Philip Lawrence, Member for Parliament for Northumberland—Peterborough
South, released the following statement regarding VIA’s announcement today:
“I am delighted to hear VIA Rail’s announcement today on the introduction of train 641. This train is very similar to the long awaited and much needed train 651. It will run from Monday to
Thursday and pass through multiple Eastern Ontario towns, including our own Cobourg and Port Hope, to ensure arrival in Toronto by 9:00am.
“I would like to thank VIA CEO Mario Péloquin and his team for listening to our concerns. I would also like to thank my various government counterparts, including local mayors and
Minister David Piccini, for their tireless commitment to this issue as well. But most of all, I would like to thank the constituents who emailed and phoned my office regularly to advocate for the
return of this service to our community. It was the advocacy of Northumberland—Peterborough South commuters that helped us make our case to VIA about the importance of this train and its
value to our community.
“I am looking forward to advocating for further improvements to passenger rail through my role on the All-Party Rail Caucus.”