Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Via Rail has cancelled seven more passenger trains along the busy Ottawa–Montreal–Toronto corridor on Tuesday, citing what it describes as a period of “heightened operational pressure.” The latest cancellations come a day after eight trips on the same corridor were called off on Monday.
According to information posted on Via Rail’s website, a total of 35 trains across eight different routes have been cancelled so far this week. For each affected service, passengers are being notified that the train has been cancelled from origin to destination, with no alternative transportation available due to operational limitations.
Responding to queries on the issue, Via Rail said the cancellations are a temporary step aimed at maintaining overall service reliability. The Crown corporation pointed to a combination of anticipated severe weather conditions and increased passenger demand ahead of the Family Day long weekend as key factors behind the decision.
Via Rail explained that reducing the number of scheduled trips allows the company to keep additional trains in reserve, helping to minimize the risk of extended delays across the network during periods of disruption.
The railway operator added that all impacted passengers have either been rebooked on alternative services or provided full refunds at no extra cost.
The cancelled services this week include multiple trains operating between Ottawa and Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, as well as Montreal and Toronto, with some routes seeing repeated cancellations over several consecutive days.
Earlier, on Sunday, Via Rail had also cancelled select services between Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto, signalling ongoing operational challenges on one of the country’s most heavily used rail corridors.
Meanwhile, the issue of rail reliability is set to receive political attention, as the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities is scheduled to discuss measures to improve Via Rail’s safety standards and customer service during its meeting on Wednesday.
