Ontario Court Injunction Ineffective in Halting Protest
TORONTO – VIA Rail updates that passenger train service in Southern Ontario continues to be impacted by an ongoing blockade near Bellville Ontario.
Tyendinaga Mohawk people are blocking the rail lines in support of the land protectors in British Columbia on We’tsuwet’en traditional territory. The Tyendinga Mohawk say they will continue their action until Royal Canadian Mounted Police leave We’tsuwet’en territory.
On Friday, CN rail, which operates the rail lines that VIA Rail trains travel on got a court injunction to end the protest. However, today marked the fifth day and third day since the Ontario Court granted the injunction that rail service has remained blocked.
VIA Rail Update February 10, 2020 – 6:15pm
Due to the blockade near Belleville, Ontario, train service between Montreal and Toronto and between Ottawa and Toronto is affected in both directions. None of the trains on these two routes will operate until the issue is resolved. We are asking passengers to check our online tools for departures and arrivals updates.
- Services continue to operate between Ottawa and Montreal, between Montreal and Quebec City, and west of Toronto in Southwestern Ontario.
- The following trains of Feb 10, 2020 have been cancelled: 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51 (between Ottawa and Toronto only), 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,67, 68, 69, 644, 645, 646, 647, 668, 669, 650 and 651.
- The following trains of Feb 11, 2020 have been cancelled: 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 50, 51 (between Ottawa and Toronto), 52, 53, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 644, 651. Next update to this list scheduled for February 11 around 9am.
- Please note that train 51 will operate between Montreal and Ottawa but canceled between Ottawa and Toronto only.
VIA Rail will be automatically refunding all segments affected by this service disruption. Please note that your refund may take up to 10 days to process.
Although we remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached, in view of the current uncertainty, reservations can be canceled for a full refund with no service charges up to two days prior to the departure date by calling our VIA Customer Center at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888 842-7245), TTY 800-268-9503 (deaf or hard of hearing). This refund applies to all services affected by the blockades as well as related connections.
