VIA Rail unveils sustainability report

VIA Rail Canada Inc. has released a report describing the passenger railroad's sustainability efforts.

The 2016 Sustainable Mobility Report outlines VIA Rail's sustainability achievements and goals across six categories: customer experience, socioeconomic development, safety, environment, general workplace practices and governance.

Since 2009, the railroad has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent, according to the report.

The railroad also has established a new governance framework to ensure a "high level of accountability while helping focus on concrete actions needed to effectively embed sustainable mobility principles into the business," VIA Rail officials said in a press release.

"Sustainable mobility is about contributing to a more sustainable transportation system for Canada in a way that enables economic prosperity, improves quality of life and provides more environmentally responsible mobility options," said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, president and chief executive officer of VIA Rail.