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Transportation

Via Rail frustrates passengers again in Toronto

Toronto - This week has been trying for Via rail workers as they have battled a derailment and other problems for commuters. Passengers were informed that a switch problem in Smith falls was going to cause another shutdown on the route from Toronto to Ottawa. Passengers weren't given clear information and had to fend for themselves as they sat down on chairs waiting to hear some good news.

Unfortunately for those travellers, the news was that if they were lucky they would be able to get on a direct bus. If they were lucky. At 1:00pm after being told that although the tracks were fine up until Smith Falls, Montreal transport had determined that everyone would have to go by bus, not send everyone by rail to that destination which is about 20 minutes outside of Ottawa.

When the time came to head out to the lone bus, a man in a very quiet voice started shouting " Ottawa, Ottawa" giving no directions. The over 150 waiting passengers rushed up the ramps hoping to be one of the lucky 52 people to go on the first bus. Rachel Sentes was fortunate enough to be one of those people.

"This was my first time trying VIA rail, and I wasn't impressed with hearing from workers that they weren't given any information from upper management on how to deal with the situation. I got a sheet of paper that told me to email them with my concerns. Not a great first impression." says Sentes who was visiting from Vancouver.

With the new announcement from the Mayor and the provincial government giving over 7 million dollars to improve the subway system, it might be good to improve the current system of transportation and training of their employees on how to handle these types of situations.