VIA Rail has plans in store to increase the number of trains serving the Brockville-Smiths Falls-Ottawa corridor from four trains to six in each direction daily.

That word came yesterday from Magdy Fahmy, VIA senior director for real estate.
Speaking in Smiths Falls, he said “the investments will create a passenger rail service second to none, safe, fast and sustainable.”

MP Dean Del Mastro said investment in a new fully-accessible VIA rail station in Smiths Falls will be a significant boost to the town for years to come. Del Mastro, who’s chair of an all-party rail parliamentary group, made the prediction as design for VIA's new Smiths Falls station was unveiled.

He says rail lines are very important to a community’s economy. “Investments like this one,” he said, “is very, very significant.”  He added investment in rail at Smiths Falls bodes well for the future of rail travel in the area.

The new 400-sq.ft. station’s design will blend with the town’s heritage feel and a nod to the town’s railroading past.  Construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Also included in the project are two new passing sidings between Smiths Falls and Brockville, a new centralized traffic control signal system, upgraded protection at rail-road grade crossings and safety fencing at strategic sections along the line. 

Yesterday’s announcement is part of a $516 million package for VIA Rail announced in 2007. 

Magdy said VIA is very pleased citizens of Smiths Falls “are going to be a part of this new era of rail trav