Via Rail postpones Montreal-Toronto nonstop pilot due to operational constraints

Via Rail Canada has postponed a pilot project for nonstop train service between Montreal and Toronto due to operational constraints with Canadian National Railway (CN). The pilot, which aimed to reduce travel time by 30 to 40 minutes by skipping stops in cities like Kingston, Cornwall, Belleville, and others, was set to launch on September 29 but faced significant backlash from affected communities and local officials. Kingston's mayor and other political leaders criticized the plan, arguing it would reduce essential rail service for intermediate cities and negatively impact residents. Despite the postponement, Via Rail expressed confidence that the nonstop service, requested by 70% of passengers, is an important step toward more efficient rail travel in Canada and vowed to continue working with CN to explore future implementation. The company apologized to passengers who were inconvenienced by the scheduling changes and offered free booking modifications. The controversy highlights the challenge of balancing expedited service between major urban centers with maintaining accessibility for smaller communities along the route.