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VIA Rail has reversed its plan to stop serving Guildwood Station starting Oct. 25 after backlash from Scarborough residents, politicians and local leaders who said the stop is essential.
VIA Rail has reversed its decision to stop servicing Guildwood Station, its only Scarborough stop. The passenger rail operator announced the change in a statement on its website on Friday.
VIA said it will continue to serve Guildwood Station when it transitions to its winter schedule starting Oct. 25. VIA Rail said it recognizes the importance of reliable rail transportation that connects communities and serves passengers across Canada. The operator said this includes the Scarborough community. VIA added that it will remain in touch with community leaders to discuss the situation and assess feedback.
VIA Rail Reverses Guildwood Station Cuts
The reversal followed backlash from residents and local leaders. Earlier this month, VIA Rail announced service changes in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. Those changes included cancelling its early morning train from Ottawa to Toronto starting Oct. 25. VIA Rail had also said it would stop serving Guildwood and Malton stations.
The operator said the cuts were meant to improve overall travel times. It cited the stations' proximity to Toronto Union Station and easy access to GO Transit and other local transit services. Scarborough residents and officials criticized the announcement. Many who spoke to CP24 expressed shock, frustration and disappointment that VIA's lone Scarborough stop would be cut.
Coun. Paul Ainslie called on VIA Rail to reverse its plan, saying it would negatively impact residents. In a statement on Sept. 16, Ainslie said Guildwood Station is not simply a train stop. He called it an essential transportation asset that connects Scarborough residents to communities across Ontario and Canada.
Scarborough Calls for Full VIA Service
Ainslie said removing service would make travel less convenient, increase travel times and reduce transportation options for thousands of residents. Liberal MPs representing Scarborough ridings sent out a news release on Friday calling on VIA Rail to restore full service at Guildwood Station. While the rail service initially planned to cut all service at the station, the MPs said they intervened and restored partial service. The MPs said that partial service was not good enough.
They asked for a meeting with VIA Rail's interim president and CEO Mathieu Paquette. They added that the decision was disconnected from reality, given that many stop at Guildwood Station. The MPs said VIA's data show nearly 60,000 passengers departed and arrived at the station last year. The MPs said Scarborough residents deserve to know why a station used for tens of thousands of passenger trips each year is being removed from VIA Rail's network.
They made the statement on Friday. During her campaign rally in Scarborough on Saturday, Olivia Chow welcomed VIA's reversal. Chow said, We'll keep fighting to make sure they don't even try it again.
CP24
CTVToronto:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
VIA Rail Guildwood Station Scarborough Service Reversal Quebec City-Windsor Corridor
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