By Candice-Rose Gagnon [1]
BELLEVILLE – A newly announced VIA Rail [2] train between Toronto and Ottawa will roll right past Belleville.
VIA Rail announced last week that ridership in 2013 between Toronto and Ottawa increased by 39% over 2012. Via Rail accommodated that increase by adding a new train departing from both Toronto and Ottawa.
But the new train route proposed only has two stops, one being Kingston, the other being Fallowfield, a village suburb of Ottawa. The new route will be added on the weekend schedule, from Friday to Monday.
So why isn’t Belleville on the list of stops if there is an increase in VIA Rail ridership?
Mylène Bélanger, Senior Advisor of Media Relations & Corporate Communications for VIA Rail Canada, says train number 63 stops in Belleville at the same time the new train would normally pass through.
“VIA Rail is always looking at adding trains as market conditions evolve,” she said in an email to QNetNews.
Bélanger said there is no word yet on any more additional trains that are needed for Belleville. According to the VIA Rail website, Belleville is listed as being the 10th busiest station along the Windsor-Quebec Corridor.
QNet’s Candice-Rose Gagnon is looking to speak with local economic development representatives, as well as Prince Edward – Hastings MP, Daryl Kramp, to learn more about VIA’s economic impact on Belleville.
Are you a Via Rail commuter that experiences difficulty using VIA Rail between Ottawa and Toronto? Join the conversation on Twitter [3] or by email [4].