MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada has announced plans to restore most service by June, ending suspensions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the previously announced return of two weekly round trips for the flagship, Toronto-Vancouver Canadian, plans announced last week will see three weekly round trips for the Montreal-Halifax Ocean, tentatively beginning June 3.
Also returning to three weekly round trips will be services between Jasper, Alberta, and Prince Rupert, B.C., as of June 10; Sudbury and White River, Ontario, as of July 14; Montreal and Senneterre, Quebec, as of June 29; and Montreal and Jonquière, Que., as of June 29.
Additional frequencies are also slated for the Quebec City-Windsor, Ont., corridor beginning June 9. VIA says all dates are “subject to change slightly as VIA Rail is currently finalizing details, including access to the infrastructure.”
VIA began suspending service because of the pandemic in March 2020.
The Canadian is nothing more than a tourist train anyway so twice a week is plenty.
For most of its passengers it is, but there are quite a few rural stretches that depend on it for connections to the outside world.
I can live with a twice weekly Canadian. What is unacceptable is three times a week service between Montreal and Halifax. That service should be daily.
Wow, all the way up to two R/Ts, per week. To use the aticle’s term, that’s “service”.
Air Canada could go on strike for a week and get you there sooner.
Thank Mulroney.