Trains are full and planes are flying as Christmas travellers pass through Ottawa

The Ottawa Via Rail station was busy Monday as train travellers head off for Christmas destinations. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

The holiday rush is on with roads, airports, and train stations all busy, as people make their way home for the holidays.

This week has some of the busiest travel days of the year in Ottawa with families reuniting for Christmas.

Ottawa’s Via Rail Station was bustling with passengers and pick ups on Monday.

“I’m just done my studies for the term, heading back to London, Ontario,” explains Likenson Gibson. “I’m looking forward to going home. I miss my family. I miss my sister.”

Via Rail officials say most trains on their lines are running at full capacity ahead of Christmas.

Jesse Thaul said it was a surprise for him to see the line quickly build, as he waited for his train to Kitchener-Waterloo.

“We got the tickets in advance, but I’m thinking it looks like we weren’t the only one with this idea,” he says.

Mark Bray says he’s on his way to see family and chose the train because that’s often how he travels.

“I take the train quite a bit,” he explains. “I find it’s safe and quick, and it’s an easy way to travel.”

And there are many people welcoming family to eastern Ontario for the holiday season. At the station, Juannittah Kamera is picking up her cousin, who is travelling in from Texas. She says they’ll spend Christmas at her Petawawa home.

“Very excited. I have the next two weeks off to enjoy the holidays with family,” she says. “I have lots of family coming.”

Barni Mlambo says it’s the first time they’ve seen each other in two years.

“It means a lot,” he says. “I’m really happy, joyful to be here. I’m a little worried that it’s cold, but, you know, and for the sake of family, we’ll deal with the cold.”

At the Ottawa Airport, officials say roughly 18,000 people a day will fly in and out of the city before Christmas.

Throughout the day Monday, a steady stream of eager travellers said their destinations are widespread.

Ida Dickie says she’s flying back to see family on the east coast.

“I’ve been traveling here in Ontario for the last few days because I live in the States now,” she tells CTV News Ottawa. “Really excited to go to Halifax. You step off, you get the breadth of salt air.”

Zuzana Keslerova and her partner’s destination is a bit farther.

“First flight is to Toronto, then to Munich, and then to Prague,” says Keslerova. “So, final destination is Prague.”

The couple is excited to celebrate the holidays and ski but say with a new baby on the way, the celebration of good news also makes the busy travel schedule worth it.

“It’s really a treat to be able to take the time off and fly, and spend time with your loved ones,” she says.

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