VANCOUVER, Dec. 26  - VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise travellers that due to a derailment in the Vancouver terminal blocking the main rail line, and which will not be cleared until Saturday morning, it has cancelled today’s departure of the eastbound Canadian between Vancouver and Toronto.

The derailment occurred during the servicing of the train and as such there were no passengers or crew on board the train at the time of the derailment.

As a result, VIA is making plans to accommodate all passengers on the next departure of train No.2 which is scheduled to depart Vancouver on Sunday, December 28, 2008.

Regular service between Vancouver and Toronto will resume from Vancouver, on Sunday, December 28th, at 8:30 p.m. VIA is attempting to contact all affected passengers to advise them of the change.

VIA wishes to apologize for any inconvenience this disruption may cause to its passengers. Customers wishing further information may visit our website viarail.ca or call 1 888-VIA RAIL (842-7245) or 1 888-842-6348. Further updates will be issued as required.

For further information: VIA contacts: Catherine Kaloutsky, Corporate Communications, (647) 228-1127

Source Link: VIA Rail Canada

VIA OPERATIONS UPDATE: ALL TRAINS OPERATING, ALL AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT IN SERVICE

TORONTO, Dec. 18 - With a winter storm warning for the Ontario region and forecasts of heavy snowfall expected to fall over the next few days reeking havoc on the highways and impacting other modes of transportation, VIA Rail Canada advises that all trains in the Windsor - Québec City corridor are
operating as normal. As the storm makes its presence felt, VIA expects demand for seats to quickly increase.

VIA will add cars where possible to meet the increased demand. With holiday travel volumes already present in many major VIA stations, passengers are encouraged to book as early as possible and to verify departure and arrival times.

Information and reservations are available at viarail.ca, at 888 VIA-RAIL (888 842-7245), TTY 800-268-9503 (hearing impaired), or through your travel agent.

Customers can also use VIA ticket kiosks to avoid lengthy line-ups or driving and parking stresses associated with inclement weather. Ticket kiosks are located in the following Corridor locations: Québec, Ste-Foy, Montréal, Dorval, Ottawa, Fallowfield, Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, Oshawa, Toronto, Oakville, Aldershot, Brantford, Guelph, Kitchener, London and Windsor.

VIA sincerely regrets any inconvenience these delays may cause to its passengers.

For further information: VIA contacts: Catherine Kaloutsky, (416) 956-7683, (647) 228-1127; Nadia Seraiocco, (514) 871-6119