Bob Coker, Eric Camolese and Roger Snape received Quinte West Volunteer Excellence Awards on Monday night from Mayor Jim Harrison and Councillor Michael Kotsovos. Absent is Larry Ferguson. (Photo by: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Eric Camolese calls it “the portal to the world”.
He was part of a presentation to Quinte West council on Monday night regarding Via Rail service to the city.
After a hiatus where no trains were stopping, Via now picks up approximately 8,000 people a year from Trenton Junction.
Between November 6, 2017 and March 4, 2018, Camolese said there were 148 passengers at Trenton’s station on one new train alone which represents a 5% growth.
Camolese says the numbers are very important when pleading their case for more trains making stops here.
He says there are options like having trains stopping twice more in the morning hours, as well as three stops in the early afternoons in both directions.
Mayor Jim Harrison agrees.
As for the next steps, Harrison says they need to get together with Via executives and plead their case.
Councillor Karen Sharpe said without the work of Camolese, Bob Coker, Larry Ferguson and Roger Snape, they wouldn’t have the number of stops they do now.
She also suggested re-energizing the marketing plan to make sure people are aware the transportation option is available locally.
