VIA Bike Trains Return for the Summer with More departures, More destinations

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 10:07

Travel

MONTREAL - June 7, 2011 - VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that as in previous summers, its bike trains are back! With more departures and more destinations to choose from there are thousands of kilometers of cycling paths waiting to be enjoyed. From Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Quebec City, London, Windsor to Jonquière or Senneterre, VIA's Bike trains make it a simple and worry-free travel experience.

First launched in the summer 2007, bike racks are now available year-round on select VIA Rail departures. With increased baggage cars operating over VIA's network including on the popular Ottawa -Toronto route, customers and cyclists can now connect to even more cycling destinations. Additionally, cyclists travelling to Toronto can continue on to Niagara Falls with their bikes using GO Transit services.

"Whether you're a Sunday biker or a professional cyclist, taking your bike on board with VIA Rail allows you to discover all the culture, history and authenticity of these regions from a whole new perspective," said Steve Del Bosco, VIA's Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. "When you take the train and your bike not only are you helping to reduce our carbon footprint, you can relax and have fun getting there too."

From Quebec's extensive Route Verte (4300km), the Greater Niagara Circle Route (140km), Ottawa's Capital Parkway Network (220km) to any of Ontario's Waterfront Trails (900km), VIA's Bike Trains provide a multitude of cycling destinations to choose from this summer.

To use the bike trains, customers simply check their bikes in at the counter for a small fee. VIA staff handle the loading of the bikes and hand them back to the customers on the platform at their destination. For a full listing of VIA's Bike Train schedules visit http://www.viarail.ca/bike

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's (www.viarail.ca) mandate is to provide efficient, more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective passenger transportation, in the country's two official languages. Every week VIA operates 503 intercity, transcontinental and regional trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500 kilometers route network. The demand for VIA services is growing as travellers increasingly turn to train travel as a safe, hassle free and environmentally responsible alternative to congested roads and airports.

Follow VIA on Twitter at twitter.com/via_rail. Check out VIA's new Facebook page at facebook.com/viarailcanada.