CORNWALL, Ontario – Stormont, Dundas, South Glengarry MP Eric Duncan has expressed his disappointment in Via Rail’s announced High Frequency Rail (HRF) plans.
The plan, would see a high frequency trains travel around Cornwall via Ottawa and Peterborough, with Cornwall left on its current, less frequent rail line.
“With today’s announcement to move forward with VIA high-frequency rail service up through Ottawa and Peterborough, there continues to be reasons to worry about what the future holds for service levels in communities like Cornwall that will no longer be along the main route,” reads a statement from Duncan.
Via Rail had previously presented their HFR plan to Cornwall City Council in late May of this year, and found their audience to be less than enthusiastic about the proposal with Councillor Elaine MacDonald characterizing it as “entirely unacceptable.”
Duncan called on Cornwall to be included in any future Via Rail infrastructure plans.
“By now, with this $4 billion project getting a green light, there is no reason why future plans for Cornwall, Brockville and other stations would not be included in the announcement, allaying the fears that many residents have over rail service across Eastern Ontario,” his statement goes on to read. “If the government is trying to announce good news before a possible election, why wouldn’t assurances about service levels not be provided to the Cornwall station as well? It certainly makes it look like there isn’t good news for our region once again.”
