VANCOUVER, Feb. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Statement from Steve Sammut, President, Rocky Mountaineer on yesterday's tabling of the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) review in Parliament:
The tabling of the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) Review Report and the resulting four recommendations regarding federally operated and funded passenger rail are welcomed and fully supported by Rocky Mountaineer.
Since purchasing the rail service running between British Columbia and Alberta which was previously owned by VIA Rail in 1990, we have continued to work tirelessly to build a world-class luxury tourist rail experience and brand that is not only synonymous with quality, integrity and service excellence but showcases the authentic and awe inspiring experience of Western Canada s to guests from around the world.
We offer our thanks to the CTA Review Secretariat, The Honourable David L. Emerson, P.C., O.B.C., and The Honourable Marc Garneau, P.C. for highlighting the importance of eliminating the heavy public subsidies on VIA Rail's Toronto-Vancouver service and allowing private Canadian businesses to fairly compete and support the local economies in which they operate.
Rocky Mountaineer remains fully supportive of a healthy, functional passenger rail service in the dedicated Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor where demand and population density exists, and for continuing the public funding for regional and remote passenger rail service. We also welcome the development of a legislative framework that articulates government policy on passenger rail.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to identify future opportunities to grow the tourism industry in Canada and further strengthen our economy.
About Rocky Mountaineer
Since its inception in 1990, Rocky Mountaineer has grown to be the largest privately-owned luxury tourist train in the world and is considered by many as the only way to see the Canadian Rockies. In the past 26 years, the train has welcomed onboard more than 1.7 million guests from around the globe.
With over 65 vacation packages, four unique rail routes, and iconic destinations such as Seattle, WA, Vancouver and Whistler, BC, and the majestic Canadian Rockies in Alberta, the world-renowned train travels by daylight through the diverse landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Rocky Mountaineer has received numerous international awards and accolades for service excellence, including eight World Travel Awards for both "World's Leading Travel Experience By Train" and "World's Leading Luxury Train." In 2015, it was also recognized as a "Top Small and Medium Employer", a "Deloitte Best Managed Company", and the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's "Tourism Business of the Year".
SOURCE Rocky Mountaineer
Image with caption: "Rocky Mountaineer (CNW Group/Rocky Mountaineer)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160226_C7123_PHOTO_EN_630307.jpg
Media only: For more information, or to request an interview, please contact: Shannon Kidd at Rocky Mountaineer at [email protected] or 604-606-8421
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