Via Rail is launching a new pilot project offering nonstop service between Montreal and Toronto, but trains will not stop in Dorval. The rail operator said the three-month pilot will start Sept. 29 and will include trains 60/50, 61, 68, and 69. “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,” the rail service said in a statement. Via Rail acknowledged the project could inconvenience some customers who rely on intermediate stops. “Before launching this pilot, VIA Rail carefully studied travel patterns at every stop along the Montreal–Toronto route. As part of this three-month test, train 61 will operate as a direct service and will not stop at Dorval.” However, the rail operator noted that Dorval customers will have access to four daily Montreal-Toronto departures, including train 63 at 9:15 a.m., train 65 at 11:17 a.m., train 67 at 1:15 p.m., and train 669 at 6:38 p.m. The company added that Dorval residents can also take the faster direct train from Montreal Central Station. The nonstop trains will bypass several stops in eastern Ontario, including Cornwall and Kingston. “We understand this adjustment may require some customers to adapt their travel plans, and we appreciate their flexibility during the pilot.”
