NewzThe national rail company said earlier this month that it would end service to the Scarborough-based station and Malton Station in Mississauga in late October. VIA Rail has backtracked on plans to stop servicing the Guildwood station in Scarborough. In a statement on its website, VIA says it plans to continue operating “in accordance with its winter schedule” beyond Oct.
25 as it continues to collect feedback from the community on its future plans. “VIA Rail recognizes the importance of reliable rail transportation that connects communities and serves passengers across Canada, including in the Scarborough community,” read the statement. “As part of this commitment, VIA Rail will remain in touch with community leaders to discuss the situation and assess feedback.
In the meantime, Via Rail will operate in accordance with its winter schedule, continuing to service Guildwood Station.” The announcement came on the heels of a group of Scarborough MPs calling on VIA to reverse its decision and restore the Guildwood service, noting the process had been “opaque and lacking in transparency” without any public consultations or notice. “This decision is disconnected from the reality of how heavily this station is utilized,” read the statement from Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East MP Salma Zahid, Scarborough Southwest MP Doly Begum, Scarborough-Woburn MP Michael Coteau, and Scarborough Agincourt MP Jean Yip. “Scarborough residents deserve to know why a station used for tens of thousands of passenger trips each year are being removed from VIA Rail’s network.
A faster journey for some passengers cannot be considered in isolation from the longer, more complicated journey VIA Rail is creating for others.” The MPs called for a meeting with VIA Rail interim president and CEO Mathieu Paquette to further discuss the issue Related: ‘Ludicrous’: VIA Rail stopping service at Guildwood, Malton stations Earlier this month, VIA cited improved travel times as part of its decision to stop servicing the Guildwood and Malton stations. But Scarborough passengers, who were caught off guard by the announcement, claimed it would do the opposite for them, noting they would have to travel to either Union Station or Oshawa just to connect with the rail service. “I’m not happy at all,” said Scarborough-Guildwood councillor Paul Ainslie, who added that the new detour would be more than just a minor inconvenience for people in his ward.
“When your options for VIA service are either Union station or Oshawa and you’re in Scarborough, you know that is not…
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