A VIA Rail train made an unexpected stop in Thamesville on Valentine’s Day.
“Train 73, travelling from Toronto to Windsor, was brought to a stop in Thamesville at 3:10 p.m. on February 14th due to a mechanical failure, with 211 passengers on board,” VIA Rail officials told the Sydenham Current.
“VIA Rail activated its emergency response plan, securing buses and coordinating with emergency services in Chatham to facilitate a safe evacuation. The evacuation began at 5:40 p.m., and passengers continued their journey to their destinations by bus.”
VIA Rail also issued refunds and an apology to the impacted riders.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this unfortunate incident has caused and thank our passengers for their patience and understanding,” VIA Rail officials added.
“As a gesture of our commitment to customer service, all affected passengers will receive a full refund along with a 100% travel credit for future trips.”
Toronto resident Graham Hopper was aboard the train when the incident occurred.
“Passengers were on board for an extra three hours before the fire department and police escorted passengers to school buses to complete the rest of their trips to Chatham and Windsor,” Hopper told the Sydenham Current.
“The train was about 15 minutes from Chatham when an issue occurred. The lights on the train still worked, but power outlets, heat and toilets were not functioning. The temperature didn’t get too cold but some passengers unfortunately didn’t have fully charged phones.”
Hopper added: “VIA Rail employees did the best they could providing updates at least every half hour and offered water bottles and cookies. VIA Rail has provided a refund for (the) trip and a future credit for the same amount to be used with the next 12 months.”
More details about VIA Rail can be found at https://www.viarail.ca/.
