VIA Rail's mandate is to operate the national passenger rail services on behalf of the Government of Canada, offering intercity rail services and ensuring rail transportation services to regional and remote communities. Its objective is to offer a safe, accessible, efficient, reliable, sustainable and environmentally friendly passenger rail service that meets the needs of Canadian passengers. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and carried over 5 million passengers in 2019.