VIA Rail
VIA Rail has reached tentative agreements with Unifor’s Council 4000 and Local 100, the passenger railroad reported June 20.
The federal conciliation period ended May 31; under Canadian labor law, following a 21-day cooling-off period, Unifor would have been in a legal strike position on June 22.
Council 4000 represents approximately 1,800 employees who work in station services, headquarters, maintenance centers, and onboard trains; Local 100 represents about 700 employees working as diesel engine mechanics, electricians, railcar technicians, and general workers. The groups officially opened negotiations with VIA Rail last October.
The tentative collective agreements are subject to a ratification vote by the union members. Once ratified, VIA Rail said they will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, and remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2027. Only upon ratification will it provide further details.
“We are pleased to have reached these tentative agreements with Unifor,” said Mario Péloquin, President and CEO of VIA Rail. “From the outset, VIA Rail’s management engaged in this round of negotiations in good faith, with the clear objective of reaching a fair and equitable solution that would safeguard the continued delivery of excellent service to all Canadians. This important step reflects the commitment and perseverance of both parties throughout the negotiation process. Our employees are essential contributors to our success, and these agreements will help us move forward together as we continue to serve Canadians from coast to coast with dedication and pride.”
Unifor is said to be Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
Join Mario Péloquin at Railway Age’s Next-Gen Rail Systems Conference (formerly Next-Gen Train Control), to be held Oct. 30-31, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City in New Jersey. Péloquin will be among the featured speakers. Click here to learn more.
Further Reading:
EXO
The second of 10 Charger locomotives from Siemens Mobility for EXO is pictured (above) on a CN train also delivering the 30th new Siemens-built Venture trainsets for VIA Rail Canada to Montreal (nose of the Venture trainset is on the right). Operated in the greater Montreal area, the EXO rail and bus network provides public transportation, with trains operated by Alstom. First announced in 2022, this order for 10 units began delivery in 2024 with the first unit arriving in late December 2024. It is expected that these locomotives will replace the used F59PH locomotives purchased from GO Transit in 2011 currently in operating status.
Further Reading:
- 2025 Passenger Rail Outlook: ‘Murphy Was an Optimist!’
- Montreal’s New CRRC Bilevels Entering Service
CTDOT
HNTB on June 23 reported landing a construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services contract from CTDOT for a series of station improvements along the Waterbury Branch Line, a 28.5-mile segment of Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line serving the Naugatuck River Valley.
The project covers work at five stations: Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Beacon Falls and Waterbury. HNTB said it will oversee the construction of new platforms, ramps and canopies; realignment of tracks; improvements to parking and drainage systems; installation of electric vehicle charging stations; and relocation of a railroad signal hut. The firm will also manage the renovation of the historic Derby Station and build a new passenger waiting room inside the Republican-American building at Waterbury Station.
The notice to proceed is expected this month, with project completion across all stations anticipated by fall 2027.
“We are excited to support our client with this opportunity to enhance rail service and infrastructure for communities along the Waterbury Branch Line,” said Jake Argiro, HNTB’s Connecticut Office Leader and Vice President. “By bringing in top-tier talents in CEI and integrated project controls capabilities, we’re ready to support the state’s most complex infrastructure projects with innovative, efficient and cost-effective solutions.”
“The Waterbury Branch Line upgrades have been a long-standing priority for CTDOT,” HNTB Senior Resident Engineer and Project Manager David Speerli said. “As part of its commitment to modernizing the line, CTDOT has already acquired new coach cars, which will be in service upon project completion, further enhancing the quality, frequency and reliability of service for passengers. These upgrades will align Waterbury Branch stations with the standards of other Metro-North lines, supporting long-term growth and mobility in the region.”
Further Reading:
SEPTA
SEPTA has awarded Intersection a new nine-year contract to sell static and digital advertising, according to the Out of Home media and technology company. Partners since 2005, they have deployed hundreds of digital station platform screens and digital urban panels outside of station entrances across SEPTA.
Intersection in 2018 launched IxNConnect on the SEPTA system, which it describes as a “proprietary software platform that enables transit agencies to manage their digital display networks and customer communications.” Together, SEPTA and Intersection have also created and deployed many multi-year, muliti-million-dollar station naming rights and other long-term sponsorship deals, according to Intersection.
“We’re proud to extend our partnership with SEPTA for another nine years,” said Scott Goldsmith, President and Chief Operating Officer at Intersection, which has also worked with the City of Philadelphia Bus Shelters since 2015, PATCO since 2008, and Amtrak 30th Street Station since 2012. “Together, we’ve brought innovative advertising solutions and real-time information to millions of riders across the Philadelphia region. This renewal reflects our shared commitment to enhancing the transit experience, supporting local communities, and delivering value to advertisers. We’re excited to continue building the future of transit with SEPTA in one of the country’s most dynamic cities.”
TransLink
TransLink’s stepped-up fare enforcement efforts are showing positive results, according to agency, which is responsible for planning, financing, and managing transportation modes and services in the Metro Vancouver region. Among those services: British Columbia Rapid Transit Company, Coast Mountain Bus Company, and West Coast Express.
Enforcement education and checks were ramped up by Transit Security last year as part of TransLink’s $90 million cost-efficiency plan to help address a shortfall of operating funds. TransLink’s goal with the campaign is to deter fare evasion, educate customers on correct fare payments, and improve safety while reducing lost revenue from fare evasion. All revenues earned through the Fare Enforcement Program are re-invested into the transit system.
Following are the fare enforcement results:
- In second-half 2024, fare enforcement checks increased by 80% compared with the first half of 2024. TransLink noted that in second-half 2024, fare enforcement checks tripled compared with the last six months of 2023.
- Since last August, TransLink said it has observed that 50,000 more Adult Compass fare products have been purchased monthly compared with expected purchases (and 50,000 fewer Concession passes have been purchased). This change in behavior, it reported, has resulted in C$3.2 million of additional revenue over a six-month period.
For riders who are unable to pay for transit, TransLink said that resources may be available for free or subsidized transit passes through partner organizations like the Homelessness Services Association of BC. Seniors or persons with disabilities may be eligible to apply for the BC Bus Pass Program for discounted fares, it noted.
TransLink said it will continue to monitor fare evasion rates systemwide.
“Our fare enforcement efforts are making a difference,” TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn said. “Most of our customers already pay their fair share, and we’re pleased to see even more doing so thanks to our education and enforcement initiatives. Fare revenues are essential to funding and improving the transit system for everyone.”
