Via Rail and CN have temporarily laid off about 1,000 and 450 employees respectively, as anti-pipline protests continue
GO Transit suspended its train service this morning between Aldershot and Hamilton, as railway protests made their way to the Toronto area. Hamilton, West Harbour, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines GO stations were not serviced this morning, according to the transit company’s website.
Shuttle buses are available at the stations and are operating at the regular train departure time. The buses will connect customers to trains at Aldershot or Burlington GO stations until the service resumes.
“Lakeshore West customers may experience some additional crowding Tuesday morning, as the result of some unexpected modifications to service,” the transit company said on its website.
The train service cancellations began last night and are still in place.
“Technically there aren’t any full cancellations of any trains. There’s sort of modified service,” said Metrolinx media relations advisor Scott Money.
“The way you’re gonna get home is a little bit different, but people can still get home.”
GO trains will continue to stop at Aldershot, so passengers travelling to Hamilton or West Harbour GO will be connected to shuttle buses from Aldershot, Money said. Those travelling to Niagara Falls GO will be connected with buses at St. Catharines GO.
“If the situation remains the same, as it is now, that will be the plan for the [evening commute],” said Money.
The railway blockades that are impacting GO train service are part of the ongoing protests against a natural gas pipeline in British Columbia. The controversial pipeline crosses the First Nations Wet’suwet’en territory.