Natalie Crenna, like many others, relocated from a major city to a smaller town during the COVID-19 crisis in search of affordable housing and proximity to her family. However, the rising cost of train tickets to Toronto is now prompting her to consider moving back. Despite not being required to return to the office, she finds the $1,200 monthly expense for commuting unsustainable from Belleville, Ont., where she works at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Numerous passengers have voiced concerns to CBC News about Via Rail’s pricing impacting their travel habits. While overall ticket prices have not drastically increased, the dynamic pricing model and limited options leave frequent travelers with no choice but to pay more for their commutes to major cities such as Toronto.
Via Rail clarified in an email to CBC News that their pricing strategy is based on factors like train occupancy and proximity to the departure date. Booking in advance, typically two weeks prior, and opting for off-peak travel times are recommended for securing lower fares. However, for individuals like consultant Richard Stoltenberg, whose travel plans are often unpredictable, last-minute bookings can result in significantly higher costs, sometimes close to $200 for a round trip.
Despite Via Rail’s assertion that their fare adjustments align with inflation and rising expenses, the implementation of a more flexible pricing system in late 2023 has led to fare fluctuations. Tim Hayman, of Transport Action Canada, highlighted that while the changes brought positive aspects like seat selection and increased flexibility, they also introduced more complex yield management strategies to maximize revenue.
The absence of commuter-centric offerings, such as reduced train schedules and discontinued commuter passes, has further exacerbated the challenges for regular travelers. While Via Rail offers discount cards for frequent travelers, these savings may not apply to the lowest fare class or other promotional offers, diminishing their value for some passengers.
Commuters like Sonja Smith from West Lorne, Ont., are feeling the financial strain, noting that the affordability of rail travel has diminished for them. Despite Via Rail’s suggestion to book trains during off-peak times for lower fares, this may not be feasible for commuters like Crenna, who rely on specific train schedules for their daily commute.
The lack of flexibility and affordability in Via Rail’s pricing structure has left many passengers, including Crenna, feeling that long-term commuting with the service is increasingly unfeasible. The removal of flexibility and affordability has made it challenging for commuters to sustain their travel patterns with Via Rail.