Ever wonder what it’s like to work aboard a VIA Rail train? I asked Patrick Du Sablon, an old friend, to answer some questions about his years as an S.S.A. (Special Service Attendant) on the Montréal-Toronto route.
What did you like about your route?
While working on that route, I met people from across the country and from all around the world. At VIA Rail, we have a wide variety of passengers (families, students and seniors) travelling in Business class.
Passengers in Business class are mainly business people or people going on vacation. They choose to travel by train because they want to work before an important meeting or relax during their vacation. I tried my best to make them feel as comfortable as possible, so they could be fresh and ready for work – or relaxed for the start of their vacation.
What was your average day on board like?
In the morning, the crew caller (the person who assigns the attendants) called me to give me my “trip”, according to a first-in-first-out system based on my previous trip.
Before the trip, I would meet all the attendants working on the train at the departure station for a briefing with the service manager about boarding procedures, onboard service, passengers requesting special needs, and of course, security procedures.
After, I would go to the ESC (Employee Service Center) to restock my supplies (food, beverages, cups, etc…). This is a very important step because once the train leaves the station, there is no turning back so you can’t leave anything at the station!
Then I would go to my specific train car to verify if anything needed fixing before departure. I checked to see if the P.A. system was working, if the fridge and freezer were set at the right temperature, and if the security doors were functioning properly.
When everything was ready, we gave the green light for boarding.
I either greeted passengers at the door or assisted them in finding their seats and stowing their luggage inside the car. Once everybody was onboard, the train would leave the station. At that point, I would go through the emergency procedures with the passengers.
Then, with the other attendant, we would start serving snacks, beverages and meals. We had to be very organized because we had passengers getting on and off the train at intermediate stations. We wanted to make sure they had enough time to enjoy and finish their meals.
In Toronto, once people got off the train, me and the other attendant would unload the rest of our supplies at the ESC in Toronto. Then we either stayed in a hotel for the night or caught the train going back to Montréal.
What’s your favorite aspect of the job?
My favorite aspect was how grateful passengers were when they arrived at destination. Satisfied passengers is instant gratification for me!
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you on board?
My funniest trip was with a group of Japanese tourists. At the beginning of the trip, I asked the Japanese tour guide to teach me some Japanese words so I could serve the passengers in their own language. The passengers were really surprised that I knew a bit of Japanese and wanted to engage in conversation with me! I told them I only knew a little bit of Japanese.
The passengers found I was going the “extra mile” to serve them and I really think they liked my efforts. I still remember some words: Hajimemashite (pronounced: hah-jee-meh-MOSH-teh) means: Nice to meet you!
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