Via Rail has announced it's postponing a pilot project that would have seen trains travel directly between Montreal and Toronto, skipping several eastern Ontario stops along the way.

The plan was for direct service between Canada's two largest cities to begin Sept. 29, offering riders "downtown-to downtown travel" and shaving 30-40 minutes off some trips.

But in a statement Monday, Via said the pilot, which had been criticized by elected officials along the route, is on hold because of "operational constraints with our rail partner, CN."

Via said it plans to continue to work with CN "to explore solutions" that would allow it to test and launch direct service in the future.

Via Rail trials non-stop trains between Montreal and Toronto

Audio Via Rail is scaling back its stops at train

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