Trains from Toronto to Ottawa and Montreal cancelled Saturday due to ongoing protest
Posted February 8, 2020 7:32 am.
Last Updated February 8, 2020 10:30 pm.
As many as 150 demonstrators occupied a railway crossing Saturday near Dupont Street and Dufferin Street, forcing a halt to rail traffic through the area.
The blockade is in support of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, who faced raids on Friday from the RCMP on camps set up to stop a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia.
Via Rail trains from Toronto to Ottawa and Montreal were once again cancelled for a second straight day.
UPDATE: Train service between Montreal & Toronto and between Ottawa & Toronto is canceled in both directions on Saturday, February 8. / MISE-A-JOUR: Le service de train entre Montréal et Toronto, ainsi qu’Ottawa et Toronto, est annulé dans les deux directions, samedi, 8 février.
— VIA Rail Canada (@VIA_Rail) February 8, 2020
Via has already cancelled the following trains for Sunday, Feb. 9: 40, 42, 45, 52, 53, 62, 63, 64, 65, 643
Via says it will be automatically issuing refunds for those affected by the cancellations but adds all other trains are prepared to leave on schedule from Toronto to and from Ottawa and Montreal should they achieve clearance of the line and travelers should check the company’s online tools for further updates.
GO Transit service on the Barrie line was also temporarily suspended on Saturday.
Freight rail traffic has also been impacted at several locations across the province.
Canadian National Railway said it has stopped running trains due to a protest at Marysville, which is just east of Belleville, Thursday night after protesters forced the shutdown of rail lines.
RCMP arrested another 11 people Saturday in northwestern British Columbia.
Police say the protesters – who allegedly barricaded themselves in a warming centre in a forested area near Smithers – were violating a court injunction related to opposition to the project.
Police arrested four others Friday.
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have been working to stop construction on the $6-billion natural gas pipeline and their efforts have spurred a national protest movement.
The pipeline is part of the massive $40-billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export terminal project and runs from Dawson Creek to Kitimat on B.C.’s northwest coast.
