Ottawa

The quiet cuts

VIA Rail will layoff approximately nine percent of its workforce and reduce service.

Trip frequencies are being cut on some of big routes, including the Montreal to Halifax line — “The Ocean” — which will be cut to three from six round trips a week.

In the West, “The Canadian” — Via’s only Toronto to Vancouver route — will be reduced to two from three round trips a week in the off-season (October to April). Service during peak season will remain at three trips weekly.

There will also be a number reductions in southwestern Ontario, where GO Transit and other services are available to commuters. London, Aldershot, Kitchener, Niagara Falls and other cities will see reduced Via service.

Another round of “affected notices” have been delivered to public service workers, the majority this time going to workers at the Canada Revenue Agency.

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