VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is proud to be the first Crown Corporation to table its 2022-2025 accessibility plan with the Government of Canada. The Corporation is determined to be Canada’s most accessible national and inter-city mode of transportation and driven by the mindset that it’s time to create a barrier-free travel experience from reservation to destination. VIA Rail’s multi-year plan charts the course for a more accessible and inclusive experience for employees at work and for passengers along their journey.

Across Canada 6.2 million people, or 22 per cent of the population, identify as having a disability, and this number is projected to increase as the population ages. “VIA Rail is committed to tailoring our services to these changing demographics.” said Cynthia Garneau President and Chief Executive Officer. “We understand the importance of listening to our passengers as we work toward offering barrier-free transport, which is why we consulted a wide range of advocacy groups as we developed this plan to make sure we were capturing the needs and expectations of the diverse Canadian population.”

Building on VIA Rail’s universal accessibility policy, this multi-year plan is the Corporation’s first ever accessibility plan and aims to make accessibility a key component in every decision-making process.
Highlights of the 2022-2025 accessibility plan include:

• The creation of American Sign Language (ASL) and la Langue des Signes Québécoise (LSQ) videos on VIA Rail’s website.
• Ongoing accessibility awareness training for all our employees, from on-train service, to customer care, to office employees and executives.
• Improved equity in recruitment by removing bias in the hiring process and making our accessible hiring policy more visible to job seekers.
• An accessible procurement process to incorporate accessibility early on in decision making before projects are launched.

-via Press Release