Aboriginal protest affects Via Rail schedule, passengers
CBC News
Posted: Jan 16, 2013 4:39 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 16, 2013 10:01 PM ET
Via Rail passengers travelling between Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto on Wednesday were forced to take buses to their destinations as native protesters once again blockaded train tracks along the busy rail corridor.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police, the blockade began at 1:50 p.m. and ended at about 7:00 p.m. when protesters left the area without incident. Earlier in the day several protesters stood on the tracks where CN and CP rail lines cross, in a remote area approximately 500 metres west of Shannonville Road.
Rail officials told CBC that 10 Via trains and more than 850 passengers were halted between Belleville and Kingston forcing it to employ buses to leapfrog the demonstrations. This added a delay of up to two hours for those travellers.
Via spokesperson Mylène Bélanger said people could cancel or change their tickets at no additional charge and those who chose not to travel would receive a full refund.
All Via service between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal returned to normal around 8 p.m., said Bélanger.
Meanwhile, the OPP said no one was arrested but the investigation is ongoing.
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