VIA Rail has announced that starting October 25, trains will no longer stop at Guildwood and Malton stations. The Crown corporation has justified this decision by claiming that it will lead to improved overall travel times for passengers. However, this change has caused significant concern among local passengers, particularly those in Scarborough, who argue that the elimination of service at these stations will make their travel experience more inconvenient.
Passengers utilizing Guildwood station expressed their frustration with the recent announcement. One rider commented, “I’m very surprised and very inconvenienced,” highlighting the sudden nature of the change. Another passenger echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s extremely frustrating. This is my route of travel. Well it obviously won’t be anymore.” Many riders were caught off guard, as the announcement regarding the service cuts was buried at the end of a schedule adjustments memo published on VIA Rail’s website.
Councillor Paul Ainslie, who represents Scarborough-Guildwood and is running for re-election, voiced his discontent regarding the decision. He emphasized that the new travel arrangements present more than just a minor inconvenience for residents in his ward. “I’m not happy at all,” Ainslie remarked. He noted that after posting about the changes on social media, he was inundated with emails from concerned constituents. “When your options for VIA service are either Union Station or Oshawa and you’re in Scarborough, you know that is not an option right?” he added.
Ainslie highlighted the impracticality of requiring riders to take GO Transit in a roundabout direction just to access VIA Rail services. “I use VIA all the time to go to Ottawa for meetings. To say to me ‘we want you to take a train on another service, GO Transit, to go west, so you can go east,’ is ludicrous,” he expressed. This comment encapsulates the sentiment among many passengers who rely on the convenience of direct train services.
In response to inquiries from CityNews, VIA Rail offered limited commentary. They directed the media to their official website, where they explained, “VIA Rail will no longer serve Guildwood and Malton to improve overall travel times, given their proximity to Toronto Union Station and easy access to GO Transit and other local transit services.” The rationale provided by VIA Rail has not alleviated the concerns raised by the local community.
In addition to cuts at Guildwood and Malton, VIA Rail has announced several other changes affecting train services between Toronto and Ottawa. These adjustments will culminate in an average reduction of one daily train service on this key route, further complicating travel options for many passengers.
The reactions from the community underscore the importance of reliable public transit options and the detrimental impact that service cuts can have on daily commuters. The reduction of VIA Rail service at Guildwood and Malton has sparked a broader conversation about accessibility and the challenges faced by those who depend on these transportation links.
