April 21, 2005

Via Rail Smartens Up Atlantic Canada Ocean Service with New Easterly
Class: A Maritime Learning Experience
New Educational Program and Other Added Amenities to Commence June 1

MONTREAL, April 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Starting June 1, VIA Rail Canada will be relaunching its overnight Easterly Class service on the Montreal-Moncton Halifax train, the Ocean, creating a rail journey that immerses travellers into the romance of the Maritime provinces. Educational and enriching, the new and improved Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience will celebrate this history-rich region while pampering passengers with the amenities they'd expect from a premier class sleeper service. Operating June through October 31 of 2005 and May through October beginning next year, the new Easterly Class service will be a seasonal upgrade to the Ocean's already existing Comfort Sleeper class, which will continue to run year-round. For passengers departing from Montreal or Halifax, the features of the new Easterly Class will be apparent even before getting on the train. Prior to boarding, the excursion's Learning Coordinator -- a new position created to organise and implement the new Easterly Class' educational components - is introduced as host, ascertains passenger expectations, and previews the experience as a whole. Once aboard, a welcome sparkling wine toast will be
offered in the Dining Car to passengers boarding the train in Montreal, Moncton or Halifax. Throughout the ensuing journey, the Learning Coordinator will be available to provide insight and commentary relating to the scenery and area through which the train is traveling. In addition, the Learning Coordinator will invite Easterly Class passengers to attend brief lectures covering a wide range of topics related to Maritime Canada, such as history, culture, geography, regional cuisine and dress. Enticing "tales of the rail" will also be presented, and travelers are invited to participate in hands-on activities designed to introduce them to Atlantic Canada's arts and craftwork. Another feature exclusively for passengers in the new Easterly Class is the use of VIA Rail's signature tail-end panoramic Park Car with a charming, elevated domed viewing area from which passengers can watch the scenery roll past. Downstairs, they will also have sole access to the Park Car's two lounges. The Mural Lounge - so named because it features a wall mural by a Canadian artist - features table seating and a bar, making it ideal for a refreshing cocktail and friendly conversation with fellow passengers. The
Bullet Lounge is the place to relax over tea, coffee or a magazine. The inception of the new Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience will mark the first time that the Park Car / Domes are available on VIA Rail's
Renaissance equipment. Décor aboard the new Easterly Class section of the train will also be revamped. The service's Renaissance equipment will feature Sleeper Cars with Maritime-themed artwork - a separate theme for each car. Sleeping accommodations amenities include comfortable duvet bedding, plump pillows,
towels and a shower kit, bottled water, and chocolates. Deluxe double bedrooms include showers in the in-suite restrooms. Other rail cars will also be decorated with artwork representative of the region, including the train's elegant yet unpretentious Dining Car. Here, the dining experience itself has also been enhanced. Dinner, which will be included in the ticket price for Easterly Class passengers, will feature impressive cuisine inspired by local specialties and products, and a variety of fine Maritime wines available for purchase. Menus include information about the century-long history of the Ocean service, as well as the Maritime destinations that influenced the meal selections for that evening. As dusk turns to evening, diners discover the romantic nostalgia of overnight rail travel as they enjoy a mouth-watering meal while the picturesque vistas roll past. Breakfast in the morning will also be included in the price of Easterly Class tickets.

For tour programs that showcase Easterly Class: A Maritime Learning Experience, please visit the package section of VIA Rail's website at www.viarail.ca/packages, and select "The Ocean" from the drop-down menu in the "VIA Rail Trains Featured" section. To purchase tickets or for more information on all of VIA's fares and products, please visit VIA's website at www.viarail.ca, call 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245), TTY ( 1-800-268-9503) or contact your travel agency.

As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient and cost effective passenger transportation services. Serving more than 450 communities across Canada, demand for rail services continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and
convenient travel choice.

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For further information: Seychelle Harding, Public Affairs, (514)
871-6119; Marc Deschênes, Marketing, (514) 871-6378/

VIA RAIL CANADA INC. - More on this organization