OTTAWA — VIA Rail canceled 19 trains Wednesday, including eight through Ottawa, and warned of delays on the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal route after a freight train derailed in suburban Montreal.
The company said service was still severely disrupted after tracks west of Dorval were closed on Tuesday. Some service has resumed, but congestion continues to cause delays.
The outage was caused by heavy snowfall and the derailment of 12 CN Rail cars at the Taschereau yard in Montreal. CN Rail said the incident did not cause any fires, leaks or injuries. It is working with VIA Rail to restore passenger service as quickly as possible.
VIA Rail had already canceled 14 trains on Tuesday, with other trains facing lengthy delays. The company announced 15 train cancellations Wednesday morning, but later added four more. Cancelled services include:
- Ottawa – Quebec City (VIA 22)
- Quebec City – Montreal (VIA 33, 39)
- Ottawa – Montreal (VIA 38)
- Toronto – Ottawa (VIA 40, 44, 50, 52)
- Ottawa – Toronto (VIA 641, 643)
- Toronto – Montreal (VIA 60, 62, 68)
- Montreal – Toronto (VIA 63, 69, 669)
- Windsor – Toronto (VIA 70, 72)
- Sarnia – Toronto (VIA 84, alternative transportation)
Passengers on cancelled trains will receive a full refund and a bonus credit for future travel.
VIA Rail continues to monitor the situation and will update passengers directly. The company has also offered passengers with travel scheduled for Wednesday the opportunity to cancel their tickets without penalty.