Adam Prudhomme
Editor
VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail) announced a return of early morning service between Ottawa and downtown Toronto-though commuters in Napanee will still have to do some driving if they want to catch a ride.
Starting May 27, the new 641 early-morning frequency will be introduced, operating between Ottawa and Toronto from Monday to Thursday. Train 641 will be leaving Ottawa at 4:19 a.m. for arrival in Toronto at 8:48 a.m., with stops in Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg and Port Hope.
This marks a return of the train that is popular with commuters who live outside the GTA but still travel to Toronto for work on a regular basis. The route was paused during the pandemic, which drew the ire of those who relied on the service, causing many municipalities to urge VIA to re-instate Train 651. Prior to the pandemic the route included a stop in Napanee-though that won’t be the case under the new system.
“In recent months, stakeholders and frequent passengers from Eastern Ontario have emphasized the significance of early-morning VIA Rail services for their communities, and we took great care to listen and act on this feedback,” said Mario Péloquin, VIA president and chief executive officer said in a release.