Via Rail cancels dozens of trips on Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto corridor

Via Rail hit another red signal Tuesday (Feb. 10), cancelling seven more trains along the Ottawa–Montreal–Toronto corridor as the Crown corporation navigates a stretch of “heightened operational pressure.”

After eight trips were sidelined Monday, the disruptions have continued to gather steam — with 35 trains across eight routes now taken off the tracks this week, according to Via Rail’s website.

“This train has been cancelled from end to end with no alternate transportation due to operational constraints,” says a message on the Via Rail website for each cancelled trip.

In a statement to CTV News, the rail company called the cancellations a “short-term measure to protect service reliability” during a period of severe weather and increased ridership brought on by the upcoming Family Day weekend.

Via Rail passengers affected by the cancellations have either been rebooked or refunded at no cost, the company said.

The cancelled Via Rail trips include:

Ottawa-Toronto corridor

• Train 641 departing Ottawa at 4:13 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
• Train 53 departing Ottawa at 11:43 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
• Train 54 departing Toronto at 5:38 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
• Train 644 departing Toronto at 1:23 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Ottawa-Montreal

• Train 31 departing Montreal at 6:20 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,
• Train 38 departing Ottawa at 5:55 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

Montreal – Toronto

• Train 61 departing Montreal at 6:45 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday,
• Train 68 departing Toronto at 5:08 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

The House of Commons transport committee is set to turn its attention Wednesday (Feb. 11) to ways of boosting safety standards and enhancing customer service at Via Rail.

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