Auditor General Urges Via Rail to Address Declining Punctuality

Canada's auditor general has urged Via Rail to address its declining on-time performance, warning that persistent delays could erode passenger trust and financial stability, even as the Crown corporation received praise for its overall management practices.

In a report released on March 16, 2026, Auditor General Karen Hogan detailed how Via Rail's punctuality has worsened over the past decade despite efforts to improve service. The corporation's on-time performance averaged 71 percent in 2015 but fell to 51 percent for the full year of 2024, according to Via Rail documents. The trend continued into 2025, with only 30 percent of trains arriving on schedule during the first three months. Hogan emphasized the broader consequences, writing, "On-time performance is a key driver of customer satisfaction. Declining punctuality increases the risk of losing passengers to other modes of transportation, threatens revenue targets and undermines Via's ability to achieve its strategic objectives."

Several external and internal factors contribute to the delays. Via Rail operates on tracks it largely does not own, controlling just 3 percent of its network. The majority falls under the...