Casselman VIA station gets extra Saturday stop, upgrades

Calypso water park-bound visitors from Montreal and its suburbs are likely welcoming a couple of VIA Rail service announcements this week, alongside Casselman Mayor Conrad Lamadeleine.

The national rail passenger service company informed Lamadeleine this spring that his request for a new Saturday morning stop in Casselman, along the Montreal-Ottawa line, would be temporarily approved as a pilot project this summer.

The move comes in light of the opening of the new Calypso water park in Limoges on Monday, June 7, located about 15 minutes from the Casselman train station.

In a letter to Lamadelaine dated March 19, VIA Rail president and CEO Marc Laliberté notes the town's proposal for a permanent morning stop was carefully considered - as the company did not wish to delay the journey of weekday Ottawa-bound travelers - and eventually approved for the 631 train on Saturday mornings. The train departs Montreal at 7:40 a.m. and will arrive in Casselman at 9:25 a.m.

The new stop has been in effect since May 11, according to a VIA Rail spokesperson. Two other Ottawa-bound trains already make stops in Casselman, with advance request from a passenger, at 11:40 a.m. and 2:37 p.m. daily.

"For the summer season, from July to September, we will observe the use of the additional stop on the 631 train on Saturdays," wrote Laliberté. "The objective is to see at least 10 travelers per day [stop] in Casselman."

Station improvements announced

Lamadelaine also welcomed a federal investment of $25,000 at a press conference last Friday, June 4, designed to fund leasehold improvements to the Casselman train station.

The funds were secured from the federal government through the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation, which assists in the support of regional tourism development projects.

"It is important that residents of Casselman and surrounding areas have a rail station that supports the marked growth in tourism to the region, especially given the opening of the Calypso water park," said Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP Pierre Lemieux. "These upgrades to the Casselman railway station will greatly assist the township in welcoming visitors to the area."