VIA Rail Canada | Planning and Travel 2010

VIA Rail Economy class seating is available on all trains. Business class travel, available on most Windsor-Quèbec City corridor trains, includes in-station Panorma Lounge access, priority boarding, and complimentary onboard meal with wine. Sleeper class travel (single-occupancy berth or cabin accomodating one to four travelers) is available on Winnipeg-Churchill, Montréal-Gaspé and "The Ocean" Montréal-Halifax trains. Sleeper Touring class (berth or cabin, complimentary meals and snacks, exclusive Park Car dome access) is available on "The Ocean" Montréal-Halifax (mid June to mid October only), and "The Canadian" Toronto-Vacouver trains. Suite package upgrade available on Toronto-Vancouver only. Touring class travel (Complimentary meals, exclusive dome car access) available on Jasper-Prince Rupert (June to mid September only). Jasper-Prince Rupert passengers must arrange independent overnight accommodations for Prince George layover.

For the best fare its smart to book early, be flexible with travel schedule and avoid peak travel times. To compare compare fares, buy tickets and obtain VIA Rail Canada information about traveling by train in Canada visit the VIA Rail website. Reservations may also be made at VIA ticket counters, by phone or at Ticket Express self-service ticketing kiosks (selected stations). Canadian and US residents are eligible to participate in VIA Prèfèrence, a complimentary program that awards points for VIA travel. Points are redeemable for discount travel, airline-miles, gift certificates and more.

Year-round discounts are available to a variety of VIA Rail travelers. Tots, ages 0-24 months, travel free when sharing a seat with an adult. All classes of travel are half-price for Children, ages 2-11. Students, ages 12 and up, are eligible for discounted Economy class fares. For student travelers, ages 18 and over, an ISIC (International Student Identity Card) is required; however Youth, ages 18-25, are entitled to discounted fares on all classes of travel. Senior travelers, ages 60 and up, are entitled to discounts on all Economy class fares. Groups of 10 or more travelers save on Economy fares. For estended travel invonving multiple trips, see Rail Pass Travel Savings, below. A limited number of travel discount and supersaver fares are available for 5-day advance purchase. Additionally, the VIA Rail website offers discount travel on selected fares.

VIA Rail Canada offers a choice of two Economy class rail passes. VIA Rail Canrailpass offers travel anywhere in Canada for seven one-way trips within a 21-day period. VIA Rail Corridor Canrailpass is valid for seven one-way trips within a ten-day period between Quèbec City, Quèbec and Windsor Ontario (including Montrèal, Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Niagara Falls, Kitchener, Stratford, London, Sarnia and all intermediate stations). BizPak and VIA 6 Pak offer discounts on multiple round-trips between any two cities served by VIA Rail. Passes must be purchased at least three days prior to date of first trip.

VIA Rail Canada stations range from wilderness clearings not accessible by car to sprawling downtown complexes housing numerous VIA Rail passenger services including ticketing and baggage transfer, intermodel connections, ATMs, restrooms and more. While advance ticketing is advised, many larger stations staff ticket counters and house Ticket Express self-service ticketing kiosks. Exclusive to Business class passengers are Panorama Lounges in Quèbec City, Montrèal, Dorval, Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston and London. Complimentary WiFi access is available in all Panorama Lounges and selected stations including Edmonton, Halifax, Jasper, Moncton, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Meals, snacks, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on all trains except Victoria-Courtenay, Toronto-Niagara Falls and Sudbury-White River. Business class passengers enjoy complimentary full-course dining -- bar and wine selections included -- on most Windsor-Québec City Corridor trains. Complimentary full meal service is provided for Sleeper Touring class on "The Canadian" Toronto-Vancouver and "The Ocean" Montréal-Halifax trains; and for Touring Class on the Jasper-Prince Rupert train. Availability of alcohol is subject to Provincial laws. Kids's meals are available in Business class on most Corridor trains; and for Sleeper Touring class on Toronto-Vancouver and Montréal-Halifax trains. Availabity of Kosher and other special meals varies and must generally be requested well in advance. Special needs passengers may request in-room or at-seat tray meals.

Business and Sleeper Touring class passengers have access to personal power outlets. All trains welcome cell phones (limited coverage in some remote areas). Wireless internet access is available aboard most trains, in many Corridor stations and in Panorama Lounges. Children's activities are available on Toronto-Vancouver, Jasper-Prince Rupert, Montréal-Halifax, Montréal-Gaspé and most Windsor-Québec City Corridor trains. Movies, TV shows and music can be downloaded from the onboard iTunes Entetainment Station.

Most trains allow two carry-on pieces and three checked pieces of luggage per traveler (one carry-on and four checked on selected Toronto-Montréal, Toronto-Kingston and Montréal-Halifax trains). Acceptance of checked luggage is limited on Jasper-Prince Rupert, Toronto-Windsor and Montréal-Gaspé trains. Checked luggage is not accepted on Victoria-Courtenay, Toronto-Niagara Falls, Toronto-Ottawa, Toronto-Sarnia, Ottawa-Montréal, Montréal-Québec City trains. All bags must be tagged; carry-on pieces may not weigh over 50 lb/22 kg/3.5 stone; checked pieces, not over 70 lb/32 kg/5 stone. Fees are charged for the transport of sleds, kayaks, sailboards, dog sleighs, bicycles, child-carriers, household pets and excess, heavy or oversized baggage (no charge for skis). Dangerous, fragile, valuable, oversized and overweight items are prohibited. Baggage should be checked at least 60-minutes prior to departure.

Childen aged 7 or under must by accompanied by an adult when traveling aboard VIA trains. Children ages 8-11 may travel unaccompanied in some instances providing certain conditions are met including the approval of a travel waiver ($15CDN processing fee). Children ages 12 and older may travel unaccompanied. For details about train travel discounts for children, see Special Fare Discounts, above.

VIA Rail strives to assure accessible travel for individuals whose eyesight, hearing, mobility or learning capacity is impaired. Special provisions usually available include advance-boarding, priority seating, special request stops and assistance with boarding, detraining and baggage. Escorts meeting certified needs for assistance and certified service animals are entitled to free travel. Arrange for special needs (at least 48 hours in advance) at any VIA ticket counter or by phone (Canada and US only) at 1.888.VIA.RAIL; TTY, for hearing and speech-impaired individuals, at 1.800.268.9503.

When reserving tickets, passengers crossing the Canadian/US Border must state date of birth, gender, country of citizenship, and type of ID to be carried. Valid ID for US and Canadian citizens, ages 16 and over, includes Passport, Passport card (US), Trusted Traveler card and Enhanced driver's license. Alternative recognized ID is valid for official travel by US Merchant Mariner and Military personnel, and for travel by Native Americans. US and Canadian citizens under 16 may also present a certified embossed birth certificate or other recognized document . Children, age 14 and under, may not cross the border alone. Children under 18, not crossing the border with both parents, must carry a notarized letter of permission signed by any parent or guardian not present. Passports are required for citizens of other countries as are visas in many instances. Citizens of other countries are required to enroll in the US-VISIT program (`$6USD fee) when entering the US for the first time. Complete border crossing information is available online: for entering Canada, check out canadainternational.gc.ca; for entering the US, go to travel.state.gov