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Major track improvements have been completed between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto that will improve passenger-rail service, VIA Rail and Canadian government officials announced Nov. 4.

The project included $55 million (Canadian dollars) in infrastructure upgrades between Ottawa and Montreal, and track and safety improvements on VIA’s Ottawa and Brockville route, completing a major part of a $300 million expansion of VIA’s Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto corridor, they said.

The track upgrades are part of the government’s $923 million investment to improve passenger rail service, including $407 in stimulus funding. Improvements made during the project’s first phase include new track and passing sidings, and increased traffic control and signaling.

“Better track and increased capacity will mean that we can safely operate more trains, and maintain higher speeds more consistently, allowing us to deliver faster trip times and more frequent departure options to travelers,” said VIA Rail Chairman Paul Smith.