VIA Rail reverses decision to end Guildwood Station service

VIA Rail has reversed its decision to stop servicing Guildwood Station in Scarborough. The carrier announced it will continue to operate the station in accordance with its winter schedule beyond October 25 while it conducts further consultations with the community and collects passenger feedback.

The reversal follows significant pressure from local residents and several Members of Parliament, including Salma Zahid, Doly Begum, Michael Coteau, and Jean Yip. The MPs criticized the initial decision-making process as lacking transparency and public consultation. They argued that removing the stop would force tens of thousands of annual passengers to travel to Union Station in downtown Toronto or to Oshawa to access the network, complicating their journeys.

VIA Rail had previously proposed eliminating stops at both Guildwood and Malton stations to reduce overall travel times. While the service at Guildwood has been restored for the time being, it remains unclear if the carrier will change its plans regarding the Malton station.