Citing the ongoing rail line blockade in support of Wet’suwet’en Nation, Via Rail has extended their train cancellations between Toronto and Montreal, and Toronto and Ottawa until end of day Thursday, Feb. 13.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, 157 trains have been cancelled since the blockade started Friday Feb. 7. The total number of passengers impacted at this point is “at least” 24,500 customers, said Via spokesperson Marie-Anna Murat.

Murat said they are giving full refunds for the cancelled trips, a process that could take up to 10 days due to the volume of transactions.

“We know that this unfortunate situation has an impact on our passengers’ travelling plans and we apologize for the inconvenience it is causing,” said Murat.

The blockade is also continuing near New Hazelton in British Columbia, and is interrupting rail traffic between Prince Rupert and Prince George both ways until further notice, a Via statement said.

Via Rail is encouraging passengers to take alternate routes over the next few days and to check viarail.ca for updated trip schedules.

The B.C. government and hereditary chiefs have failed to reach an agreement on a peaceful resolution over the enforcement of an injunction in northwestern B.C. The dispute is over the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the nation’s traditional territory near Houston.

Police have been trying to clear protesters from the territory of Wet’suwet’en Nation. The RCMP arrested four people Friday as demonstrators continued to organize blockades in the area.

Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi

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