Stranded Via Rail Passengers Reach Ottawa After Overnight Delay in Brockville Ontario
Passengers on Via Rail traveling from Toronto to Ottawa faced significant disruptions due to a mechanical failure of one of the trains. This incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, October 11, near Brockville, Ontario. After being stranded overnight for approximately 12 hours, the affected passengers finally reached Ottawa on Thursday morning.
Incident Overview
Train 669, which was traveling from Montreal to Toronto, suffered a mechanical failure that initiated a chain reaction of delays. As a direct result of this incident, two additional trains, Train 48 and Train 54, bound for Ottawa, were also affected. Passengers on these later trains experienced disruptions starting at around 9:30 p.m. and had to wait until 10:30 a.m. the following day to be transferred to another train.
Passenger Experiences
- Kiyavash Parvar described the experience as frustrating, noting that the hope for a quick resolution dwindled as the night wore on.
- Abraham Barron, another passenger, managed to keep occupied with his phone and school work, although he also struggled to sleep.
- Isabelle Leduc reported receiving blankets and glow sticks due to the lack of lighting on the train.
Many passengers expressed concerns about the communication regarding the situation. Morgan Davis critiqued the absence of clear and timely information during the prolonged wait.
Company Response
Via Rail spokesperson Karl Helou apologized to the affected passengers and emphasized that the company prioritizes safety and comfort. He acknowledged the unacceptable nature of the service disruption and explained that alternatives such as bus transportation were unavailable in the region. Instead, the company chose to keep passengers on the train, providing heat, food, and blankets.
The company is offering refunds and travel credits as compensation for the inconvenience. Minister of Transport Steve MacKinnon also commented on the situation, stating that while weather-related issues may contribute to service disruptions, the response from rail companies must improve to better serve passengers during such incidents.
Conclusion
All passengers impacted by the delays eventually reached their destinations by noon on Thursday. The incident has prompted both Via Rail and government officials to consider improvements in service reliability and customer communication during emergencies.
