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The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 13, 1996 - A3

So

THE TRAIN call of “all aboard" is taking a more upbeat tone now

that VIA Rail is changing its schedule to an all-daylight run to bet-

ter target the tourism market and to make the train more appealing
to locals. The new schedule comes in the end of April.

VIA hopes to make money

VIA RAIL hopes to wipe out an operating loss
of $5.75 million a year with a new summer
schedule and service for its Skeena run begin-
ning the end of April.

Ivll be operating an all-daylight run between
Prince Rupert and Prince George to make il
more altractive for tourists and to draw more lo-
cals,

Passengers will board the train in Prince
Rupert at 8 a.m., ending up in Prince George at
8:10 p.m..

Heading back west, they'll get on in Prince
George al 7:45 a.m., arriving in Prince Rupert at
Span

Right now VIA leaves Prince Rupert before
noon and arrives in Prince George late in the
evening.

Those beading west have lo get on in Prince
George very carly in the morning, arriving in
Prince Rupert in late afternoon.

VIA marketing rep Joe Volk says the 16-week
summer schedule should appeal to tourists inter-
ested in.scenery and for Jacals who want more
convenient train times. "Ss

“The bottam line is we have to improve the
viability of the service,’’ said Volk in noting
that the Skeena service now recovers only 13
per cent of its costs.

Bul there is a cost to all of this — the Skeera
will overnight in Prince George, meaning those
who want to continue to the end of its run in
Jasper must spend the night in Prince George.

And passengers heading east past Jasper will
have to spend another night there —~ as they do
now — if they want to continue on VLA’s main-
line passenger service into Edmonton,

All this will add to the growing tourist market
in the northwest and Volk is confident locals
will accept the Prince George overnight require-
ment,

“We'll be working very bard on marketing to
make all of this achievable,’ he said.

Volk’s particularly happy with the new sched-
ule, saying it'll be easicr for people to connect
in Prince George with the B.C. Rail passenger
service that runs south through the Cariboo to
North Vancouver.

The federal crown corporation is also bringing
in two fare rates for the summer schedule.

The existing fare of 378 one-way between

. Prinee Rupert and Prince George will remain as

an economy rate but there will be a new tourist
class fare of $139.

Those travelling economy won't be able to en-
joy the dome car but those who pay the tourist

plus tax

rate will.

“We had to put a value added product on for
the summer,”’ said Volk of the coming dome
car restriction.

He said VIA employees will be diplomatic in
explaining the dome car ban for economy pas-
sengers.

Those who pay the tourist rate will have hot
meals provided at their seats.

Economy can bring their own food or pay for
sandwiches at their scats.

The way meals are prepared will also change
with the new service.

While the current dome car will stay in ser
vice ils galley won't operate and the dining area
will be converted toa sitting area.

Hot meals wiil come out of a galley located in
the tourist class passenger car.

All this means there will be three cars — one
for economy passengers, one for tourist class
and the dome car.

The new service will receive several test runs
involving northwestern tourism officials and

dipnitaties before it cumes into service.

Economy class passengers will still reccive
discounts by buying tickeis in advance. There is
no discount for tourist class passengers.

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with the purchase
of regular

A&W Fries

or Onion Rings.

Ahh, the Mozza Burgers. A specially seasoned patty, topped with real

mozzarella, crisp smokey bacon and fresh toppings. And now you can

enjoy it for this very special price, every Wednesday

until March 24. So hurry in to A&W.

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638-0100

Skeena Mall, Terrace
635-3332

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www.kermode.net
Installations

Repap staging
claims survey

SKEENA CELLULOSE/REPAP is conducting an opinion
Survey through the area to determine how people feel
about land claims,

It follows one done last year by the company and the in-
formation is used to develop ils own position on the topic,
says company spokesman Derrick Curtis.

No numbers were immediately available on how many
people polling company Angus Reid contacted but the area
covered takes in the Kalum and Kispiox forest district
areas,

The survey also asks people if they are native or non-
native. That’s so Skeena Cellulose can determine how dif-
ferent groups of people feel about land claims, said Curtis,

“We wanted to do one now that the Nisga’a negotiations
are at the point of the agreement in principle and with the
(Gitksan) accord in the Hazeltons,’’ he said.

Skeena Cellulose has culting rights in both forest district
areas that'll be affected by land claims settlements.

“We want to have information on how we can become
pro-active on land claims — do we support the process,”’
said Curtis.

The company employs as many nalives as possible —
half of its Camaby mill workforce is native, for instance —
and so wants to ensure its own position reflects public atti-
tudes, he continued.

“If we promote native employment or contracts the flip
side is the while people ask us what we’re doing,’? Curtis
added.

The questions are different in the Hazeltons than around
here because of the particular issues surrounding claims
talks in those areas.

Real meal deal

VIA RAIL’S new plan to increase revenues on its
Skeena passenger train will change slightly over the
fall and winter months,

The new daylight schedule will continue but the
tourist class fare won't exist during the off season.

Aud the new way of serving meals to passengers in
their seats will revert back to what’s in place now —a
galley and dining room area in the Skeena’s dome car,
says VIA marketing rep Joe Volk.

Passengers will stay have to overnight in Prince
George but there is a chance that the Skeena schedule
can change slightly to make a same-day connection
with VIA’s mainline passenger service in Jasper.

If that latter happens, passengers won’t have to spend
the night in Jasper as they do now, said Volk.

“There are all kinds of possibilities we're explor-
ing,” he said last week.

Volk’s also anticipating being able to establish the
winter run as a way for people to travel to ski destina-
tions and for other winler outdoor activities.

“There were limes literally when there were more
crew than passengers and we have to change that,’’ he
said,

But one thing won’ change — the plan to ban smok-
ing in the bar area of the dome car beginning this sum-
mer will continue on in the winter.

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