A Via Rail train has been quarantined in a small northern Ontario community Friday after one person died and several others reported feeling ill.

The train had been travelling from Vancouver to Toronto when it made its regular Friday morning stop in Foleyet, Ont. The town of 380 people is about 100 kilometres southwest of Timmins.

Via Rail spokeswoman Catherine Kaloutsky confirmed one person had died, but the cause of death isn't clear.

Several other people on the train reported feeling ill with flu-like symptoms. Some people have been taken to hospital, media reports said.

Emergency response teams are working inside the train, which was carrying 260 passengers and 30 crewmembers.

The illnesses appeared to be confined to two train cars.

"The whole place is being overrun with ambulances and police cars, and we've got helicopters," said town chairwoman Deborah DesRochers.

"They've got the train quarantined. They're trying to isolate what it is."

With files from the Canadian Press

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