Railway Items from Local Area Papers - 2025
Ottawa Citizen 1 March 2025
Brockville approves $172,000 for Railway Tunnel lighting
 

Staff wants to avoid equipment failure
 

The city will spend another $172,000 on lighting for the Brockville Railway Tunnel, hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s equipment failure scenario ahead of a significant tourism season.
And while the city expects to spend annually on new tunnel lights, officials hope that annual dollar figure will trend downward.
Brockville council on Tuesday backed a recommendation to spend up to $172,350 on replacement lighting equipment for the tunnel, a popular tourism attraction.
A staff report to council notes the recently approved city budget did not include the proposed tunnel lighting maintenance project, and staff considered it “prudent” to raise the issue before the tunnel opens for the season in the spring.
The tunnel had to be closed for part of last spring, after city workers discovered large-scale damage to the lights inside the attraction.
The constant dripping in the tunnel left mineral deposits on the lenses of the lights, which in turn caused water infiltration, leading to their rapid failure. Meanwhile, water infiltration into the pedestals along the tunnel also took out many of the enablers that drive the facility’s light show.
The tunnel opened in mid-May with a reduced light show as the city awaited delivery of new lighting equipment, and was then restored to its former glory in early July.
While the city expects a better outcome from its new equipment, it also wants to be ready to deal with any unexpected issues, given the massive influx of tourists expected for this June’s Tall Ships Festival.
The tunnel’s lighting system includes 13 kiosks with controls and electrical panels; 728 lighting fixtures; and 26 lighting enablers.
Each kiosk has two enablers that together control 56 light fixtures, notes the staff report.
“Based on the observed rate of equipment failure,” the report adds, parks department staffers are recommending that an annual “generalized rate of replacement of equipment” be determined.
For starters, they suggest the lighting and enabler equipment of one of the 13 kiosks be bought and replaced. That would include 56 lighting fixtures, 56 lighting covers, and two enablers for one kiosk, as well as four spare enablers in case of failures.
“If this season is at all like the previous seasons, we should be prepared to want to change out an entire module,” operations director Phil Wood told council Tuesday.
“That is at least going to give us our best fighting chance to keep the system working, hopefully without interruption, hopefully without gaps, in the coming tourism season.”
Buying the equipment now gives the city a better chance to react, or even replace a section of lights proactively, keeping those that are still working as spares, added Wood.
The maximum of $172,350 would be funded from the city’s fiscal policy reserve, so it would have no impact on the tax levy.
Coun. Jeff Earle bristled at the thought of an annual amount for lighting replacement.
“The way I read the motion in there, is that it meant that we were going to be putting $172,000 a year for the next 13 years,” he said.
Earle calculated a slightly higher average of $200,000 a year for 13 years, which would see the city spend $2.6 million.
But Wood replied that the annual amount for replacement is expected to go down, given the improvements the city has made to guard against water infiltration.
“We’d like to see the attrition rate drop off,” said Wood.

Madawaska Valley Current 18 March 2025

OPINION
For those who are not aware, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that the Township of Madawaska Valley has passed a motion to declare the caboose as surplus and to have it removed from its site. Above: the freshly-painted caboose in 2015. Photo supplied.
This motion was passed in the space of ten minutes by four members of Council (Mayor Mark Willmer and Councillors Mary Blank, Shelley Maika, and David Shulist).
Maintenance costs
It was mentioned that Township money would be needed to take care of the water tower instead. Even though Council continues to claim that the cost to repair and maintain the caboose is prohibitive, I have repeatedly told them that the caboose only requires repainting every five years or so. With the help of volunteers, the only cost would be for the paint. The inside of the caboose does need attention but there is no need to do that right now. 
Historical value
One member of Council pointed out that the caboose is actually CPR and not CNR, and it was the CNR that travelled through Barry’s Bay. I don’t believe that most people who look at the caboose would know the difference, and does it really matter? It is not easy to find a caboose of its 1922 vintage, and this caboose is a beautiful example. Maybe Council should be looking for an Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound caboose. Or a Canada Atlantic caboose. Or a Grand Trunk caboose. All of those railway companies predated Canadian National when they travelled this line.
One Council member said that only the “occasional picture” is taken of the caboose. I’m not sure how this is a known fact. Perhaps I could say the opposite: that every visitor who takes a picture of the water tower also takes a picture of the caboose.
Replace the caboose with ?
Another member of Council said that if the caboose was removed, a hole could be dug, and a post with a sign about “something” could be put in its place.
So, those were the reasons that led Council to pass the motion to get rid of the caboose. To me, it looks like they were struggling to find excuses. I just don’t understand why a Council in a railroad town would want to get rid of an attraction that helps promote the village that was established because of the railroad. A caboose certainly fits in with a train station, a water tower, and a railway park.
Initial expectations for the caboose
When we brought the caboose to Barry’s Bay, it was not expected that we would be its caretakers forever. We did this on behalf of the Council, the village, and the people.  It was always understood that the Township would eventually take it over once we had done all the things that we were capable of. We have now reached that point.
Value of volunteers
It is disappointing that this Council does not appreciate what has been done. This might serve as a caution to volunteers, that you might suffer the same fate,  so choose your projects carefully. I feel bad for all those people who stepped forward to help us, doing what they thought was a good thing, only to be considered misguided by the current Council.
Council would be looking for a group to be in charge of the caboose but this is not necessary. Council can be in charge. It’s not fair to challenge people who are in favour of keeping the caboose by asking them to step forward and take over the project. People are busy with their own lives. Surely, it is obvious that volunteers are getting hard to come by. For example, is there a volunteer group looking after the water tower? Is there a volunteer group managing the arena? And, while we’re talking about the arena, does it show a profit each year? 
Clue to value of caboose
I understand that there are three parties interested in the caboose. This should be a clue to Council that there are people out there who appreciate an old caboose, and the Township will be losing something that has value. To me, this will be a bad legacy for the present Council to leave behind.
Background information
Below is a link to a report that was done in 2012. I suggest you read it. You might find it interesting.
https://madvalleycurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2012-Restoration-Project_web.pdf


Cornwall Standard Freeholder 25 March 2025

Effort to Stop Train Whistles in South Glengarry Falls Off the Rails

Curry Hill Ontario - The whistling won't stop anytime soon.
The Township of South Glengarry council decided to reject a residents' petition at its regular council meeting on Monday, that would have sent South Glengarry on the tracks towards towards rail whistle cessation.
The petition asked the township to request CN stop using whistles near SDG County Road 27 and Fifth Line Road near Bainsville.
The request was received in October, when council tasked administration with preparing a report on the matter.
CN's main line between Montreal and Toronto runs north of Highway 401 through this section of South Glengarry.
It carries most of the company's freight through this portion of the continent, and is also used by VIA Rail for its passenger service between Toronto and Montreal.
Transport Canada allows municipalities to stop train whistles if the sound is a nuisance to residents.
Municipalities must consult with the railway, notify the public, and pass a council resolution.
There is an associated cost to pursuing whistle cessation, as the safety of a level crossing must be improved to make up for trains not whistling as they approach and cross over it.
Ultimately, the administration recommended against whistle cessation.
Primarily because of safety concerns, as well as the cost of moving forward with the changes."We can never effectively replace the use of a whistle," said general manager for infrastructure services Sarah MacDonald.
MacDonald went on to inform council that the local CN track supervisor did not support the change.
Further, it would cost South Glengarry $30,000 just to find out what sort of work would need to be completed to move forward with whistle cessation, such as improving the line of sight near the track.
While South Glengarry council expressed some sympathy for concerned residents, the overall consensus for local decision makers was that without the track supervisor's support, this would be $30,000 down the drain.
"I don't have to put up with the train whistle, unless it's a really foggy overcast day, and then it's sort of a pleasure to hear since it's once in a blue moon that I have to hear it," said Deputy Mayor Martin Lang.
Lang also said that without CN's support, this initiative was going nowhere.
For Julie Bellefeuille, the South Glengarry resident who brought forward the petition, council's decision came with heavy disappointment.
"I understand they're saying it's a safety thing. There's things CN could do to make it more safer, we're on a dirt road, it's not a busy area," said Bellefeuille."
According to Bellefeuille, this is the second time in recent history that South Glengarry has declined to pursue whistle cessation.
A previous request went to council chambers in 2010.

HometownTV12.ca 11 April 2025

Unveiling of the New Athens B&W Railway Station Outdoor Museum Sign April 13th


Athens Brockville, Westport & Sault St. Marie Railway/Brockville, Westport & North-Western Railway original station with B&W #66. – (National Archive-Dale Elliott Collection)

Athens – The Township of Athens and Area Heritage Society invites you to join them for the unveiling of the new Athens B&W Railway Station outdoor museum sign.
It is being held on Sunday, April 13th at 2:00 pm at 30 Henry St, in Athens.

The second Athens Railway Station was built by Canadian National, replacing the original that burned down. – National Archive 1948-Dale Elliott Collection)

Please monitor this event, https://www.facebook.com/events/564225085990275, as it does depend on the weather. If high risk of getting soaked, they will determine and post a new date.
The sign will be placed near the site of the former Athens B&W train station. Trains connected communities between Brockville and Westport along the railroad from 1888-1952.
The unveiling will be near the chip truck. Parking should be available in the rink lot.
This event is intended to be brief. But it is always interesting to hear stories.

BlogTo 4 May 2025 from OK the PK

Forgotten and Abandoned Ghost Town Was Once a Bustling Port


Depot Harbour Ontario - Ontario is a province rife with ghost towns, once thriving communities that met untimely ends.
One such town is Depot Harbour near Parry Sound, which was once a thriving trade port in Georgian Bay that was left abandoned after a devastating fire.
Despite its location near a still thriving community, the ghost town remains one of the most inaccessible in the province.
There are many mysteries to this now desolate town, its history deeply rooted in and ultimately scarred by colonialism.
Here's a closer look inside this forgotten trade port town and what's going on with it today.
 
The Town's Foundation
 
In the late 1890s, one of the largest lumber exporters in North America, John Rudolphus Booth, acquired railways in the area to eventually form the Canadian Atlantic Railway (CAR).
At first, the people of Parry Sound were thrilled to finally be getting a railway that connected them with Ottawa.
But the price tag on the dock fees was too high, so Booth opted to create his railroad haven on the island of Parry Island.
Parry Island was, and still is, home to the Wausauksing First Nations.
Because of legislation at the time stating that you could expropriate native owned land for railway purposes, Booth used his influence to expropriate 314 acres of land.
It's unclear how much he paid for this land exactly, but the deal clearly changed and disrupted the indigenous peoples who lived on Parry Island at the time.
 
A Grainy History
 
With his railroad established and Depot Harbour constructed, Booth established one of the most renowned ports on the Great Lakes.
Because of its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, it was the fastest way to ship anything from the Great Lakes, making it the ideal hub for the grain trade.


At its peak, the town was servicing trains coming in every 20 minutes, both from Canada and the U.S., building two grain elevators, a hotel, boarding houses, homes, stores, and three churches.
The town had just under 2,000 permanent residents, with the population bumping up to around 3,000 during the summer.
Booth expanded his empire and worked to gain a controlling interest in nearly every part of the town, from the railway to the boats that dock in its harbour, to the point that he essentially wielded total control over it.
 
Going Up in Smoke
Unfortunately, this dominance only lasted until the early 1900s when Booth was hit with devastating financial blows due to a lack of government funding for improving the town, and a fire that took out many of his Ottawa lumber mills, and 100 million feet of finished timber.


To maintain his profits, Booth sold off his stock in CAR to the Grand Trunk Railway, where it would later go to the Canadian National Railways.
This transfer and the 1926 closure of a rail yard and roundhouse ultimately kicked off a sequence of events that would transform Depot Harbour into ruins.
The Welland Canal reshaped the balance of Great Lakes shipping just a few years later.
Soon, the grain stopped coming, leaving the town to deteriorate over the decades.
 
What Happened to the Town?

The last ship to dock in Depot Harbour was in 1941 at the height of the Second World War.
In 1945, by the war's close, the grain elevators that were once the port's lifeblood were in the process of being torn down.
This town served as an explosives manufacturer during World War II and contained a warehouse full of cordite, a low-grade explosive that replaced gunpowder for munitions.
Sadly, the war industry that helped sustain the port would help bring about its downfall.
During the demolition, one of the grain elevators caught fire, which blew ash and flame to the nearby town of Nobel.
The ensuing explosion caused by this conflagration was so bright that it was said you could read a newspaper by its light seven kilometres away from the blast.
A coal distribution operation would take over the harbour in 1946, but the town's resurgence was short-lived.
In the 1950s, with the war years in the past, and industry declining, the town began to shut down, first with the closure of the coal dock, then the rail bridge, and then with few jobs sustaining the town, homes were finally sold off for $25.
By the mid-1960s, only three buildings remained.
The final death knell for what was already a long-dead town came when the railroad was finally ripped up in the late 1980s.
It was around this time that the land was returned to the Wausauksing First Nations, who had inhabited it in the first place.
While it served as some justice, they inherited land contaminated with cordite and waters containing sunken ships believed to hold live munitions from its years of war-industry shipping.
The history of Depot Harbour is preserved in the Parry Sound District Museum to this day, and the town is said to be the largest to ever become a ghost town in Ontario.
 
Chris Middleton.

Brockville Recorder and Times 9 May 2025


Railway Tunnel to Open Next Friday

Brockville Ontario - The Brockville Railway Tunnel will open for another season next Friday, the city has announced.
The official reopening of the popular tourist attraction, which was recently subjected to expensive upgrades, has been set for 16 May 2025 at 14:00, with visitors invited to take their first walk of the year through the tunnel after an opening ceremony at the south entrance.
Canada's oldest railway tunnel, enhanced with a light show and music, has become one of the city's top tourist attractions, and officials were eager to get it open ahead of next month's Tall Ships Festival.
Admission is, as always, free, although city officials say donations toward the tunnel's ongoing maintenance are welcome.
 
Recorder & Times staff.


Seaway News 13 June 2025

Preserving Locomotive 1008's Legacy

Morrisburg Ontario - The historic Grand Trunk Railway locomotive 1008 at Aultsville Station received some much needed attention last weekend, thanks to dedicated volunteers and local supporters.
 Despite the rain, the Friends of Grand Trunk Railway 1008 gathered at Upper Canada Village to continue restoration work on the 1910 steam engine and its accompanying passenger coach.
 Stormont Dundas South Glengarry MP Eric Duncan visited the site for a tour and an update on fundraising efforts.
 "Thank you to all the volunteers involved, and to Emard Brothers Lumber, who are celebrating their centennial anniversary this year, for their donation of materials for the refurbishment of the exterior of the passenger coach," said Duncan.
 Built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston, the 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler once served the Grand Trunk Railway and Canadian National Railways.
 Now on display beside Aultsville Station, originally from one of the Lost Villages flooded during the St. Lawrence Seaway project, it serves as an important reminder of Eastern Ontario's railway and local heritage.
 
Jason Setnyk

City News 10 July 2025



Large portion of Carling Avenue to close for rail removal

Posted Jul 10, 2025 01:58:29 PM. Last Updated Jul 10, 2025 02:03:33 PM.

An inactive portion of CN Rail tracks is being removed from a west-end roadway so the city can make it wider and safer.

The City of Ottawa said that a portion of Carling Avenue, from Moodie Drive to Herzberg Road, will close from July 18 to 27 so workers can remove the former CN Rail bridge to make improvements. Before construction began in the area, the roadway was narrowed under the rail overpass, leaving less space for vehicles and cyclists.

The project is expected to take part in three phases, the first being in the next few weeks, until the end of August.

The city is asking people to plan ahead as the bridge and supports will be removed, and reconstruction will take place.

  • A detour will be in place directing traffic to Moodie Drive, Robertson Road, Eagleson Road and Herzberg Road

  • A separate cycling detour will be signed for cyclists to use the Watts Creek Pathway

  • Access to all private driveways and entrances to businesses will be maintained during construction



Railway Age 14 July 2025

Johnstown Ontario - CN eyes a transload network expansion with its Top-Tier Transload Partner Program.
 
CN on 11 Jul 2025 reported eyeing a transload network expansion through its Top-Tier Transload Partner Program, which is said to recognize third-party transloaders "who move significant carload volumes, typically 500 or more annually, and who meet CN's safety and service standards."
These partners, the railroad noted, "offer some of the strongest opportunities to increase rail use across our network and to provide increased access to customers who may not be rail-served today."
 According to CN, partners with "Top-Tier" status have:


Increased visibility across CN marketing platforms and customer channels;

Access to the CN Top-Tier badge for promotional use;

A dedicated CN Account Manager to support growth

Eligibility for future recognition through CN's Top-Tier Partner Awards Program.

CN said it also looks to Top-Tier partners for their feedback, "identifying gaps, and working with us to create new opportunities for customers across North America."
One of the railroad's partners is the Canadian Rail Equipment Works & Services (CREWS) Johnstown, Ontario, facility, which provides industrial switching, transloading, and railcar storage services.
Together, CN and CREWS are said to have grown carload volumes year-over-year.
"Recognition as a Top-Tier Partner has been a significant contributor to CREWS' continued growth," CREWS Vice President, Business Development, and Strategy Tiffany Edwards said, according to CN.
"This designation has enhanced our visibility within the CN network, strengthened relationships with our shared customer base, and supported the ongoing expansion of volumes through our Johnstown facility. We value our partnership with CN and look forward to continued collaboration and shared success."
According to CN, the Top-Tier initiative is part of its broader hybrid transload strategy, "combining CN owned facilities with strategic third party and shortline partnerships" to provide customers with more options and a broader reach.
Shortlines, it noted, play a key role in connecting local terminals to CN's broader network.
"These railroads extend our reach into industrial zones and rural markets, ensuring that more customers, especially those not directly rail served, can benefit from access to transload services," CN reported.
"Shortlines often work closely with CN and transload operators to coordinate first and last-mile movements, support industrial development around rail infrastructure, and enhance service responsiveness for shared customers."
 
Marybeth Luczak



Low Down to Hull and Back 23 July 2025

La Pêche seeks community input for turntable park

What should the municipality of La Pêche do with turntable park in Wakefield?
Expand the swimming area? Renovate the washrooms? Remove the historic turntable or renovate it to become part of the visitor experience?

“We want to do this right,” La Pêche Mayor Guillaume Lamoureux told the Low Down about the park that’s officially known as Parc Roquebrune. “It’s a super important park, so we want it to be welcoming, accessible and adapted to the needs of the community.”

Kingston Whig Standard 24 July 2025

Craig Walker date? - Peter Hendra

Kingstonian's Site Specific Play Travels Back to Birth of K&P Railway

Kinston Ontario - It was a sign that partly inspired writer and director Craig Walker's new site specific play, "Providence", which debuts Friday and runs until 3 Aug 2025 as part of this year's Kick & Push Festival.
Walker, who teaches in Queen's University's School of Drama and Music, would regularly walk along the K&P Trail, starting from the connector located at the end of Dalton Avenue.
On one side of the sign posted at the entrance is a brief history of the Kingston & Pembroke (Kick & Push) Railway and how it got its name.
"On the back of that sign, there's a photo of these workers, three men standing there with shovels, and strangely, a little girl in front of them.
I was going for walks on an almost daily basis with my dog, so I'd see the sign day after day," Walker recalled over the phone Tuesday.
"And while I was on those walks, I would just be thinking about it. Who were these people? Where did they come from? Why was the photo taken, and who took the photo? And I started, in my imagination, coming up with answers to those questions, and I decided, hey, I'd like to write a play about that."
Set in 1875, the year the Kingston & Pembroke Railway opened, Providence is about three immigrant workers, two Irish, one Scottish, and members of their families who are dealing with issues from back home and where they were as they finish the railroad.
Those interactions led to a discussion of what it means to be Canadian, Walker said.
While Walker imagined that the three men in that photo were immigrant workers who helped build the railway, research proved otherwise.
It turns out they were, in fact, maintenance workers, and the photo was taken in 1910, 35 years after the K&P had opened.
"I thought, hmmm, that doesn't really correspond with the story that I've been concocting in my imagination. I think I'll go with a story that I imagined," chuckled Walker.
"I knew that the workers, statistically, would be likely either Irish or Scottish immigrants, because that's who was working on the railway at the time of its construction."
It was a 2017 trip to Ireland that also inspired Walker to write Providence.
Walker and his wife met three men on a pub patio in Galway after learning one of them had a dog named Margaret Atwood.
Walker piped up and told them they were Canadian.
"And then after about an hour, after a few drinks, one of them said something about how is it that you guys, meaning Canadians, can stand to have a monarch as your head of state still," Walker recalled.
Walker argued that the Canadian system worked well, and questioned whether Ireland was now in a better place after all of the lives lost to gain that independence.
"I thought a conversation among immigrants is often going to be about what their relationship is to back home," he said, adding that you never totally escape the place you left.
Walker, meanwhile, has previously directed site-specific plays.
"I find site-specific plays just more exciting. It's more fun," enthused Walker, who'd previously directed a Barefoot Players show set in Skeleton Park.
"It means that that space forever afterwards is going to be animated in your mind, in your memory."
After riding his bike in search of a stretch of the original track, which was spray-painted to look new again, in city limits, he came across an "enchanting" and leafy spot off Hagerman.
"One of the functions of theatre, I think, is to help us re-see the communities in which we live, and that's what I was looking for," he said.
While he had considered staging the play indoors, the opportunity to instead take it outside as part of the Kick & Push was an ideal fit.
"The Kick & Push takes its name from the old nickname for the old Kingston-Pembroke railway," Walker said, "so it seemed a good opportunity for it."
Providence, which also features music composed by John Burge, will be staged 25, 26, 31 Jul 2025 and 1 and 2 Aug 2025 at 18:00, and at 14:00, 27 Jul 2025, 2 and 3 Aug 2025.
Tickets are $30 for the general public.
Go to thekickandpush.com to buy advance tickets or for more information.
 
Peter Hendra.

Radio Canada 27 July 2025  Chelsea déplace une gare de train centenaire

English translation below


La gare de train de Cascades a été construite un peu avant l’année 1920, selon les archives de la Société historique de la Vallée de la Gatineau.

Photo : Radio-Canada / Ann-Sophie Gagné

À Chelsea, des consultations publiques sont en cours au sujet de l’aménagement et la restauration pour la gare de la station de Cascades. L’édifice historique sera déplacé d’ici décembre sur un terrain le long de la Voie Verte près du chemin Mill, selon la Municipalité.
La période de consultation s’étend jusqu'au 15 août. Une première consultation publique a eu lieu plus tôt cette année au sujet du déplacement de la gare.
L’organisme Les Amis de la Voie Verte Chelsea a organisé une collecte de fonds afin de couvrir les frais de transport reliés au déplacement de la gare.
La Société historique de la Vallée de la Gatineau et d'anciens résidents nous ont donné de l'argent pour la mettre en valeur sur la Voie Verte, déclare le vice-président de l’organisme, Alain Piché.

Translation

The Cascades train station was built shortly before 1920, according to the archives of the Gatineau Valley Historical Society.
In Chelsea, public consultations are underway regarding the development and restoration of the Cascades train station. The historic building will be moved by December to a site along the Voie Verte near Mill Road, according to the Municipality.
The consultation period runs until August 15. A first public consultation was held earlier this year regarding the station's relocation.
The Friends of the Chelsea Greenway organized a fundraiser to cover the transportation costs associated with relocating the station.
The Gatineau Valley Historical Society and former residents donated money to enhance its presence on the Voie Verte, says the organization's vice-president, Alain Piché.

Passenger and Politicians Frustrated as VIA Cancels Morning Stops

Kingston Whig Standard via OkthePK 18 September 2025

Kingston Ontario - Due to a change in service, VIA Rail will be cancelling stops in Kingston and other communities, and users are not happy about it.
According to a recent website statement from VIA Rail, beginning 29 Sep 2025, VIA is launching a three-month direct service pilot project on select Montreal to Toronto trains.
Trains 60, 61, 68, and 69 will run non-stop between Montreal and Toronto, and the schedule of train 50 will be reduced.
The change has caused cancellation to morning stops, both east and westbound, in Kingston and other communities between Toronto and Montreal.And commuters are not happy about it.
Kingston resident David Murakami Wood, who regularly uses the train, is extremely frustrated with these changes.
"I take train No. 50 in the mornings, but on 29 Sep 2025 that ends," Wood said.
"I work in Ottawa, but due to family circumstances I have to live in the Kingston area. This train was essential to me, and to many others, and there is no alternative option for those who do not drive."
According to a statement from VIA to passengers affected by these changes, from 29 Sep 2025 to 21 Dec 2025, train 50, which Wood rides, will no longer be stopping in Guildwood, Oshawa, Cobourg, Belleville, and Kingston.
Furthermore, train 50 will operate non-stop from Toronto to Brockville before separating from Train 60.
Passengers will only be able to de-board at Brockville, Smiths Falls, and Fallowfield, boarding will not be offered at these stations.
In a website announcement by VIA, the company said the objective of the project is to offer a direct service between Montreal and Toronto with no intermediate station stops.
Passengers boarding or de-boarding at stations that have been removed from the schedule will be transferred to the next available train, space permitting, and depending on their departure and arrival station.
This means that if there is space available on the next train stopping at both the departure and arrival stations booked by the passenger, they will be transferred to this train.
If that train is already full on this occasion, they will be transferred to the following train stopping at those stations.

VIA Rail Changes in Eastern Ontario
Pilot program as of 29 Sep 2025:

  • Train No. 61: Scheduled from Montreal (06:45) to Toronto (12:03) — will no longer stop in Cornwall, Kingston, Belleville, Oshawa, or Guildwood;

  • Train No. 69: Scheduled from Montreal (16:39) to Toronto (21:48) — will no longer stop in Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Oshawa, or Guildwood; 

  • Train No. 60: Scheduled from Toronto (06:32) to Montreal (11:50) — will no longer stop in Oshawa, Cobourg, Belleville, Kingston, or Cornwall;

  • Train No. 50: Scheduled from Toronto (06:32) to Ottawa (11:21) — will no longer stop in Belleville or Kingston; 

  • Train No. 68: Scheduled from Toronto (17:08) to Montreal (22:14) — no longer stop in Oshawa, Cobourg, Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, or Cornwall.

Wood called this unacceptable.
If he was to take the next available train, as suggested, to his job as professor at the University of Ottawa, he wouldn't arrive until 14:00.
"The weird thing is, there are plenty of trains in the afternoon. I specifically bought a rail pass so I could take this particular train every week and now there saying we'll just put you on a later train. No. I'm not doing that," Wood said.
Wood was a professor at Queen's University but took a job opportunity in Ottawa.
He can't move to Ottawa because of personal medical challenges his family faces and must commute.
Wood has reached out to some authorities regarding this issue.
"I have expressed my concerns with (Member of Provincial Parliament) Ted Hsu's office and our (member of Parliament) Mark Gerretsen, as well as the federal minister of transportation, Anita Anand," Wood said."I was just told by MPP Ted Hsu's office that they have heard from MP Mark Gerretsen that he has already arranged a meeting with VIA Rail to express his concern about these changes."
Hsu responded to the Whig's request for comment VIA email Thursday:
"I've been hearing from a number of constituents who are very concerned about VIA Rail's sudden decision to stop Train 50 service in Kingston. This change was announced without meaningful notice or consultation, and it will have a real impact on residents who rely on morning rail service to Ottawa. I understand that MP Mark Gerretsen is meeting with VIA Rail to discuss this matter, and my office will be following the outcome of that discussion closely."
 
In a recent plea to transport minister Anita Anand, in part, Wood said this: 
"I should also point out that there is no other VIAble alternative for those of us who do not drive or own a car. The private Megabus service also does not arrive before midday. But VIA Rail is not a private company, it is a Crown corporation and should be providing a public service to Canadians. Passenger numbers are dropping, and I do not understand how alienating long-term customers by removing the only morning service between large Ontario regional cities and the national capital is going to remedy this situation rather than making it even worse. Your government has announced a number of investments to improve VIA Rail in the long term, but the immediate problem is that VIA Rail's management acts as though passengers are a problem to be removed where possible, and not customers, and the only reason for their existence as a public service."
He said he has received no response as of yet from the Anand's office.
As much as Wood is disappointed in the change in service, he also sees these changes as deceptive on VIA's part.
"Apart from the personal impact, what I find particularly irritating is the way in which VIA Rail are framing ongoing cuts to services as an experiment in better service. It's straight-up dishonest," he said.
A British native, Wood immigrated to Canada in 2009.
He used the rails in Britain frequently.
"I don't drive a car so public transport for me is really important, Since I came to Canada in 2009, I've always tried to support them and use the railway services, but they make it more and more difficult," Wood said.
Wood said this decision just doesn't make sense.
"With climate change and environmental issues on everyone's agenda, you'd think railways would be invested in and taken seriously," he said.
He described VIA as its own worst enemy.
"They reduce the number of passengers using their services, and then complain about the drop in passenger numbers, when it's them doing it." Wood said.
This isn't the first time Wood has been disappointed by VIA Rail, he said.
He said diminished service has been an issue for years.
Wood wrote a blog about rail services in Canada last year, in which he laid out some of the more general problems and potential solutions.
 
Gerretsen, in a statement to the Whig, expressed his disappointment with the VIA change.
"VIA Rail confirms that it is launching a three month direct service pilot project on select Montreal–Toronto trains. Starting on 29 Sep 2025 VIA Rail trains 60, 50, 61, 68, and 69 will run non-stop between Montreal and Toronto. I'm extremely disappointed by this news and will be engaging in conversation with the minister of transport on this matter. I'm also actively engaged with both VIA Rail and fellow MPs along the corridor to advocate for better service for passengers in Kingston and other affected communities. While the direct Montreal-Toronto pilot aims to test faster travel between these centres, it's essential that regional access remains strong and reliable. Communities like Kingston are not just stops along the way, they are vital hubs of economic, cultural, and social activity that deserve reliable and frequent service," Gerretsen said.
 
Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson has expressed his deep concern and frustration in a meeting with VIA Rail this morning, in what definitely appears to be a cut in service to rail access in Kingston.
"We've got to turn this ship around here. There's a market for travel in this city and I think that rail can absolutely play an important part in that, but it will require partnership, collaboration, and investment by VIA Rail," Paterson said.
To add to his worship's frustration, Paterson said he found out about these changes in service through the media and not directly from VIA.
Paterson said there has been a constant message sent to VIA for years.
"It's not about needing to add more trains. It's about finding a way to create better frequencies and bring back essential morning and late-evening trains," he said.
Paterson said it doesn't make sense that while other companies are increasing their services, VIA is cutting back.
"We know there's a huge market for travel, There's an explosion in bus service. There are new bus companies operating here now, new pick up points at Queen's University. There's been a huge uptake in the landline bus service for Air Canada here. So, we know that the appetite for travel is there. As mayor, I would like to ensure we have a wide range of options, so you can fly, take the train, the bus, or even drive. It just seems that the train option is getting worse and we really need to turn that around," Paterson exclaimed.
 
Late Thursday afternoon, VIA responded to an interview request from the Whig-Standard by issuing an emailed response.
"This pilot is designed to test demand for faster, more efficient, downtown-to-downtown travel, with some trips expected to arrive 30–40 minutes earlier than today's schedule. Communities along the corridor will continue to be served by other VIA Rail trains. Direct trains are being tested to see how we can shorten travel times between major cities while still meeting the needs of all the communities we serve. Adding extra stops isn't as simple as it seems. Schedules are carefully co-ordinated, and unscheduled waits can quickly erase the benefits of a faster service. These tests are about exploring new options, and our goal is to keep strengthening the entire network. By testing faster travel times between Canada's two largest cities, we aim to position the train as the smarter alternative to flying or driving," VIA's statement read.
It acknowledged that some customers may be negatively impacted by the changes.
"Although this pilot project is an exciting opportunity, we recognize this change may inconvenience some customers who rely on intermediate stops. That's why VIA Rail will carefully evaluate the pilot based on ridership, on-time performance, customer feedback, and community impacts. It is too early to determine whether the program will continue beyond this pilot phase," the statement read.
 
Bill Hall.

VIA Rail Trains Providing Service to Ottawa No Longer Experiencing Delays

29 September 2025

Ottawa Ontario - VIA Rail trains providing service in Ottawa are no longer experiencing delays following a disruption on the tracks near Anderson Road on Monday evening.
 
Anderson Road from Ridge Road to Russell Road, as well as Ramsayville Road from Ridge Road to Russell Road, were closed by Ottawa Police Service around 18:30, and trains destined for and leaving the city were experiencing delays, according to VIA's real time tracker.
 
Police reopened both Anderson and Ramsayville Roads shortly after 22:00 on Monday.
 
According to VIA's real-time tracker, trains providing service to Ottawa are now operating regularly.
 
Adam Beauchemin.

Kingston Whig Standard 2 October 2025 via OK the PK 3 October 2025

Kingston to Ask VIA Rail for Commitment to Passenger Service

Kingston Ontario - Two weeks after VIA Rail announced cuts to morning train service to Kingston, and then later cancelled the service changes, city council is to ask the Crown corporation to commit to improving service to communities between Toronto and Montreal.
 
A motion to be considered by council Tuesday night calls on VIA to maintain existing service and enhance train travel in and out of the city through upgrades to the existing station and predictable, enhanced, service.
 
In 2017, city council voted to support VIA's proposal to build a multi-billion dollar high frequency passenger rail line through Southern Ontario.
 
As part of that plan, Kingston was to be major hub for passenger rail through eastern Ontario.
 
Earlier this year, city council withdrew its support for VIA's development of passenger service in the area after a new high speed rail proposal bypassed Kingston.
 
"Since VIA's 2016 commitment to the city, there have been three different VIA presidents and six different Federal transport ministers, all with differing visions for the future of passenger service in Eastern Ontario, particularly Kingston, including the introduction of high frequency rail, followed by the government moving to High-Speed Rail (HSR)," the motion states.
 
"There continues to be a lack of communication from VIA about their plans for the future of passenger rail service in Kingston and neighbouring communities along the corridor."
 
The motion calls for VIA to maintain service levels to the city and to commit to "a forward thinking plan for enhanced passenger rail service in Kingston."
 
The motion also asks VIA to partner with the city and other local municipal governments to conduct a survey to see if there is enough support for a late night train from Toronto.
 
"There is significant community demand for additional travel options, including a late night train departing Toronto for Kingston, to better serve residents returning home from work, cultural, recreational, and sporting events, and to support students and weekend travellers," the motion added.
 
Kingston city council is to consider the motion at its Tuesday night meeting.
 
Elliot Ferguson.



This Page Updated 3 October 2025

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