As part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) wishes to reiterate its firm commitment to offering an accessible and inclusive travel experience.
“Driven by our mission to put our passengers first and by our wish for a more sustainable and accessible Canada, we deployed in 2020 sustained efforts to continue to improve the travel experience of passengers with disabilities,” said Cynthia Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The projects completed this year reflect our determination to keep the momentum going and to participate in the collective effort to create a barrier-free Canada.”
Despite the pandemic, 2020 has marked a turning point for accessibility at VIA Rail. Across the organization, our teams have worked vigorously to carry out targeted initiatives and implement measures aimed at making VIA Rail the most accessible national and intercity mode of transport in Canada.
As such, VIA Rail completed 18 projects, as part of the Canadian Transportation Agency’s (CTA) Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, which came into effect last June, and has thus taken a decisive step towards universal accessibility.
The services offered by VIA Rail to its passengers include, amongst others:
- An improved digital strategy to make information even more accessible on our website;
- Onboard menus and safety cards available in braille or large print on demand;
- Curbside assistance from the station entrance to the platform available in our ten busiest stations, which includes wheelchair assistance, guiding assistance, and assistance carrying baggage;
- A written version of onboard audio announcements available upon request;
- Relief areas for service animals provided in 80 of our stations;
VIA Rail would also like to highlight the more than 1,200 employees, including members of the management team, who completed additional accessibility training to be even better prepared to accompany passengers with disabilities.
-via Press Release