FREDERICTON, N.B. – A group fighting for better train service in the Maritimes is encouraging people to take advantage of Via Rail’s increased service.
Ted Bartlett is the spokesperson for Transport Action Atlantic and says Via’s move to increase departures of their Ocean line from December 14th to January 3rd is a good way to encourage more people to take train.
“You’ve got to have frequency and promote what you have and Via has made the first steps towards increasing the frequency,” he said.
Bartlett said if more people take the train it could encourage Via to add more departures over the long term.
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The Ocean Line runs from Halifax to Montreal, but over the past couple years the service has been struggling.
In 2012, Via cut its service from six to three days a week.
Despite the cuts, people who use the train say its an essential service, like Moncton resident Ellen Pelletier.
Pelletier is legally blind and says she’s been impressed with train staff.
“Staff have been really good at meeting my needs when I was alone on the train,” she said.
And for people like Kelly Bastarache, who’s grandmother takes the train from Campbellton to Moncton to visit the family during the holidays.
She says its the best way for her to travel.
“She doesn’t have to worry about the road conditions and she gets on the train bright and early in the morning and then she’ll arrive in Moncton after lunch,” she said.
Via says it will analyze the passenger numbers after the holiday season.
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