FINAL UPDATE – OCT. 3, 8:23PM ET.

CN’s internet connectivity has been restored. GO Trains and VIA Trains to and from Union Station have resumed their normal movements and the Company’s customer service portal and EDI system is currently operational.

CN apologizes for the issue and for the impact caused by this outage that affected CN’s ability to connect to the internet.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

CN has confirmed that the outage was caused by an internal systems upgrade. They have also confirmed that the issue was not a cybersecurity incident.

UPDATE – As of 2:36PM ET, GO Transit is saying the following;

There is a CN networkwide system failure that is affecting all of our rail corridors. Trains will continue to hold at the nearest stations. Our teams are working with CN to resolve the issue quickly and safely. We will provide an update when more information becomes available. 

At this time, we are recommending to our customers to consider taking alternative travel options. Use Triplinx for travel alternatives. Click on “Options” at the top and under the section “Transit Options”, be sure to deselect “Train” as an option. From there, click “Start/End” to start planning your trip. 

Are you taking another travel alternative? Already tapped your PRESTO card? If you have tapped within the last 45 minutes, please use the “Mode” feature on the PRESTO device to reverse your fare. 

UPDATE – As of 2:57PM ET, it appears that only VIA Rail trains heading into the GTA are being affected at this time, not the entire Ontario VIA Rail network. No further updates are available for GO or UP Express.

UPDATE – As of 3:44PM ET, UP Express is currently running limited UP service and to expect delays and cancellations.

UPDATE – As of 3:57PM ET, CN Rail has stated. CN is currently experiencing an internet connectivity and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) issue. GO treains, VIA trains in and out of Union Station, as well as CN’s customer service portal, all of which require an internet connection to CN’s servers, are currently impacted. CN apologized for the issue. We are working to get all services up and running safelyt and efficiently. CN trains, EXO trains (Montreal) and Amtrak Trains are operating. While there is no indication of a cyber security issue, the cause of the outage is currently under investigation.

UPDATE – As of 4:03PM ET, The TTC is adding service on Line 1 (+10 trains), Line 2 (+5 trains), 509, 510 and 501L. As well as staging extra buses at key stations like Kipling, Kennedy, Dundas W.

UPDATE – As of 4:09PM ET, we’re seeing VIA Rail inbound trains to GTA/Union moving at normal speeds, an encouraging sign for those passengers who has have been stopped for an extended period of time.

UPDATE – As of 4:20PM ET, Limited Service has resumed on GO Transit. They state that, there will be ongoing delays, trip modifications, and cancellations as we work to recover our rail service.

UPDATE – As of 4:35PM ET;

GO Transit rail service in the Greater Toronto Area has been brought to a standstill by a network-wide system failure impacting CN Railway’s operations. The outage has left thousands of commuters stranded and unable to access GO trains or UP Express service.

Some VIA RAIL trains are also affected & more will certainly be impacted by delays caused by stopped train traffic.

Around 1:50pm, Metrolinx announced the suspension of all GO trains and UP Express lines due to the sudden CN issue. Trains are being held at the nearest stations until service can resume.

CN did not provide details on the cause of the network failure. But it appears to be a technical malfunction that interrupted CN’s ability to safely operate and control train traffic across its infrastructure.

Metrolinx team are working urgently alongside CN staff to investigate and resolve the problem swiftly. But no timeline has been given on when regular service might restart.

Stranded Passengers, Cancellations

The unexpected service suspension has left many passengers stranded at stations across the region. Lines quickly grew as departures displayed “cancelled” notices.

During peak rush hour, thousands rely on GO Transit rail service for urban and regional commutes. The outage is likely to cause major inconvenience and disruption for those unable to make meetings, appointments, flights, and connections.

Those looking to complete journeys are being advised to seek alternate transportation options. But with limited capacity, replacing a entire rail network presents challenges.

For now, Toronto region passengers can only hope service is gradually restored without major residual delays as the rail operators recover from today’s outage. But train users should brace for potential headaches as schedules restart after the network reset.

This is also affecting some Via Rail trains & the UP Express.