we will have plans to announce
to try to enhance the service in
a way that the trip time will be
what the trip time is because
of congestion and because
of traffic on that line.
But hopefully, the on-time
performance will be predictable.
So we will not be able to make
the trip time shorter, but
hopefully, our desired outcome
is to have a trip time that is
predictable so you can make
plans on your departure time
and plans on your arrival time.
(interpreter): The question
is: "What is being done to
improve your rails on-time
performance, especially for the
Canadians in Western Canada?"
So the problem with the Canadian
is a pretty simple one.
Via Rail shares the merchandise
trail track from Toronto
to Vancouver. And that segment
is very, very busy because
the Canadian economy is doing
very well. And when the Canadian
economy goes well, well
the freight trains are full,
they are slow and they
occupy a lot of the railway.
And therefore, the passenger
trains, of course, suffer
from this economic boom. And
therefore, it takes longer to
get to a place and punctuality
becomes very deteriorated.
That is what the problem is. The
solution is, in collaboration
with our partner, the owner
of the infrastructure, we want
to find a way of establishing
the schedule for trains.
Not in order to shorten how long
it takes, that is not possible,
because congestion is what it
is, traffic is what it is, but
what we have to do, however,
is to give clients a departure
and arrival time that are
predictable. If we can
at the very least introduce
predictability in departure and
arrival time, already, we will
have done a good part of
the work despite congestion due
to the success of the Canadian
economy and for which, you know,
we are all doing better.
(end of translation)
So, question number 1. The
most popular question asked by
Canadians to the CEO: "Why can
we not select our seats,
seat directions, while
booking our trips online?
Now, that is the most
interesting question
I have ever been asked.
In the last four years,
I must have talked to over
12 000 Canadians on our trains.
Because I talk to people on our
trains every week when I travel
on Via trains. And that is
the single most asked question.
And people tell me all the time
two things. "I hate travelling
backwards", and "Why don't
we have trains in Canada
like they do in Europe?"
Well, guess what? In Europe,
half of the time, you are
travelling backwards. But for
some reason, it does not bother
us when we are in Europe,
but here in Canada,
sometimes, it bothers us.
More seriously, for those who
are inconvenienced by travelling
backwards, our new reservation
system, that we are currently
starting the development of
this year, will allow passengers
to select their seats.
And since we will have
a predictable fleet, one fleet
which all the same cars is
designed in the same way,
you will be able to know
for sure that if you pick
a forward-looking seat,
you will be facing forward
when you sit in that set.
So, we are aware of the issue
and we are working on it. Our
on-board crews do a great job
trying to accommodate passengers
when there is room
in the train or in the car
to allow them to change seats
if they are inconvenienced.
But in the meantime, our best
efforts cannot always satisfy
everyone. But know that your
concern has been noted and
seat selection will allow you to
make that selection in due time.
(interpreter): "So why is it
not possible to choose the seats
or the seat directions while
booking trips online?"
That is the question that I have
to answer the most off and
on board trains when I speak
with clients every year.
I must have spoken to over
12 000 people in the past four
years, and that question
comes back over and over.
With another comment which
is: "Why don't we, in Canada,
have trains the way they do in
Europe?" Because everybody wants
to have, you know, trains
in Canada like in Europe.
But in Europe, 50% of the
time, you are going backwards.
But it would seem that in
Europe, it is not as bothersome.
But in Canada, people seem to be
more bothered by it. No, but
seriously, that problem will be
resolved by the new reservation
system which, using a unique
fleet throughout the corridor,
thanks to the new fleet coming
up, will allow you to select
your seats with the insurance
that if you select a seat that
faces the direction of travel,
you will have that seat when
you get on board the train.
So, that is a solution
that is more long-term.
(end of translation)
... and the call centre will try
to accommodate your request for
front-facing direction, facing
seats. And most of the time,
that will work, unless
there is a last-minute
change of equipment.
(interpreter): In the meantime,
you can always call the call
centre, which will give you
a forward-facing seat, although
sometimes, for operation
reasons, we have to change your
position at the last minute,
and the result is that you might
me in a seat that will be
travelling backwards. But that
is while waiting for the new
fleet. And so, that is
an end to the questions.
Thank you very much.
(end of translation)
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
- So we end our Public Annual
Meeting with this happy
note. I want to thank
Mrs. Françoise Bertrand,
M. Desjardins-Siciliano,
and Mrs. Patricia Jasmin for
participating. Thank you to all
of you that participated as well
online, on Facebook Live.
And thank you to all of you
that sent in all the questions
that we answered today. I would
like to also thank our studio
audience for their participation
today. And I hope all
of you will join us next year
again for our Annual Public
Assembly. Have a good afternoon.
Subtitles: www.sovo-tech.com
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