{"id":911367,"date":"2026-09-27T08:12:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T08:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/911367\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T08:12:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T08:12:10","slug":"via-rail-backtracks-on-plans-to-end-guildwood-station-service-in-scarborough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/911367\/","title":{"rendered":"VIA Rail backtracks on plans to end Guildwood Station service in Scarborough"},"content":{"rendered":"

VIA Rail has backtracked on plans to stop servicing the Guildwood station in Scarborough.<\/p>\n

In a statement on its website, VIA says it plans to continue operating \u201cin accordance with its winter schedule\u201d beyond Oct. 25 as it continues to collect feedback from the community on its future plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cVIA Rail recognizes the importance of reliable rail transportation that connects communities and serves passengers across Canada, including in the Scarborough community,\u201d read the statement. \u201cAs part of this commitment, VIA Rail will remain in touch with community leaders to discuss the situation and assess feedback. In the meantime, Via Rail will operate in accordance with its winter schedule, continuing to service Guildwood Station.\u201d<\/p>\n

The announcement came on the heels of a group of Scarborough MPs calling on VIA to reverse its decision<\/a> and restore the Guildwood service, noting the process had been \u201copaque and lacking in transparency\u201d without any public consultations or notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis decision is disconnected from the reality of how heavily this station is utilized,\u201d read the statement from Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East MP Salma Zahid, Scarborough Southwest MP Doly Begum, Scarborough-Woburn MP Michael Coteau, and Scarborough Agincourt MP Jean Yip.<\/p>\n

\u201cScarborough residents deserve to know why a station used for tens of thousands of passenger trips each year are being removed from VIA Rail\u2019s network. A faster journey for some passengers cannot be considered in isolation from the longer, more complicated journey VIA Rail is creating for others.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MPs called for a meeting with VIA Rail interim president and CEO Mathieu Paquette to further discuss the issue<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, VIA cited improved travel times as part of its decision to stop servicing the Guildwood and Malton stations. But Scarborough passengers, who were caught off guard by the announcement, claimed it would do the opposite for them, noting they would have to travel to either Union Station or Oshawa just to connect with the rail service.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not happy at all,\u201d said Scarborough-Guildwood councillor Paul Ainslie, who added that the new detour would be more than just a minor inconvenience for people in his ward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen your options for VIA service are either Union station or Oshawa and you\u2019re in Scarborough, you know that is not an option right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of their rationale was you can take a GO train either way, and I use VIA all the time to go to Ottawa for meetings. To say to me \u2018we want you to take a train on another service, GO Transit, to go west, so you can go east,\u2019 is ludicrous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also applauded Scarbourough residents for standing up to VIA\u2019s proposed changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Scarborough fights, Scarborough wins!\u201d she said during a campaign speech on Saturday. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll keep fighting to make sure they don\u2019t even try it again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Files from Brandon Choghri were used in this report<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

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