VIA Rail cancels 19 trains, warns of delays on trains in Ottawa-Toronto-Montreal corridor on Wednesday

After two snowstorms and a derailment in Montreal, train travellers in Ottawa are dealing with cancelled trips and long delays. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

VIA Rail cancelled 19 trains Wednesday, including eight trains serving Ottawa, and is warning of delays on trains in the Ottawa-Toronto-Montreal corridor following a freight train derailment in a Montreal suburb on Tuesday.

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The Crown corporation says its operations are “still significantly affected” by the closure of tracks west of Dorval on Tuesday. Rail traffic partially reopened in the area Tuesday afternoon, but delays continued Wednesday as VIA Rail and CN work to get trains through the area.

“This shutdown was caused by severe weather conditions and a CN train derailment in their yard,” VIA Rail said in a statement on social media. “Rail congestion caused by this situation, beyond our control, has forced VIA Rail to cancel trains.”

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Fourteen trains were cancelled on Tuesday, and other trains experienced significant delays in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor due to the track closure in Montreal.

VIA Rail’s website initially showed 15 trains cancelled today, but four more routes were cancelled by Wednesday afternoon. The train cancellations include:

• VIA 22 Ottawa to Quebec City
• VIA 33 Quebec City to Montreal
• VIA 38 Ottawa to Montreal
• VIA 39 Quebec City to Montreal
• VIA 40 Toronto to Ottawa
• VIA 44 Toronto to Ottawa
• VIA 641 Ottawa to Toronto
• VIA 643 Ottawa to Toronto
• VIA 50 Toronto to Ottawa
• VIA 60 Toronto to Montreal
• VIA 52 Toronto to Ottawa
• VIA 62 Toronto to Montreal
• VIA 63 Montreal to Toronto
• VIA 68 Toronto to Montreal
• VIA 69 Montreal to Toronto
• VIA 669 Montreal to Toronto
• VIA 70 Windsor to Toronto
• VIA 72 Windsor to Toronto
• VIA 84 (with alternate transportation) Sarnia to Toronto

VIA Rail train 31 from Montreal to Ottawa was originally scheduled to arrive in Ottawa at 8:25 a.m., but was more than two hours late.

VIA Rail says passengers scheduled to travel on a cancelled train will receive a full refund and a travel credit. With cancellations and delays expected on Wednesday, VIA Rail is offering passengers the option to cancel their reservations without fees.

“VIA Rail is closely monitoring the situation,” VIA said in a statement. “Passengers affected will be informed directly. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this situation beyond our control.”

CN Rail says the derailment involved 12 railcars and was contained within its Taschereau Yard in Montreal.

“The combination of extreme snowfall followed by a derailment in CN’s Taschereau Yard in Montreal has created congestion on CN’s network in the Montreal to Toronto corridor,” CN Rail said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“The derailment was contained within CN’s yard and involved 12 railcars. No fires, leaks, or injuries to report. We are working closely with VIA to prioritize their traffic as soon as possible.”

In an update Wednesday afternoon, CN said the derailed railcars had been cleared and the tracks are being inspected.

“Efforts to remove the 50-75 cm of snow that accumulated in the Montreal to Toronto corridor are on-going. CN continues to work closely with VIA to prioritize their traffic. We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to manage the situation.”

The disruption in service in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor comes as VIA Rail works to catch up from delays and cancellations on Sunday and Monday due to the severe weather.

VIA said the snowstorms caused “multiple frozen switches” on the tracks between Toronto and Montreal on Sunday, creating delays and a lack of availability of equipment and crews for trains on Monday. VIA cancelled 16 trains on Monday.