The Minister of Transport in Canada has announced plans to investigate a recent train delay that left over 200 Via Rail passengers stranded for 10 hours in Quebec over the long weekend. The journey between Montreal and Quebec City, which was supposed to take three hours and 12 minutes, turned into a nearly 14-hour ordeal due to two train breakdowns.
Minister Pablo Rodriguez stated that he will be meeting with Via Rail leadership to address the situation. “This is unacceptable and we will get to the bottom of this,” he mentioned in a post on Sept. 1. “Passengers deserve better.”
According to Via Rail, train 622 broke down between Drummondville and Quebec City on August 31 after experiencing two mechanical issues. Despite efforts to repair the problems on-site, no alternative transportation was available.
Passenger Rudy El Maghariki described the crew as appearing unsure of how to handle the breakdown and the lack of communication left passengers without essential amenities. Eventually, they were transferred to another train.
While power, air conditioning, and toilets were mostly functional during the ordeal, there were intermittent cuts during repair attempts and when the train was towed. A video circulating on social media captured a tense moment where a Via Rail employee appeared to snatch a passenger’s phone.
Via Rail assured that the phone snatching incident will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate measures will be taken. They emphasized their commitment to providing exceptional customer service and respecting all passengers.
Passengers were offered drinks, snacks, and a meal during the delay. They were eventually transferred to the Ottawa-Quebec train and arrived in Quebec City around 10 p.m., 10 hours later than the expected time.
As a gesture of goodwill, Via Rail offered affected passengers a full refund and a 100% travel credit for a future journey. They apologized for the inconvenience caused and reiterated their dedication to customer satisfaction.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
