OTTAWA– Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez has actually provided Via Rail a due date to make some modifications adhering to a train hold-up that left travelers stranded over the weekend break.
Rodriguez informed Via Rail in a letter it has thirty day to upgrade its emergency situation monitoring activity strategy and he motivates it to collaborate with Transport Canada to set up an upgraded interactions method in the very same time-frame.
He’s additionally requesting for an independent examination right into the occurrence in which travelers were stranded for 10 hours as they lacked food, water and functioning bathrooms.
Rodriguez called the occurrence “unacceptable for Canadians” and asked that Via Rail’s board “report to me on the corrective actions to be implemented.”
The upgraded strategy has to give information concerning interaction with travelers, he stated.
“Via Rail must also explain how it intends to provide basic care of passengers (e.g., potable water, food, functioning toilets) and other services, such as a reliable access to telephone and internet connectivity, by looking at alternative solutions.”
Rodriguez stated he additionally anticipates the strategy to “clarify the level of compensation to passengers when such disruptive events occur.”
He kept in mind Via Rail formerly stated it had actually resolved concerns adhering to comparable disturbances throughout the 2022 holiday, however he stated that strategy “failed” when examined last weekend break.
Via Rail stated in a declaration the size of time travelers were stuck on the train is “unacceptable.”
The Crown firm states it will certainly appoint an independent evaluation and has actually currently begun executing numerous procedures.
It formerly validated a train damaged down in between Montreal and Quebec City after experiencing 2 successive mechanical concerns.
Rodriguez stated in his letter he is “concerned that a breakdown happened with a new fleet,” and desires “to be sure Via Rail is taking the right steps, including working with suppliers, to fix the problem.”
This record by The Canadian Press was very first releasedSept 5, 2024.
— With data from Mickey Djuric
Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press
