Eastern Ontario mayors are expressing frustration with VIA Rail’s plans to cut several train trips along the Ottawa-Toronto corridor this fall, with the mayor of Kingston warning, “less service leads to less ridership.”
VIA Rail announced changes to nine trains on the Ottawa-Kingston-Toronto corridor effective Oct. 25, including the cancellation of early morning Train 641 from Ottawa to Toronto and a reduction of trips on several routes.
“The revised schedule will better align service with passenger demand, strengthen network resilience and support more reliable and predictable service,” VIA Rail said in a statement.
“Overall, the revised schedule will result in an average of one fewer daily train between Ottawa and Toronto.”
In a post on Facebook, Kingston Mayor Bryan Patterson said he was “incredibly frustrated and disappointed” to hear about the changes to VIA Rail service.
Patterson says Kingston will see the number of trains reduced from 187 to 179 starting Oct. 25, “eight less VIA trains coming into and out of our community each week.”
“At a time when our community is growing, highways are increasingly congested, and people are looking for reliable alternatives to driving, we should be investing in and expanding VIA service—not cutting it,” Patterson said.
“VIA is creating a cycle where less service leads to less ridership, which then becomes a rationale for further cuts. This is not a sustainable approach to building the passenger rail network residents need.”
The mayor of Cobourg called the decision to cancel Train 641 disappointing.
“For many Cobourg residents, VIA Rail is not simply a convenience, it is an important connection to employment, education, family and opportunity,” Mayor Lucas Cleveland said in a statement.
“On behalf of Cobourg Council, I say this decision being taken by VIA is beyond unacceptable for commuters along the vital transportation network.”
In a statement, the Town of Cobourg said it is concerned the service changes this fall “could make passenger rail less accessible and convenient for residents and visitors and believes the potential cumulative impact of schedule changes on communities throughout the corridor warrants further discussion.”
VIA Rail Train 641 travels between Ottawa and Toronto four days a week, departing at Ottawa at 4:13 a.m., stopping in Kingston at 6:16 a.m. and Cobourg at 7:33 a.m., arriving in Toronto at 8:48 a.m.
“Train 641 service will end, but passengers will continue to have an early-morning option to Toronto on Train 41, which will depart Ottawa earlier at 4:56 a.m. and arrive in Toronto at 9:37 a.m.,” VIA Rail said in a statement.
VIA Rail Train 41 currently departs at 5:21 a.m. from Ottawa.
Here is a look at the other changes to the VIA Rail schedule, as of Oct. 25:
- Train 43 from Ottawa to Toronto will be reduced to two days a week (Friday and Sunday), with the Monday trip cancelled.
- Train 44 from Toronto to Ottawa will only run on Tuesday, starting Oct. 25. The train currently runs six days a week, with service Monday to Friday and Sunday. The train departs at 2:23 p.m.
- Train 53 from Ottawa to Toronto will no longer run on Saturday, starting Oct. 25. The train will continue to run Sunday to Friday, departing at 11:43 a.m.
- Train 54 from Ottawa to Toronto will no longer run on Sunday. VIA says the train will operate Monday to Saturday, departing at 5:38 p.m.
- Train 644 from Toronto to Ottawa will run daily starting Oct. 25, up from five days a week this summer.
- Train 645 from Ottawa to Toronto will switch to Wednesday’s only from five days a week, starting Oct. 25.
- Train 647 from Ottawa to Toronto will only run on Sundays, with the Friday trip cancelled.
The fall schedule changes will also see VIA Rail no longer stopping at Guildwood and Malton stations in the Toronto area.
