Transport Action has written to the President and CEO of VIA Rail, Mario Péloquin, asking him to prioritise improvements to the service provided on the Winnipeg-Churchill route.
VIA Rail kept this essential service to northern Manitoba communities operating throughout the pandemic, with reduced amenities on board, but has yet to restore the pre-pandemic quality and level of service.
Peak-season train consists had previously included several Chateau sleepers, a dining car and a Park car, or a Skyline car which also has a kitchen. Since the pandemic, the train has been shortened and VIA Rail has not reinstated the position of chef on board, resulting a very limited menu for a three-day journey. Passengers have resorted to bringing their own food, stocking up at stores in Thompson and Churchill, where high food prices remain a serious problem.
Reduced availability of sleeping car accommodation makes it difficult to market the service to higher-playing independent travellers and tour groups, whose fares help to support the essential service and whose spending with northern and Indigenous businesses is a key element of the region’s economy. When only a single sleeping car is provided, most of the roomettes are required for crew use.
Although tourism resumed and a limited number of tour groups were accommodated by VIA Rail in the summers of 2022 and 2023, the prepackaged microwaved items served as meals were a deep disappointment to passengers. The food service on the Winnipeg-Churchill route should be comparable to VIA Rail’s other overnight services, offering nutritious menus with dishes that showcase regional cuisine, including the options available for purchase by passengers travelling in economy.
We recognise that VIA Rail faces a considerable challenge with equipment availability as it awaits the government’s decision on the renewal of its long-distance fleet; and will continue to do so at least until the early 2030s. Our current understanding is that allocating up to nine heritage fleet sleeping cars or Park cars to the three consists operated on this route is still feasible in the near term.
Our letter is below: