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Just over 180 passengers on a east-bound VIA train got an unexpected stop in Cobourg on Thursday, February 6, 2020.
Since 6:09 p.m. the eastbound train which was headed to Montreal has been stopped at the station stranding passengers.
Today’s Northumberland has reached out to VIA to see how many trains are affected.
A VIA employee at the station said there was a native protest at the Tyendinaga Mohawk territory which was blocking the rail lines.
Unconfirmed reports said a number of vehicles were on the rail lines including a snow plow.
Twenty-year-old Kyle Argue and his friend were heading from Oshawa to Montreal for a job interview when the train stopped in Cobourg shortly after 6 p.m.
“They told us there were protests near Napanee and said police were going to move them.”
But an hour later officials from VIA told passengers the protestors weren’t moving and that buses were going to be called so the passengers could carry on to their destinations.
“So we waited another hour and they told us that it’s cancelled and we have to wait for another train to come pick us up and bring us back to Oshawa and Toronto.”
The buses may have been cancelled due to the weather conditions.
But because Argue and his friend have job interviews in Montreal, his father was coming from Oshawa to pick him up in Cobourg and drive the two friends to Montreal.
Other passengers tried to book what rental cars there were in Cobourg, some passengers resorted to taxi’s while others tried to coax friends to drive them to their destinations.
VIA stated that it was unknown how long the rail lines were be blocked.
As of 9:30 p.m. the VIA train was still at the Cobourg station.
VIA Rail Public Relations stated late Thursday evening, that a group of protesters are currently blocking the tracks near Belleville, Ontario.
Train service between Montreal and Toronto and between Ottawa and Toronto is therefore interrupted in both directions.
“Unfortunately, as trains cannot circulate, service has been cancelled and no alternate transportation is available.”
“We are currently making every effort to return passengers who are already on board to their point of origin.”
“We are aware that this situation has an impact on our customers and we apologize for the inconvenience this situation is causing.”
“We are doing everything we can to accommodate our customers and all affected customers will receive a full refund for trains that were disrupted or cancelled today.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
