Passengers in Northumberland and across Eastern Ontario will have to adjust their travel plans after VIA Rail announced the cancellation of Train 641, an early-morning service from Ottawa to Toronto.
VIA Rail says the decision comes after ridership failed to reach the level needed to sustain the service.
Train 641 was introduced in May 2024 following requests for an early-morning train from Ottawa to Toronto. At the time, VIA Rail committed to monitoring passenger use and adjusting the service based on actual demand.
That review has now resulted in the cancellation of the train.
VIA Rail says it reviews its schedules twice a year, looking at passenger demand by train, day of the week and time of day, along with operational requirements.
The Crown corporation says those adjustments are designed to strengthen the reliability of its network and provide more predictable service.
“Train 641 was introduced in May 2024 in response to requests for an early-morning service from Ottawa to Toronto, with a commitment to monitor its use and adjust the service based on actual demand,” VIA Rail said.
“Ridership has not reached the level required to sustain the current service.”
While Train 641 is being eliminated, VIA Rail says passengers will still have an early-morning option to travel from Ottawa to Toronto.
Train 41 will depart Ottawa earlier, at 4:56 a.m., arriving in Toronto at 9:37 a.m.
VIA Rail acknowledged that the cancellation will affect communities and passengers who have come to rely on the existing schedule.
“We understand the concerns raised by communities regarding Train 641 and we recognize that these changes will require some passengers to adjust their travel plans,” the company said.
Passengers who already have bookings affected by the schedule changes will be contacted directly by VIA Rail.
They will be offered either rebooking or a full refund, with no additional cost.
The cancellation comes as VIA Rail continues to balance passenger demand with the cost and operational requirements of maintaining its national passenger rail network.
For passengers who used Train 641 specifically because of its departure time, however, the replacement schedule will mean an earlier start to the day — with Train 41 leaving Ottawa before 5 a.m.
(VIA did not give specific numbers in passenger use)
Town of Cobourg Raises Concerns Over VIA Rail Service Changes
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
