MONTREAL, Que. — CN has halted freight operations and embargoed all traffic on its Toronto-Montreal main line after reportedly armed native protesters erected an illegal blockade on the company’s tracks near the eastern Ontario town of Marysville, located approximately 10 miles east of Belleville, Ont.

CN obtained an injunction barring illegal occupation of the rail corridor when First Nations protesters blocked the line in April of this year. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) refused to enforce the order issued by Justice Campbell of the Ontario Superior Court at that time. First Nations protesters are again blocking CN’s rail corridor and the OPP continues to refuse to intervene.

CN, in the interest of ensuring the safety of its employees and operations, will indefinitely halt all rail operations on its Montreal-Toronto main line, including VIA Rail passenger trains, until the company has received assurances that the OPP will remove protesters and guarantee such safety, the company said in a release.

CN’s Toronto-Montreal corridor is the busiest on its system, accommodating an average of 25 freight trains and 22 VIA Rail trains on a daily basis. VIA Rail yesterday cancelled passenger service in the corridor for June 29.