Trapped in Ontario?

Catherine and Oliver are visiting her parents in Kingston this week, and are due to take the train on Friday, June 29 up to Montreal to rendezvous with me. However Friday, June 29 is also the First Nations National Day of Action and, possibly, a related rail or road blockade between Belleville and Kingston.

We’re currently looking for alternative ways to get Catherine and Oliver up to Quebec. Unfortunately VIA Rail provides no information about the possible implications of the blockade nor proposed alternative travel arrangements.

Comments

andrea's picture
andrea on June 27, 2007 - 19:28 Permalink

Hi Peter,
I am going to Ottawa on VIA the same day. Naturally, I opted for the train cause I thought it would beat the holiday traffic.

My friend who was teaching at Queen’s this year got caught in a blockade — they used buses to get around it.

Here is a story I found about Friday’s protest:
http://www.thewhig.com/webapp/…

Please keep me posted if you learn anything new.

Thanks!

VIA rider's picture
VIA rider on June 28, 2007 - 02:52 Permalink

If you have a pre-purchased ticket, they will look after you and get you to your destination with alternate means. A few years ago I was on a train (the Ocean) in Quebec heading to the Maritimes when a freight derailed 100 km ahead of us. We stopped at the next station for a few hours and then they put everyone on a half dozen buses and the VIA crew rode with us past the derailment to another station where there was another train waiting for us to board and continue on our way.

In the corridor and in the event of a blockade, they will likely just use buses to get around it and likely direct from Toronto to Ottawa or Toronto to Kingston. There will be some time lost due to the bus, but overall, it should work out.

Andre Kunysz's picture
Andre Kunysz on June 28, 2007 - 16:08 Permalink

FOR YOUR INFORMTATION:

For immediate distribution — Wednesday, June 27, 2007

National Day of Protest Threatens VIA Rail Services in Ontario and Quebec

VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise passengers that its services in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada may be impacted by a possible blockade of rail lines that could be undertaken as part of the National Day of Action on June 29, 2007.
VIA services likely to be affected (in both directions) are the following: