Via Rail Cuts Have Local Impact

Some routes have been cut by Via Rail Canada today, and that includes ones going through Kitchener.

Trains 89 and 86 Toronto-Kitchener-London have been cancelled. 86 leaves for Toronto at 6:20 am, while 89 leaves Toronto for Kitchener at 10 o’clock at night.

Rail advocate, Paul Langan with High Speed Rail Canada tells 570 News the loss of train 89 will have a big impact on commuters in Waterloo Region because it’s the last train that runs from to Toronto to Kitchener at night and with GO trains not running that late, residents looking to get back home won’t be able to.
 
Via says it expects to cut 200 unionized jobs, or about 9% of its positions, as the government-owned passenger rail service reduces trips on some lines in the face of federal budget cuts.

The company says it will not cut any whole routes and adds it’s working to expand track capacity between the busy Montreal-Toronto corridor.

The service adjustments will be rolled out between July and the end of October.

Via says the changes will allow the company to focus resources on improving service and attracting more customers to routes where there is already strong demand, and where demand is growing.

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