Getting your Commute Back on Track: The Case for the Return of VIA Rail Canada Commuter Train Service
Overview
Eastern Ontario’s population is increasing. Our labour force is strong. Both are growing at a faster rate than the provincial average. Our region is ready to help power Ontario’s economic renewal.
However, hard-working commuters in Eastern Ontario living along the Kingston-to-Toronto corridor have lost a reliable and affordable option for commuter transportation with the September 2026 suspension of VIA Rail Canada’s Train 641. This is creating barriers for residents to access job opportunities, education and retraining, and medical appointments.
Background
In the summer of 2022, a partnership of concerned municipalities, comprised of the Counties of Northumberland and Hastings and the cities of Kingston, Belleville, and Quinte West, came together to jointly urge VIA Rail Canada to restore commuter Train 651 – a vital link between Eastern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area. Train 651 had been suspended during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the end of June 2022, while almost all of VIA Rail Canada’s previous train routes had resumed across the country, Train 651 had still not been returned to service.
Northumberland County and its partners put out a call asking for resident input with our survey ‘Keeping Your Commute on Track’. We received a significant response from over 2,800 residents. Thanks to this, we had the facts to make a strong case to VIA Rail Canada and the federal Ministry of Transport about the critical importance of getting Train 651 back on track.
May 2024 restoration of service
In April 29, 2024 - we saw results. VIA Rail Canada announced that it would reinstate commuter rail service between Ottawa and Toronto as of May 27, 2024. The new VIA Rail Train 641, leaving Ottawa at 4:19 a.m. and arriving in Toronto at 8:48 a.m. Monday to Thursday, was viewed as a critical step forward in meeting regional transportation needs.
- Read our media release from May 6, 2024 about VIA's restoration of commuter train service to Toronto as of May 27, 2024.
September 2026 cancellation of service - again
On September 17, 2026, VIA once again cancelled commuter service through our community. Northumberland County and community partners are calling on VIA to say: the evidence that made the case for commuter service restoration has not disappeared. It is vital to get commuter rail service Back On Track!
The report
In 2022, Northumberland County compiled survey responses from over 2,800 people, along with economic data, into a report to make the case for getting VIA commuter train services back on track.
The Case for Getting VIA Train 651 Back on Track: The Critical Importance of Commuter Train Services for Eastern Ontario, detailed the critical need for the return to service of VIA Train 651. It demonstrated the importance for commuters to have access to affordable and convenient transportation options rather than making the choice between unemployment or a costly and time-consuming commute. That case still stands today.
Report highlights
Pre-COVID riders valued the convenience, affordability and access to employment, education and medical treatments.
- 66% of survey respondents used VIA Train 651 to get to work
- 14% used the service for education and medical purposes
- 76% of users accessed the service one or more times per week
With the resumption of Train 651 service, passenger usage was destined to be stronger than pre-pandemic levels.
- 96% of pre-COVID users would return if service resumed
- 31% of all survey respondents would be new users of the service
Without the return to service, eastern Ontario workers would be hard hit.
- 64% need the service as an alternative to rising household expenses and high vehicle fuel costs
- 82% of respondents want to avoid vehicle use
- 63% want to take action with climate change
The call to action
More than ever, workers rely on an efficient transportation system to maximize their employment opportunities by connecting them to employers in desperate need of workers and to access training facilities to enhance their skills.
VIA Train commuter service needs to get back on track. This is a call to action for VIA Rail Canada and the Federal Government to meet the needs of hard-working Canadians, to help build back our economy and protect the environment by welcoming back passengers to VIA Train 641.
Learn more
- Read our media release from July 2022 about the launch of advocacy efforts to build the case for restoration of VIA commuter train service
- Read our media release from September 2022 about the release of this report.
- Read our letter to M Landry, President and CEO, VIA Rail Canada
-
Economic Development, Planning & Strategic Initiatives Director
Northumberland County
In eastern Ontario we are desperate for reliable transit options. The loss of the via commuter train has hit us hard and reinstating the service would have very positive impacts in the short term. But it is not a long term solution and more focus needs to be placed on extending GO train service in this direction.
We have been mandated back to office mid week and I have been sending inquiries to VIA since April 2022 asking about the return of Train 651. Now many large corporations have Fall mandatory return to premises, we don't want to have to lose our homes and move out of our beloved neighbourhoods and uproot our families because train 651 which was available to us pre-pandemic is no longer available and may I add it needs to stop at Trenton Junction too. We need this train back asap, otherwise people will need to sell their homes of drive up to 1 hour to get to the Oshawa GO station which is a commuters nightmare.