Via Rail Reduces Windsor Corridor Service to Quebec Amid Pandemic Travel Demand

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Via Rail is temporarily reducing service along its Windsor to Quebec city corridor and suspending business class service, citing the impact of the Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“These decisions, while difficult, are consistent with the balanced approach we have maintained throughout the pandemic to deliver on our important public service mandate while proactively managing financial impacts to our operations,” said Cynthia Garneau, Via Rail CEO. , it’s a statement. Thursday statement.

“Every change we have made to our services has been, and continues to be, closely tied to the evolving health crisis and market demand.”

Windsor to Toronto service will include two roundtrip trains beginning January 19 instead of the current four departures each way. There are also changes to Via Rail’s routes from Toronto to Ottawa and Toronto to Montreal. All business class service is also suspended.

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Officials said the change in service was “carefully planned” to maintain essential services while responding to travel demands given the current pandemic restrictions imposed as a result of the Omicron variant.

There are no current changes to other routes, officials said, and the reduction in frequency is expected to be temporary. Via Rail has also suspended all business class service and business lounges are closed, the company said.

It’s not the only transportation provider to make changes in Southwestern Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last spring, Greyhound Canada announced it was ending all remaining routes in Canada, including the Windsor to Toronto route, after a year-long hiatus amid declining ridership during the pandemic.

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At Windsor airport, CEO Mark Galvin said Air Canada and Porter continue to operate flights to Toronto, and the impact of further transportation reductions remains to be seen.

“It’s a very fluidly evolving situation due to the Omicron virus,” Galvin said. “Whether there is an impact with the cuts or not, I still think that people have to travel and are traveling. At this point it’s very fluid.”

Via said it still plans to keep up with its service resumption schedule, which includes 85 percent service on the Windsor-Quebec city corridor by April and 100 percent service by June.

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