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Of about 300 passengers on Via’s train heading to Toronto from Ottawa, one received a minor scratch from the crash that happened around 2 p.m.

“We are very, very sorry about the inconveniences the situation may cause and this is beyond our control,” said Bélanger.

“It’s an unprecedented situation and it’s been a challenge to find motorcoaches to carry all our passengers.”

Bélanger said that as of Saturday morning, there was no indication that Via would need to provide alternate transportation again Saturday.

“We will do the best we can to minimize the impact on our passengers today. The important thing is to bring them to their destination as safely and as comfortably as possible.”

More than 4,000 of its passengers and 16 trains were affected. Via managed to secure 11 buses and some passengers were even transported by taxi, she said.

However, not all passengers travelling Friday managed to hop on a bus.

“No alternate transportation is available and no service will be provided for trains leaving from Montreal to Toronto, Toronto to Montreal and Toronto to Ottawa,” according to a Via statement Friday evening. Services between Ottawa and Montreal would continue to operate, however.

Philip Mak had boarded a Via Rail train in Toronto Friday when passengers were informed about the derailment.

“Honestly, I’m very annoyed,” said Mak, adding that he would be trapped in Toronto for a few hours.

He said he discovered while waiting at the ticket booth that it was unlikely that the train would be departing at all. Mak said he had already made plans in Ottawa, so he and a friend had to find other arrangements.

“We managed to get the last two Greyhound tickets on the 9:15 p.m. bus to Ottawa and get in at 2 a.m.,” he said.

“Needless to say, we’re extremely unhappy,” Mak said. “I was going to the cottage for a relaxation weekend and not off to a very good start.”

Jillian Dakin had planned to visit family for the long weekend, but she said it was unclear how long she would be waiting for a bus.

“I’m a little upset, but there’s nothing that I can do personally,” she said.

Dakin, who had planned on getting off at Fallowfield, said she had called her parents and hoped they would drive to Kingston.

“I’m just hoping my parents will be very generous and come get me. If not, then I would be stuck until I could get a bus,” Dakin said.

Others took to social media to vent their frustrations.

Over two hours delayed and not ONE courtesy announcement in the business lounge from @VIA_Rail explaining our options or wait time. Not cool — Matt Borrelli (@MattBorrelli) August 1, 2014

Not happy with @VIA_Rail right now. Got the notice of derailment 2.5 hrs after I got off 46, phone # has busy signal. — Andrea Toole (@andreat76) August 1, 2014

#ViaRail? Try #ViaFail. — Scott Lemoine (@MrScottLemoine) August 1, 2014

VIA RAIL STOP DOING THIS TO ME!!! Trains all cancelled again #derailment2 — Alana (@alanajh2) August 1, 2014

@VIA_Rail 5 hours later, still not in Kingston. Never ever taking the train again. Ever. #horrible — Natasha Beitman (@natashabeitman) August 2, 2014

Passengers on the train involved in the collision said in tweets that firefighters and other emergency responders had come on board to check out the situation.

Andrew Noble, a passenger heading from Toronto to Ottawa, said only one bus arrived in the first hour that he was stuck in Kingston.

“Unfortunately many buses needed & avail limited on long weekend,” Via said on Twitter in response to another passenger.