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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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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 627 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.

* #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 Trips513
stations105
cities90
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 891 reviews

Onboard Experience

"Had free, working WiFi on board so the trip flew by."
based on 1177 reviews
"The train crew was super friendly and very professional."
based on 1450 reviews
"Safe, friendly and economical way to travel."
based on 1335 reviews
"The bus was on time."
based on 1406 reviews
“Seats were really comfy and spacious”
based on 1465 reviews
"It was much cleaner than I thought it would have been."
based on 1550 reviews

VIA Rail reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for VIA Rail

(Based on 1713 reviews)

4.5
Ratings (Out of 5)
Comfort

4.3

Timeliness

4.5

Staff

4.5

Value

3.5

Condition

4.5

VIA Rail passenger reviews

1.0

Ashton

24 June 2025- Solo travel

Montreal to Toronto

being on time

4.0

Salena

17 June 2025- Vacation

Montreal to Toronto

Pros: Very spacious and comfortable train, very easy luggage storage and friendly staff. Cons: Very late arrival! Make sure to plan several hours of delay into your arrival time when lining things up after.

5.0

Roberto

12 June 2025- Visiting family

Québec City to Montreal

Pros: La puntualità. Cons: La pulizia dei bagni.

1.0

Hristina

5 June 2025- Visiting friends

Toronto to Montreal

Pros: The facilities were fine; however, the whole trip was brought down by the fact that the trains were late both ways. It was half an hour late from Toronto to Montreal and more than 2 hours late on the way back. I understand it wasn't much that can be done but that made my journey extremely long and I ended up being back home at 2am. Unfortunately, the only compensation is a credit toward a future trip but I am in Canada for a short amount of time and will not have an opportunity to use that. The cost of the ticket was quite high, and considering how big the delay was, it could not justify the cost of the ticket. Cons: The time of the journeys. Tips: Plan your trips assuming you might not be on time.

5.0

Renata

17 May 2025- Visiting family

Windsor to Toronto

Pros: Nice,frienly and comfortable for 4 hours. Cons: Morefood option. Tips: Recommend 100%.

VIA Rail Routes & Network

VIA Rail’s train network features 627 train routes that connect 90 cities serving 105 stations. On average, VIA Rail performs about 513 train trips every day. The top cities to which VIA Rail offers the highest number of daily train service include Toronto and Montreal.

Top Cities Served by VIA Rail

CityRouteEarliest trainLatest train
Toronto128:13 am4:30 am
Montreal205:31 am2:50 am
Ottawa79:29 am2:26 am
Québec City87:23 am12:14 am
Windsor1010:50 am2:59 am
London39:35 am1:18 am
Niagara Falls612:20 pm1:58 pm
Kingston28:13 am12:28 am
Saint-Lambert75:31 am12:20 am

Most popular VIA Rail routes

The train from Toronto to Montreal is VIA Rail’s most popular route. Trips from Windsor to Toronto and Toronto to Ottawa are also highly popular.

Top VIA Rail routes

RouteDaily TripsDurationPrice
Toronto to Montreal205h 59m£40
Windsor to Toronto54h 17m£40
Toronto to Ottawa324h 24m£40
Montreal to Québec City103h 12m£31
Montreal to Ottawa52h 3m£31
Niagara Falls to Toronto11h 58m£19
Québec City to Saint-Lambert102h 50m£31
London to Toronto62h 31m£31
Toronto to Kingston212h 15m£30

VIA Rail Cancellation Policy

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.

Corridor trains (Québec City‑Windsor route)

Escape Fare tickets: Non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

Economy and Business tickets: Exchangeable for a fee. Exchange fee is either 25% of fare or $20 (whichever is higher) per direction. Any difference in fare will be charged if the new fare is more expensive.

Partially refundable: 50% of fare or $20 per direction (whichever is higher).

Economy Plus and Business Plus tickets: Fully exchangeable and refundable. For exchanges, any difference in fare will be charged if the new fare is more expensive.

Long-distance trains – West, Maritime, and Regional trains

Escape Fare tickets: Non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

Economy and Business tickets: Exchangeable for a fee. Exchange fee is either 25% of fare or $20 (whichever is higher) per direction. Any difference in fare will be charged if the new fare is more expensive.

Partially refundable: 50% of fare or $20 per direction (whichever is higher).

Escape Fare tickets: Non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

Sleeper Plus (discounted fare) tickets: Exchangeable and refundable for a fee. Fee is either 10% of fare or $50 (whichever is higher) per direction. For exchanges, any difference in fare will be charged if the new fare is more expensive.

Sleeper Plus (regular fare) tickets: Fully exchangeable and refundable. For exchanges, any difference in fare will be charged if the new fare is more expensive.

Prestige tickets: Exchangeable: any difference in fare will be charged if the new fare is more expensive.

Fully refundable if canceled 90+ days before departure.

Partially refundable if canceled within 90 days of departure: $500 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

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.

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

Carry-on baggage allowance in the Québec - Windsor Corridor

Escape, Economy & Economy Plus class passengers:
• 1 personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you – max. size: 17 x 13 x 6 in (43 x 33 x 15 cm), max. weight: 25 lb (11.5 kg)
• 1 medium carry-on item – max. size: 25 x 16 x 12 in (64 x 41 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg)
• Additional carry-on for Escape and Economy: 1 large item – fee: CA $25 + tax per direction., max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg). Limited space available. • Additional carry-on for Economy Plus: 1 large item – fee: CA $15 + tax per direction., max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg). Limited space available.

Business & Business Plus class passengers:
• 1 personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you – max. size: 17 x 13 x 6 in (43 x 33 x 15 cm), max. weight: 25 lb (11.5 kg)
• 2 large carry-on items – max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg) each

Carry-on baggage allowance for long-distance trains (Trains traveling on the Western, Maritime and Regional ways)

Escape, Economy & Economy Plus class passengers:
• 1 personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you – max. size: 17 x 13 x 6 in (43 x 33 x 15 cm), max. weight: 25 lb (11.5 kg)
• 1 medium carry-on item – max. size: 25 x 16 x 12 in (64 x 41 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg)
• 1 large item – max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg) • 1 additional checked large item – fee: CA$40 + tax per item and per direction, max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg)

Tourist, Sleeper Plus & Prestige passengers:
• 1 personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you – max. size: 17 x 13 x 6 in (43 x 33 x 15 cm), max. weight: 25 lb (11.5 kg)
• 1 medium carry-on item – max. size: 25 x 16 x 12 in (64 x 41 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg)
• 2 large items – max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg) per item
• Additional checked baggage: 2 items – fee: CA$25 + tax per item and per direction, max. size: 30 x 19 x 12 in (76 x 48 x 30 cm), max. weight: 50 lb (23 kg) per item

Oversized baggage:
• Between 61 and 71 linear in (154 and 180 linear cm)* – fee: CA$25 + tax per item and per direction
*Linear dimensions are obtained by adding the length, width and height.
Surcharges for overweight or oversized items apply to checked baggage only.

Overweight baggage:
• Between 50 and 70 lb (23 and 32 kg) – fee: CA$25 + tax per item and per direction

Oversized baggage:
• Between 61 and 71 linear in (154 and 180 linear cm)* – fee: CA$25 + tax per item and per direction.
*Linear dimensions are obtained by adding the length, width and height.
Surcharges for overweight or oversized items apply to checked baggage only.

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.

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.

On a typical day, VIA Rail has 513 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 513 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 £14.59. 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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