Via announces new rides with stop in Kingston

Local Journalism Initiative
·2 min read

Via Rail is expanding their service in the Ottawa to Toronto corridor, and with the new rides Kingston residents will have a new option for traveling to Toronto.

A release from the commuter train company says that as of May 27, an eagerly awaited early bird train will be added in the service corridor between Ottawa and Toronto.

The new 641 morning train is being introduced from Monday through Thursday, with the train leaving Ottawa at 4:19 AM and arriving in Toronto at 8:48.

The train is scheduled to stop in Kingston at 6:18 AM each morning before making subsequent stops in Belleville, Cobourg, and Port Hope.

East of Kingston, the train also stops in Farrowfield, Smith Falls, and Brockville.

The company says the rides will be closely monitored as they're introduced, and feedback from riders will be considered for implementation.

"Over the coming months, VIA Rail will be closely monitoring the public response to this new early-morning departure and will implement adjustments as necessary, based on ridership and actual use," the company stated.

There was previously no train that could get riders to Toronto before 9 AM, the early morning option was taken away in January 2022 along with other rides as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in a statement President and CEO Mario Péloquin said reopening that option was seen as a priority.

"In recent months, stakeholders and frequent passengers from Eastern Ontario have emphasized the significance of early-morning VIA Rail services for their communities, and we took great care to listen and act on this feedback," Péloquin said.

"This is why we are looking forward to offering this option for passengers who wish to travel to Toronto before 9 a.m., whether for business or leisure. We hope, and are confident, that they will answer the call and help us make this new frequency a success."

In addition, train 644 will now be offered every day instead of just 3 days a week - those rides are midday departures that were previously only available Friday-Saturday.

The new rides are live on VIA's website and available for booking.

Owen Fullerton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, YGK News

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