"Via Rail says recent train cancellations along its Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor were in response to "heightened operational pressure." A number of trains between Toronto and Ottawa, Ottawa and Montreal, and Montreal and Ottawa were cancelled "end-to-end" Monday due to what Via Rail's live tracker called "operational constraints." Pressed for details, the federal Crown corporation declined to be interviewed but said via email that the cancellations are a short-term measure meant to "protect service reliability" during what's expected to be a challenging time."
"Terry Johnson, president of the citizen advocacy group Transport Action Canada, said Via Rail appears to be keeping some trains in reserve to prevent last-minute trip cancellations. "By keeping a deeper bench, as we might say in sports terminology, they are hoping to get to the end of the game," Johnson said. Via has made a number of last-minute cancellations in the last two weeks, he added."
"On Wednesday afternoon, Via executives will face questions from members of Parliament's standing committee on transport, infrastructure and communities. The topic of conversation is expected to be "Improving VIA Rail's Safety and Customer Service." The meeting will come two months after Via Rail passengers were stranded overnight on a train stopped at Brockville, Ont., between Ottawa and Toronto. "We have directed that they get much better at [dealing with] issues that may arise on a line," Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said at the time."
Via Rail canceled multiple trains end-to-end on the Toronto–Ottawa–Montreal corridor, citing heightened operational pressure and operational constraints. The cancellations are described as a short-term measure to protect service reliability during a challenging period. Severe weather forecasts and an expected increase in passenger traffic around Ontario's Family Day weekend prompted a temporary reduction in scheduled service to keep additional trains in reserve and limit prolonged delays. Transport Action Canada noted that keeping reserve trains aims to prevent last-minute trip cancellations. Via executives will face parliamentary questions on safety and customer service following recent passengers stranded overnight at Brockville.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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