VIA Rail suspends Vancouver-Toronto route for additional 2 months

VIA Rail will continue to suspend service between Toronto and Vancouver for an additional two months.

The company made the announcement on Monday morning, saying that part of the reason includes the “expansion of travel limitations” and the “widening of physical distancing and isolation measures.”

The Prince Rupert-Prince George-Jasper route will also remain suspended, although VIA Rail cite “continued infrastructure issues” as the reason.

Both routes will be cancelled until June 1, 2020. The suspension includes a Toronto departure on May 31, 2020, as well as a Vancouver departure on June 1, 2020.

The company says that all passengers who booked a trip during this period will be contacted and reimbursed automatically.

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On Sunday, VIA Rail informed the public that two of its Montreal employees tested positive for coronavirus. Both employees developed symptoms while they were at home and last worked during the middle of March.

Prior to the end of March, VIA Rail also announced a number of additional safety measures, including conducting health checks on customers before they board trains.

The company says that passengers will be asked simple health questions and denied boarding if they are experiencing symptoms similar to cold or flu, or if they’ve been denied boarding due to a medical reason in the past 14 days.