Via Rail Delays Surge as Dispute with CN Rail Intensifies

Via Rail delays plague passengers at Montreal Central Station and other key stops. The company blames CN Rail for slowdowns on the busy Quebec City to Windsor route. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Nancy Diller, a traveler from Toronto, arrived in Montreal forty-five minutes late and complained. She texted her waiting party twice about delays, but another setback frustrated her plans.

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This corridor handles 96 percent of Via Rail’s passengers and sees heavy daily traffic. Statistics reveal 80 percent of February trips lagged by ten to fifteen minutes or more.

Via Rail, a government-owned entity, clashes with CN Rail, which controls most tracks used here. CN, privatized in 1995, operates Canada’s largest rail network under the Transportation Act.

Karl Helou, Via Rail’s spokesperson, explains that trains slow down and inconvenience passengers and staff. He insists CN’s rules force unnecessary delays and burden the crown corporation unfairly.

Since October, CN has enforced strict rules that slow Via trains at every crossing they approach. Operators must visually confirm safety circuits activate lights and lower gates before proceeding.

Via Rail Delays Frustrate Travelers Amid Safety Debate

CN blames Via’s new Venture trains, introduced in 2022, for failing to meet safety standards. Jonathan Abecassis, CN’s spokesperson, says these trains don’t allow gates to close thirty seconds early.

He emphasizes that this delay poses risks to passengers, crossings, and nearby communities every day. CN maintains that even the smallest safety hazard remains completely unacceptable for all involved.

The issue stems from Venture trains having only 24 axles instead of CN’s required 32. CN suggests Via add more rail cars, but Via resists and demands proof of danger.

Via Rail conducts its own tests and refuses to compromise safety for any reason whatsoever. However, it accuses CN of dodging responsibility and passing costs to passengers and taxpayers.

Helou demands CN publicly share evidence to support their restrictive measures on Via trains. Without solid proof, he urges CN to remove these rules as soon as possible.

Via argues that constant deceleration and acceleration place undue strain on operators and equipment. The company believes CN’s regulations disrupt efficiency and unfairly target its new fleet.

Via Rail Delays Spark Calls for CN to Justify Restrictions

This ongoing feud between Via Rail and CN has escalated to Quebec Superior Court recently. Via seeks an injunction to lift restrictions affecting 304 crossings across the network.

Court filings highlight the “decelerate-observe-accelerate” process that slows trains at each crossing daily. Both sides dig in, and passengers endure setbacks as the legal battle unfolds.

Travelers like Nancy Diller continue facing disruptions while the companies argue over safety rules. Resolution remains uncertain, but Via pushes for faster service and fewer obstacles ahead.

The Quebec City to Windsor route’s importance amplifies the stakes in this heated dispute. Via Rail and CN must balance safety, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction in their ongoing clash.

Until the court rules, Via passengers brace for more late arrivals and prolonged trips daily. The outcome will shape rail travel across Canada’s busiest corridor for years to come.

Source, photo: www.ctvnews.ca

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