August 29, 2014

VIA Rail trains disrupted between Churchill and Thompson; Normal operations expected by end of weekend

Winnipeg, August 29, 2014 – Due to operational issues related to a freight train incident, VIA Rail's train #692 that was due to leave Churchill for Winnipeg on Thursday, August 28th at 7:30 p.m. has now been cancelled for the Churchill to Thompson portion. Alternate arrangements have been made for the passengers scheduled to travel on this leg leaving Churchill.

Likewise, the train scheduled to travel between Thompson and Churchill today has also been cancelled. Alternate arrangements have also been made for those passengers travelling through to Churchill.

With the exception of Gillam, customers intending to travel in either direction from or to intermediate stations between Thompson and Churchill are advised to travel on an alternate date.

SOUTHBOUND

The next Thompson-Winnipeg train is now expected to depart Thompson tonight, Friday, August 29, at approximately 10:00pm (about eight hours later than scheduled).

The next Churchill-Thompson-Winnipeg train is now expected to depart Churchill for Winnipeg on Saturday, August 30 at 7:30pm.

NORTHBOUND

The next Thompson-Churchill train is now expected to depart Thompson Monday, September 1st at 5:00pm.

It is expected that operations will be back to normal by the end of the weekend.

VIA Rail is communicating with customers who have reservations on the affected trains.

VIA sincerely regrets the inconvenience that this situation may cause. Customers wishing to cancel or change their date of travel may do so at no additional charge by calling 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).

About VIA Rail Canada
As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's (viarail.ca) and its 2,500 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500-kilometre route network, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years, and is recipient of the 2012 Agent's Choice Award voted by Canadian travel agents and presented by Baxter Travel Media. Since 2007, the Government of Canada has invested almost a billion dollars in VIA Rail. Follow the progress of our transformation at viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail/capital-investment.