VIA Rail delivers a seamless, picture-perfect journey across Canada. To make planning your dream holiday easy, we’ve collected the questions travellers ask most and created this essential guide everything you need to know before booking your VIA Rail adventure.
There is no Wi-Fi on-board the Canadian train as well as limited phone connection. There is Wi-Fi available at Vancouver, Jasper, Winnipeg, Toronto train stations in the business lounges. We recommend downloading any music, podcasts or movies you may wish to watch during your journey.
For guests traveling on the corridor service complementary Wi-Fi is available onboard the trains and in the business lounge in the train stations.
Accepted forms of payment vary depending on the selected route, please see more details below.
Jasper-Prince Rupert, Winnipeg-Churchill & The Canadian trains
Forms of payment on board: Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard & American Express, Cash
Not accepted: VIA Rail Gift Cards, Debit Cards and Prepaid Credit Card
Québec City-Windsor corridor (including Niagara)
Forms of payment accepted on board: Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard & American Express, Debit cards: Interac, VISA Debit, Mastercard Debit * , Prepaid Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard & American Express *
Not accepted: Cash and VIA Rail Gift Cards
*Not available on US portion of the AMK train (NFNY-NEWY)
The Ocean (Montréal-Halifax)
Forms of payment on board:Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard & American Express
Not accepted:Cash, VIA Rail Gift Cards, Debit cards and Prepaid Credit Cards
Sudbury-White River
Forms of payment on board:
Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard & American Express, Cash
Not accepted: VIA Rail Gift Cards, Debit Cards and Prepaid Credit Cards
Montréal Senneterre-Jonquière trains
Important Note that it is preferable to pay with cash on these trains
Forms of payment on board: Cash, Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard & American Express
Not accepted: VIA Rail Gift Cards, Debit Cards and Prepaid Credit Cards
Yes, every HEP and LRC train carriage, whether in Business or Economy class, is equipped with at-seat power outlets for charging your phone. HEP technology is available in the Québec City-Windsor corridor, on the Canadian route (Toronto-Vancouver), and on select departures of the Ocean route (Montréal-Halifax).
In Economy class, the Renaissance train cars also offer at-seat power outlets, while the lounge cars do not provide them.
Private cabins aboard other VIA Rail trains also have power outlets for your convenience.
Yes, all trains have both air conditioning and heating facilities onboard.
Yes, there are bathrooms on every VIA Rail train. There are showers on some of the trains, depending on the route.
For long distance trains including The Canadian and Ocean routes, private washrooms and shared shower rooms are available for cabins. Berths have access to a shared bathroom and a shared shower room in each car.
Corridor trains (Québec City to Windsor route) have shared bathrooms, but no showers.
Yes! Food and beverages (coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, chips, sandwiches, etc.) are available. Depending on the class of travel you choose food and beverages are either included or available for purchase on board.
The baggage limits differ depending on which route you are travelling on and class. Your bags will be weighted at check in and if your bags are overweight you may be subject to extra charges.
The Canadian
Private Cabin/ Berths and Prestige Cabin customers are permitted to bring:
1 personal item
Item that must fit under the seat in front of you (purse, laptop bag, small backpack, etc.)
Max. size: 43 x 33 x 15 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in)
Max. weight: 11.5 kg (25 lb)
1 carry-on item
One (1) SMALL bag
Max. size: 53 x 41 x 25 cm (21 x 16 x 10 in)
Max. weight: 11.5 kg (25 lb)
The Ocean Route
Guests travelling in Sleeper Plus are permitted to bring the following luggage onboard:
1 Personal Item
Item that must fit under the seat in front of you (purse, laptop bag, small backpack, etc.)
Max. size: 43 x 33 x 15 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in)
Max. weight: 11.5 kg (25 lb)
1 Carry-on Item
One (1) SMALL bag
Max. size: 53 x 41 x 25 cm (21 x 16 x 10 in)
Max. weight: 11.5 kg (25 lb)
Checked Baggage
Two (2) LARGE baggage
Max. size: 76 x 48 x 30 cm (30 x 19 x 12 in) each
Max. weight: 23 kg (50 lb) each
The Corridor Service
Economy
1 personal item
Item that must fit under the seat in front of you (purse, laptop bag, small backpack, etc.)
Max. size: 43 x 33 x 15 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in)
Max. weight: 11.5 kg (25 lb)
1 carry-on item
One (1) MEDIUM bag
Max. size: 64 x 41 x 30 cm (25 x 16 x 12 in)
Max. weight: 23 kg (50 lb)
Additional carry-on
(1) LARGE additional carry-on item.
Fee: $25 + tax per direction.
Max. size: 76 x 48 x 30 cm (30 x 19 x 12 in)
Max. weight: 23 kg (50 lb)
Each passenger is responsible for their own baggage. Please only bring baggage that you can carry and store under the seat in front of you or on the overhead shelf unassisted. Any baggage over the weight limit may be charged which can be paid locally.
Business
1 personal item
Item that must fit under the seat in front of you (purse, laptop bag, small backpack, etc.)
Max. size: 43 x 33 x 15 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in)
Max. weight: 11.5 kg (25 lb)
1 carry-on item
One (1) LARGE carry-on item
Max. size: 76 x 48 x 30 cm (30 x 19 x 12 in)
Max. weight: 23 kg (50 lb)
Free Additional carry-on
(1) LARGE additional carry-on item.
Max. size: 76 x 48 x 30 cm (30 x 19 x 12 in)
Max. weight: 23 kg (50 lb)
Each passenger is responsible for their own baggage. Please only bring baggage that you can carry and store under the seat in front of you or on the overhead shelf unassisted. Any baggage over the weight limit may be charged which can be paid locally.
You will not have access to your checked luggage once onboard the Canadian until you have reached your destination. We recommend packing a smaller bag with the essentials you may require onboard including clothes, toiletries, phone chargers and any medication.
It is recommended to arrive at the train station 90 minutes prior to departure if you are checking in luggage.
For guests not checking in luggage it is recommended to arrive 1 hour prior to departure. If you do not have a physical ticket please speak to VIA Rail staff at the ticket desk to print your ticket.
All VIA trains are accessible to travellers in wheelchairs. The washrooms are equipped with grab bars, and narrow wheelchairs are available for boarding, detraining, and accessing the washrooms. Furthermore, our staff will help assist you to transfer between your passenger seat and your wheelchair. However, the availability of this equipment, as well as door widths, can vary by train car. Click here to view diagrams of cars that are wheelchair-accessible.
At TripsBeyond there are a number of ways you can contact us meaning that all you have to do is choose the option which is most convenient to you.
0800 270 0009
Request a Callback
Enquire
At TripsBeyond there are a number of ways you can contact us meaning that all you have to do is choose the option which is most convenient to you.
0800 270 0009
Make An Enquiry
Request A Callback
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