VIA Rail bringing back services based on demand for commuters in the region
Posted Jun 13, 2022 12:00:00 PM.
As we return to a somewhat pre-COVID normalcy, VIA Rail says ridership has started to pick back up. But in Waterloo Region, the demand isn't there yet.
“We are focused on bringing back the service we are known for. We have prepared for the last few months and year to recruit and retrain, and we are excited to see what we are seeing. We continue to look at the market,” said Vladimir Jean-Pierre, Senior VP of Customer Experience at VIA Rail.
Trains 84 and 87 to and from Sarnia and Toronto are still operating. However, the train service from Toronto-Kitchener-London — trains 85 and 88 — is not operating at the moment. But Jean-Pierre notes that doesn't mean the service has been cancelled.
“It is still in our plan. We hope we can bring the train back soon. Right now, it is based on demand. We haven't seen a demand to bring that train service and other services back just yet.”
The service with trains 84 and 87 has an early afternoon arrival to Toronto and an evening departure from Toronto-Kitchener-Sarnia.
Meanwhile, in the last six months the region has had a GO train service that allows commuters from London-St. Marys-Stratford-Kitchener to Toronto. Jean-Pierre noted the GO service compliments their own service.
“We haven't had an early morning service in the region, and that the fact that GO is offering the service to the region, it gives the people an option to be in Toronto earlier.”
Jean-Pierre said the region is a market that is continuously evolving.
“It is an important market, and we want to continue to service it.”
