Does VIA really "thank" the Vets?

[Kip Powick]

The true colors of Via Rail are revealed ....

Via Rail deal has fatal flaw, veteran says

By MARC HUDONhudon.marc@dailygleaner.com

Published Tuesday April 1st, 2008

OTTAWA - A promotion by Via Rail that allows Canadian Armed Forces personnel and National Defence employees to ride the train for free in July makes it difficult for veterans to save money on overnight trips, says a former soldier.Retired major Claude Soucy, 70, of Moncton served as a peacekeeper in Pakistan and Cypress. He said he and his partner, who is also a veteran, were contemplating a trip to Toronto this summer by train to visit family.Soucy said he called Via Rail to ask about the promotion.

That's when he discovered a "fatal flaw.""Veterans are not allowed to purchase, at their expense, an upgrade to a compartment, berth or roomette," he said."This means that a veteran will have to sit in coach class during his entire journey to Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver or wherever."Last week, Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon and Defence Minister Peter MacKay, along with officials from Via Rail, touted the offer as the company's way of thanking Canada's men and women in uniform.

"It may be harsh to state that (they are) trying to boost their image at the expense of veterans," said Soucy. "However, simply allowing the veterans to purchase an upgrade when taking advantage of the program can rectify this oversight."Thompson said he wasn't aware of the restrictions when the announcement was made."Maybe there is some sort of compromise our veterans can be given by Via Rail," he said.He said the terms and conditions of the promotion are the responsibility of the locomotive company.

Catharine Kaloutsky, a spokeswoman for Via Rail, said the popularity of the offer prevents the company from providing a place to sleep to aging veterans."Recognizing how popular we were anticipating the fare to be received, the only space we would be able to accommodate the numbers we are expecting is in economy class," she said.Kaloutsky dismissed the notion that the promotion prevents older veterans from taking overnight trips."Understandably, they may not be interested in making a trip across the country," she said.The deal also allows Forces personnel to bring up to five family members on the trip at half the regular cost.Through the promotional offer, Soucy and his wife can travel in coach class from Moncton to Toronto for free. The same ticket, including the least expensive sleeping quarters available, would cost just under $1,000. The trip by train takes more than 20 hours.Similarly, a veteran and non-military spouse travelling from Moncton to Winnipeg using the promotion would pay $612 roundtrip for more than 50 hours spent on the rails. The trip also includes a one-night layover in Toronto at the travellers' expense.The same ticket with the least expensive available sleeping quarters would cost $2,925.By comparison, two seniors can fly with Air Canada from Moncton to Toronto roundtrip for $883 or to Winnipeg and back for $1,509.Soucy said the fanfare surrounding the promotion isn't fitting."It's just not even close to being a genuine offer for veterans," Soucy said.

[Timothy]

It will be interesting to see if Amtrak picks up on this and if there would be any reciprocity. A lot of us "paid our dues" to Uncle Sam some 40 years ago. However, I'm not very optimistic about this.