An elderly woman has died while on a VIA train ride from Vancouver to Toronto.  She along with three other passengers had developed flu-like symptoms during the trip which began on Christmas Day.  The train was stopped in Parry Sound, Ontario for six hours yesterday after an 86 year old woman was reported to be unconscious and unresponsive. Emergency crews boarded the train and confirmed the woman had died.  A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Health says they are still awaiting test results to determine the cause of the illness. The three other passengers were taken to hospital.

The elderly woman who died had boarded in Edmonton on December 26th with two relatives.  The two compartments occuped by the passengers were quarantined, and the train arrived in Toronto yesterday just before 4pm.  Health officials say it’s not believed any other passengers or train crew were exposed to the ailing passengers.