Via Rail announces Boxing Day cancellations on Toronto to Ottawa, Montreal routes

Officials with Via Rail Canada have announced trains along the organization’s Toronto-Ottawa and Toronto-Montreal routes will be cancelled on Boxing Day.

The news was posted on Via Rail’s Twitter account and on its website Sunday evening.

“Due to the ongoing impact of the CN train derailment which occurred on December 24 and led to train cancellations between Toronto and Ottawa and Toronto and Montreal on Dec. 24 and 25, Via Rail is forced to cancel again all trains which were scheduled on these routes on Dec. 26,” the brief statement said.

The website said the following trains and train trips on Monday are affected: 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 645, 668 and 669.

Twitter users peppered Via Rail with questions about service restoration as well as rescheduling and/or refunding tickets. There were also concerns raised about the timeliness of communications.

RELATED: VIA cancels Christmas Day trains after hundreds stranded nearly 24 hours due to storm

It didn’t provide further information on the clean-up efforts after a blizzard caused damage along the main corridor Via Rail uses, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded near Cobourg and at other points. The statement also didn’t say how much longer it would take before rail service is restored.

Via Rail confirmed in a statement to CityNews that nine trains became trapped in the area after sustaining damage from falling trees. Another seven trains were forced to be cancelled altogether.

“From power outages to trees on the tracks and even a tree falling on a locomotive, conditions make it impossible to move some of our trains,” a statement issued on Saturday said.

“Our first priority is the safety of our passengers and, although stopped, our trains are able to keep passengers warm and safe while on board.”

Officials later confirmed all passengers had safely reached their final destinations by Saturday evening.

For the latest information on Via Rail delays and cancellations, click here.