New Ottawa-Toronto frequencies

Those two Toronto-Ottawa trains run four days a week: Fridays through Mondays. Yesterday was to be the first Monday operation of new train #45 from Ottawa to Toronto, but a notice at Toronto Union and on-line said: Due to operational reasons this train is replaced by bus service. No specific reason was given for the replacement.

This is a great way to encourage train travel. It seems that VIA is a bit short of equipment due to the decision of the previous president to lay-up the corridor Renaissance trains. In some cases there have not been enough coaches for a train as booked, so the unlucky passengers who were booked in the non-existent coach have been sent by bus. VIA's policy has always been to allow exchanges or refunds without penalty to passengers who are not delighted with the prospect of a bus ride. With up to eight trains a day each way between Toronto and Ottawa it shouldn't be difficult to find a later train unless it is the last one of the day! Two Renaissance consists are back in service between Montreal and Quebec City, so this should ease the problem.