Scarborough Caucus calls on VIA Rail to restore full service to Guildwood station

Ottawa, ON — Scarborough Members of Parliament are deeply concerned and disappointed by VIA Rail’s sudden decision to sharply curtail service to Guildwood Station on October 25, 2026. We call on VIA Rail to reverse this decision, restore service and meet with Scarborough representatives and affected passengers to discuss the future of this service.

This process has been opaque and lacking in transparency, with no consultation or even notice to the public or local elected officials. Originally, all service to Guildwood (100 stops) was to be cut. It was only after the intervention of Scarborough MPs and the Transport Minister that partial service (appx. 28 stops) was restored.
But this is not good enough. Scarborough caucus is requesting a meeting with VIA Rail interim president and CEO Mathieu Paquette to discuss this issue.

Scarborough is home to nearly 700,000 residents, and Guildwood provides a direct connection to intercity rail. Removing Scarborough from VIA’s network means passengers who currently board or arrive close to home will have to travel downtown to Union Station or East to Oshawa to make the same trip. GO Transit provides an important service but requiring additional connections while carrying luggage does not replace direct access to VIA Rail.

This decision is disconnected from the reality of how heavily this station is utilized. VIA Rail’s own boarding data, released through access to information, records 30,421 passengers boarding at Guildwood in 2025, and 28,829 arrivals. A total of 59,250 passenger arrivals and departures over the year. Many are seniors on a fixed income and youth that cannot afford to drive or fly.
Scarborough residents deserve to know why a station used for tens of thousands of passenger trips each year are being removed from VIA Rail’s network. A faster journey for some passengers cannot be considered in isolation from the longer, more complicated journey VIA Rail is creating for others.

Scarborough is an important part of Toronto, and its residents should have practical access to Canada’s intercity passenger rail network. VIA Rail should work with the people who rely on Guildwood to find a better way forward.

Quotes

“VIA needs to apologize to Scarborough residents, restore full service, and consult with the public before any further service changes are considered. Selling out Scarborough is not the answer to its on-time performance issues.” – Salma Zahid, Scarborough caucus chair and MP for Scarborough Centre-Don Valley East

“Scarborough is too often overlooked, and I am extremely disappointed by VIA Rail’s decision to drastically reduce service here. I am calling on VIA to meaningfully consult and directly hear from the nearly 700,000 Scarborough residents who are affected by these cuts. We are asking VIA to work constructively with our communities to protect the vital intercity rail service that thousands of people rely on.” – Doly Begum, MP for Scarborough Southwest

“For far too long, Scarborough has been overlooked when it comes to transportation. VIA Rail’s decision is a step backwards for our community and the thousands of residents who deserve convenient, reliable access to intercity rail. At a time when our government is working to make travel easier, improve connectivity and strengthen passenger rail across Canada, VIA Rail’s decision moves us in the opposite direction. We are calling on VIA Rail to reconsider this decision and ensure that our community is not left behind.” – Michael Coteau, MP for Scarborough-Woburn

“For residents of the North end of Scarborough, having to travel to Union Station or Oshawa would add more than an hour to their travel time, compared to Guildwood. This is unacceptable. VIA Rail needs to consider how these decisions impact the people that rely on their service.” – Jean Yip, MP for Scarborough Agincourt