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Official VIA Rail partner

Wanderu is an official partner of VIA Rail

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About VIA Rail

VIA Rail, also known as Via Rail Canada or simply VIA, is a Canadian intercity passenger rail line. With 843 routes, VIA Rail provides convenient, easy transportation across the Canadian provinces and territories, including British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, with notable stops in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Halifax.

VIA Rail's top priority is providing a safe, reliable and enjoyable experience for all passengers. While already green-certified and known for its amenities, VIA Rail has further modernized its trains to reach higher environmentally-friendly levels and provide an unparalleled travel experience. The new, state-of-the-art trains have wheelchair lifts in every accessible car, engines that meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 emission standards, and a more comfortable travel experience for passengers. The facilities also feature improved connectivity for the free Wi-Fi, wider aisles, and ergonomic seats, all while retaining the snazzy black and yellow paint scheme VIA Rail is known for.

Whether you're looking for a quick and convenient commute from Toronto to Ottawa or an incredible adventure across the country from Halifax to Vancouver, VIA Rail is the most comfortable and affordable way to travel.

VIA Rail is an official partner with Wanderu, so you can search all routes and prices effortlessly on Wanderu. Easily compare departure dates and prices to get the cheapest train tickets VIA Rail offers with no additional fees.

* #3 Best Ground Travel Provider in Canada * #4 Best COVID-19 Safety Measures * #5 Most Helpful Crew * #5 Best Wi-Fi * #5 Commuters' Favorite
  • #3 Best Ground Travel Provider in Canada
    • #4 Best COVID-19 Safety Measures
    • #5 Most Helpful Crew
    • #5 Best Wi-Fi
    • #5 Commuters' Favorite

VIA Rail Amenities

Air conditioningAir conditioning
ToiletToilet
Extra legroomExtra legroom
Green certifiedGreen certified
Loyalty rewardsLoyalty rewards
FilmsFilms
Power pointPower point
SnacksSnacks
WiFiWiFi

Quickview

VIA Rail train coverage

Daily Trips722
stations134
cities122
countries1

What travelers are saying about VIA Rail

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with VIA Rail had to say about their travel experience.

Traveling During COVID-19

"Appreciated the social distancing in the station and on the train."
based on 558 reviews

Onboard Experience

"Had free, working WiFi on board so the trip flew by."
based on 793 reviews
"The train crew was super friendly and very professional."
based on 994 reviews
"Safe, friendly and economical way to travel."
based on 924 reviews
"The bus was on time."
based on 979 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 991 reviews
"It was much cleaner than I thought it would have been."
based on 1064 reviews

VIA Rail reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for VIA Rail

(Based on 1190 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.2

Timeliness

4.5

Staff

4.5

Value

3.5

Condition

4.5

VIA Rail passenger reviews

5.0

Furaha

19 November 2022- Visiting family

Toronto to Montreal

Pros: The trip was good. Cons: Nothing.

Pros: The trip was good. Cons: Nothing.

5.0

Sameer

14 November 2022- Visiting family

Windsor to Toronto

Pros: Pleasant and comfortable journey. Good service and friendly staffs. Smooth check in. Overall wonderful journey . Cons: Everything is fine. Keep it up please improve the wi fi speed and connectivity. Tips: Nothing.

Pros: Pleasant and comfortable journey. Good service and friendly staffs. Smooth check in. Overall wonderful journey . Cons: Everything is fine. Keep it up please improve the wi fi speed and connectivity. Tips: Nothing.

5.0

Samar

13 November 2022- Solo travel

Montreal to Ottawa

I would like to thank the driver and appreciate his service he was very respectful and he drive safely

I would like to thank the driver and appreciate his service he was very respectful and he drive safely

5.0

Cary

12 November 2022- Vacation

Toronto to Montreal

Pros: VIA rail gets a lot of complaints concerning its speed and price, but I booked Toronto-Montreal well in advance and found it to be up there with the best rail experiences of my life. The Ontario coast is beautiful, the ride is smooth, and it's at least comparable...

Pros: VIA rail gets a lot of complaints concerning its speed and price, but I booked Toronto-Montreal well in advance and found it to be up there with the best rail experiences of my life. The Ontario coast is beautiful, the ride is smooth, and it's at least comparable to the speed of the trip by car, if not faster. Even if you could book a flight for the same price, which I couldn't, you'd spend just as long getting to and from the airports and clearing security. Highly recommend this route. Cons: DINING CAR. I have no complaints about VIA's speed or pricing, which both make sense to me as a fellow North American, but you really can't expect 6 cars worth of people to just sit still in their seats for 4 and a half hours. A bar car would really have made the trip a delight. Tips: The train has no kitchen to speak of, the service carts are basically vending machines on wheels. If you want something decent to eat on the train, bring it with you when you board.

More

5.0

Hoshai

11 November 2022- Solo travel

Toronto to Montreal

It was safe & good.

It was safe & good.

VIA Rail Routes & Network

VIA Rail’s train network features 843 train routes that connect 122 cities serving 134 stations. On average, VIA Rail performs about 722 train trips every day. The top cities to which VIA Rail offers the highest number of daily train service include Toronto and Kingston.

Top Cities Served by VIA Rail

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Toronto87:14 am5:30 am
Montreal1510:52 am2:47 am
Ottawa410:52 am3:25 am
Québec City66:26 am3:18 am
Windsor711:50 am3:59 am
London310:40 am2:31 am
Niagara Falls31:20 pm2:38 pm
Kingston210:30 am1:46 am
Saint-Lambert45:02 am3:18 am

Most popular VIA Rail routes

The train from Toronto to Kingston is VIA Rail’s most popular route. Trips from Québec City to Saint-Lambert and London to Toronto are also highly popular.

Top VIA Rail routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Toronto to Kingston232h 14m£39
Québec City to Saint-Lambert52h 35m£33
London to Toronto52h 35m£32
Niagara Falls to Toronto11h 58m£20
Ottawa to Montreal51h 36m£32
Toronto to Ottawa294h 19m£42
Québec City to Montreal43h 52m£33
Windsor to Toronto44h 17m£42
Toronto to Montreal195h 56m£42

VIA Rail Cancellation Policy

Important: In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, all VIA Rail tickets can be cancelled for a full refund at any time before departure. This policy applies to all trips through November 15, 2021, but may be extended. Once the policy expires, tickets will be subject to the standard cancellation and change policies outlined below.

All VIA Rail train tickets are fully refundable within the first 24 hours after purchase. Once 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change fee structure for VIA Rail bookings depend on the type of fare you purchased.

Escape Fare tickets: Can be changed for a fee of 50% of the ticket cost, or cancelled for a credit worth 50% of your ticket price.

Economy and Business Fare tickets: Can be changed for a fee of 25% of the ticket price, or refunded for a 25% fee.

Economy Plus and Business Plus Fare tickets: Fully refundable any time before the train departs, and can be exchanged for no fee.

You can easily cancel your VIA Rail ticket from your Wanderu user account or request a cancellation by contacting Wanderu or VIA Rail directly. Depending on when you cancel your ticket and your fare type, you will receive a refund or credit.

To reschedule your ticket, you can contact VIA Rail’s customer service at 1 (888) 842-7245. Be sure to request any necessary changes as soon as possible because tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the train has departed.

Wanderu also offers an affordable trip protection option by Allianz Global Assistance that you can purchase when booking your tickets. In addition to 24-hour assistance during your trip and coverage for lost or damaged baggage, trip protection can help you get your money back in case you need to cancel or change your trip. You can file a claim to have any VIA Rail change or cancellation fees reimbursed if you cannot travel due to covered reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or required work shifts.

VIA Rail Train Guide & FAQs

Do VIA Rail trains have WiFi?

Yes, VIA Rail offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with VIA Rail will have WiFi as advertised, some trains might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a movie just to play it safe. VIA Rail WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge-watch your favorite show.

How much luggage can you take on the VIA Rail train?

VIA Rail has quite an extensive baggage policy intended to best service all passengers while maintaining standard regulation.

Each passenger is allowed to carry on 2-3 pieces of luggage, depending on the fare class. Economy class passengers are allowed one personal item and one large bag, or one personal item and two small bags. Business class and youth (age 12-25) passengers are allowed one personal item and two large bags as carry on.

For all of these fare classes, one additional carry-on item is allowed for a fee of $40 for each direction. Sleeper and prestige class tickets have a carry-on allowance of one personal item per person and two small bags per cabin; all additional items must be checked.

Each passenger may check up to 2 bags for free. The maximum allowed weight for each baggage item is 23 kilograms, equivalent to 50 pounds. Each bag’s dimensions (length, width, height) must not exceed a sum of 158 cm, or 62 inches. Overweight baggage, oversized baggage, and extra baggage all incur a fee of $40 per item per direction.

Furthermore, you may bring one bicycle onboard for each adult ticket. Most trains have baggage cars with a rack that supports 12 bikes. Your bike should not be in any carrier or otherwise covered.

Are there power points or USB points on the train?

Yes, there are power outlets onboard VIA Rail trains. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power outlets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since VIA Rail might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend to bring a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

Where can you travel with VIA Rail?

The VIA Rail system spans 8 Canadian provinces from coast to coast: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. It is comprised of 9 distinct routes:

Perhaps the two most well known routes are the Canadian and the Ocean. One of VIA Rail’s signature trips as the longest, the Canadian takes you from Toronto to Vancouver. This train is world-renowned and is even featured on the back of the Canadian ten dollar bill. During the ride aboard the Canadian, you will get a view of incredible scenery out the window, from the lakes of Ontario, to the prairies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, to the boreal forests in Alberta, to the Canadian Rockies, with stops in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Jasper along the way. The Canadian train even has a dome car, made specifically to appreciate the incredible views aboard VIA Rail.

The Ocean is yet another amazing train ride offered by VIA Rail. Its route extends from Montreal to Halifax. Enjoy the beauty of French Quebec before you head through the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

What is VIA Rail's schedule?

On a typical day, VIA Rail has 722 scheduled train trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

Does VIA Rail allow pets?

Yes, you can travel with a pet on VIA Rail. You must make special pet reservation after you've purchased your ticket. The pet must fit inside a carrier with a total weight of pet and carrier not to exceed 10kg or 22 pounds.

Do you need an ID to get on the train?

Yes, VIA Rail requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

What are VIA Rail’s COVID-19 policies?

Visit our COVID-19 Travel Guide to view the most up-to-date information about VIA Rail’s cleaning protocols and adjusted ticket change policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are there toilets on VIA Rail trains?

Yes, there are bathrooms on VIA Rail trains. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.

Can tickets be canceled and refunded?

Yes, you can modify or cancel a VIA Rail reservation whether it’s an electronic or paper ticket. The easiest way to do this is by phone at 1-888-842-7245 or online on VIA’s website. A cancellation fee may apply.

Do you have to print your VIA Rail ticket?

VIA Rail does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Does VIA Rail offer any premium features like extra legroom or movies?

VIA Rail goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers.

Movies are provided during the train trip to keep you entertained. Don’t forget to bring your favorite pair of headphones, as headphones are not always included on the train. We recommend in-ear noise cancelling headphones due to their small size.

Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Well you’re in luck as VIA Rail offers extra legroom seating. Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good.

Cheap VIA Rail tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 722 VIA Rail trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and VIA Rail tickets start at just £16.53. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on VIA Rail tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap VIA Rail tickets. Wanderu offers the lowest available fares every day and charges no extra booking fees. Plus, you can compare VIA Rail prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travelers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by traveling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best bus and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

More transportation options

Top VIA Rail Routes

Top VIA Rail Destinations

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