VIA Revenue, Ridership Increased in 2015

VIA Rail Canada said that in 2015 it posted its first gains in ridership and revenue in seven years.

The Canadian passenger carrier said its total total passenger miles were up 1.7 while revenue rose by 6.2 percent.

VIA said its funding needs from the federal government declined by 11.7 percent, which was $13 million less than planned.

“There are many reasons to be optimistic, including the focus that our government has on strengthening the Canadian economy through job-creating investments and sustainable transportation,” said Eric Stefanson, VIA Rail’s former interim chairman. “This year, the Government of Canada confirmed additional capital funding of $102 million for VIA Rail. This investment will be used to improve the infrastructure VIA Rail owns, as well as services in and around the Ottawa area. Keeping Canadians mobile is imperative to a strong and healthy economy.”

VIA said that during the past year it launched a new mobile application,  redesigned its website and launched an Instagram profile.

It also began SMS/Email train alert service, implemented prestige class on The Canadian and began 50/50 seat configuration economy class service.

Just Being Nosey With My Camera

Erie Lackawanna No. 1245 sits at EL’s Kent Yard in the late 1960s/early 1970s.

Boston & Maine No. 1746 also sit at the EL yard in Kent. I saw several trains with B&M lashups in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The railfan on the right is Mike Ondecker.

SRS 138 sits in the EL’s Marion yard on Dec. 30, 1972.

No, it’s not Nickel Plate Rod No. 765 but NKP 759 in Conneaut on Sept. 8, 1968, where it would head its first excursion after being restored.

Not a perfect head-on shot, but Chicago, South Shore & South Bend No. 702 suns itself on a cold March 30, 1969, in Michigan City, Indiana.

It is back to Akron with Chessie Steam Special Chesapeake & Ohio No. 614 sitting at the Baltimore & Ohio engine facility on June 24,1981.

I left the United States to photograph VIA 146 in Toronto on July 4, 1981.

For safety’s sake, I rarely took nose shots, but sometimes a locomotive would be sitting still, or I would use a telephoto lens from a safe location.

Here are a few different 30-plus-year-old “noses” taken within a day’s drive radius of Akron.

Photographs by Robert Farkas