Considering that fighting climate change will require more people to use transit rather than drive, we need more people on the train, but I fear many won’t want to touch VIA after last week. Opinion by shawnmicallef
On the evening of Dec. 23, as the historic blizzard swept across the Great Lakes, my mom’s VIA Rail train left Windsor. Two hours late, it started rolling east through the wind and snow as hundreds of flights were cancelled and both Highways 401 and 402 were closed after terrible multivehicle pileups.
Union Station is a confusing place because it’s where numerous government jurisdictions overlap. The City of Toronto owns it and provides security guards through the Corporate Security unit. Metrolinx, a provincial agency, runs the GO and UP Express and have their own security in those areas. VIA, a federal, arms-length crown corporation, runs the intercity train areas.
When the passengers finally arrived, many made their way up to the main hall. There were no cabs waiting, and the subway was ending, so people were waiting inside the Front Street doors, calling their relatives, friends or taxis. Another City of Toronto security guard came by and angrily shouted at everyone to leave. Nobody moved. I said, “You’ll have to call the police on us.” She left. People were incredulous of what they just encountered.
Employees like these are why VIA can be a good experience once you’re on the train. However, for too long a major operational overhaul has been needed. Finally, new trains are being delivered, but some stock is so old that empty “crash cars” are used as buffers on long trips. This kind of underfunding is decades old and a Canadian embarrassment.