Via Rail officials to address federal committee on holiday travel delays

Via Rail officials are scheduled to address a parliamentary committee Thursday concerning the travel delays during this past holiday season.

Trains were delayed amid a snowstorm on the Christmas weekend between Dec. 23 and 26, with passengers stuck for up to 20 hours.

The railway has said that a CN Rail freight train went off its tracks, which caused additional delays to trains on its east-west passage between Quebec City and Windsor, Ont.

Via Rail has since apologized for not being more direct with its customers about the incident or providing timely updates on delays.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra showed up at the committee earlier in January and promised to strengthen existing rules.

Via Rail’s meeting comes after earlier testimony by executives at Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing, who were questioned about the hundreds of flights they cancelled or delayed over the holidays.

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