TORONTO — A protest blocking the rail tracks near Belleville, ON is impacting VIA Rail’s service between Montreal and Toronto, and between Ottawa and Toronto, two of VIA Rail’s busiest routes.

“None of the trains on these two routes will operate until the issue is resolved. We are asking passengers to check our online tools for departures and arrivals updates,” says VIA in an update posted today, Feb. 10, on its website.

Services continue to operate between Ottawa and Montreal, between Montreal and Quebec City, and west of Toronto in Southwestern Ontario.

However the following Feb. 10 trains have been cancelled: 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 50, 51(between Ottawa and Toronto), 52, 53, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 651.

“While all other trains between Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto are prepared to leave on schedule should we achieve line clearance, your departure may be delayed or may not operate due to circumstances beyond our control. Please stay tuned for further updates.”

Protesters are demonstrating against a natural gas pipeline project in B.C. The blockade took over the tracks Thursday night in solidarity with demonstrators in northwest B.C. where Indigenous people and supporters are protesting the construction of a pipeline that crosses Wet’suwet’en territory.

Some 18 of VIA Rail’s trains were also cancelled Sunday, affecting service between Toronto and Montreal, as well as Toronto and Ottawa in both directions.

VIA Rail says it will be automatically refunding all segments affected by the service disruption, and says refunds may take up to 10 days to process. More details are at VIA Rail’s site.

With file from The Canadian Press