For immediate distribution - Thursday, June 28, 2007

National Day of Action Blockages Proposed for Rail and Highway

VIA Rail Suspends Service Friday, June 29th, between Montréal-Toronto and Ottawa-Toronto

VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise customers that in light of the highly anticipated blockages of rail and highway lands, that could be taken as part of the National Day of Action, it has decided to suspend all services and ticket sales for trains on the following routes tomorrow, Friday, June 29th:

· Toronto-Montréal
· Toronto-Ottawa

No other VIA trains are cancelled at this time. The Ocean of June 28 from Montreal to Halifax and June 29 between Halifax and Montreal are scheduled to operate normally. It is possible that service between Montreal and Senneterre of June 29 could be impacted. If this were the case, the train would be terminated in La Tuque with no alternate transportation provided beyond that point.

Additionally, due to the uncertainty of the situation and anticipated location of a blockage, VIA's late evening and early morning trains between Toronto and Kingston have also been affected as follows:

- Train 650-Toronto to Kingston departing June 28 at 10 p.m. - Replaced by bus
- Train 651- Kingston to Toronto departing June 29 at 05:25 a.m. - Cancelled.

As well, passengers arriving in Montréal on June 29th on board VIA train #15 from Halifax with connections to Ontario (Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Toronto) will be accommodated by chartered motor coach.

VIA will offer a full refund to anyone wishing to return tickets already purchased, and will waive any fees involved in changing tickets. VIA anticipates returning to full service on the above routes on Saturday, June 30th, and will make every effort to accommodate additional passengers.

"VIA's priority is to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew," said Steve Del Bosco, Chief Customer Officer. "While we recognize the impact this may have on individual travel plans, the decision was taken after careful consideration of the uncertainty of the situation and the potential risks involved in attempting to operate under such unpredictable conditions."

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