Via Rail cancels dozens of trips on Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto corridor this week due to ‘operational constraints’

A VIA Rail passenger train arrives at the Fallowfield Station in Ottawa on January 26, 2026. (CTV News Ottawa)

Via Rail cancelled seven more trains along the Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto corridor on Tuesday, as the Crown corporation deals with a period of “heightened operational pressure.”

Eight trips in the Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto corridor were cancelled on Monday, and Via Rail’s website shows 35 trains on eight routes have been cancelled this week.

“This train has been cancelled from end to end with no alternate transportation due to operational constraints,” says a message on the Via Rail website for each cancelled trip.

CTV News Ottawa asked Via Rail on Monday why it was cancelling trains.

“These cancellations are a short-term measure to protect service reliability during a period of heightened operational pressure,” Via Rail said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.

“Severe weather expected this week, combined with increased ridership around the Family Day weekend, necessitates temporarily reducing service to keep additional trains in reserve to limit the risk of prolonged delays.”

Via Rail said all passengers affected by the decision to cancel trains have either been “rebooked or refunded at no cost.”

Here is a look at the cancelled Via Rail trips.

Each trip is listed as cancelled on the Via Rail website’s arrivals and departures train schedules.

Ottawa-Toronto corridor

• Train 641 departing Ottawa at 4:13 a.m.  (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
• Train 53 departing Ottawa at 11:43 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
• Train 54 departing Toronto at 5:38 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
• Train 644 departing Toronto at 1:23 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Ottawa-Montreal

• Train 31 departing Montreal at 6:20 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,
• Train 38 departing Ottawa at 5:55 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

Montreal – Toronto

• Train 61 departing Montreal at 6:45 a.m. (cancelled Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday,
• Train 68 departing Toronto at 5:08 p.m. (cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

On Sunday, Via Rail cancelled Train 38 from Ottawa to Montreal and trains 44 and 54 from Toronto to Ottawa.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities will discuss “improving Via Rail’s safety and customer service” during its meeting on Wednesday.

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