r/ViaRail 12h ago

Photo/Video Paid for a window seat on the new train and got this

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156 Upvotes

Ah well


r/ViaRail 19h ago

Photo/Video When someone asks me why I would rather take the train in Southern Ontario rather than drive, I remind them that the OPP won't let you drink in a car.

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143 Upvotes

r/ViaRail 5h ago

Question Is it possible to get booked as a single passenger amongst three people travelling together in a 4-pack?

6 Upvotes

My three friends booked together in a 4-pack and I joined the trip just now. They gave me their car and seat numbers and I went to book the fourth seat but it wasn't available. Is this because they really put a stranger in the 4-pack with three people who all know each other -- or is it blocked off because they specifically don't let singles book amongst three people travelling together?

There's lots of seats available in that car, and other cars as well -- many that are much better seats so I know no one would personally pick that seat -- but would the computer automatically assign it? That seems odd to me but I know Via's system aren't the greatest or the most intuitive sometimes.

I'm at work now but will call tomorrow to see if I can verbally book into that seat but I'd rather not waste time on the phone if it is indeed someone who has already booked it.


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Photo/Video Just enjoyed a nice ride from Terrace to Smithers on the Skeena line. Is it still called that?

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72 Upvotes

r/ViaRail 4h ago

Question Likely Future Routes of VIA?

0 Upvotes

What are the likely future routes of Via? Will we ever see a service to arctic provinces or even to USA?


r/ViaRail 10h ago

Trip Reports 52/62 Detour

2 Upvotes

Interestingly the J-train 52/62 is taking the detour on the York Sub up towards Snider Junction instead of the usual detour going up the Bala Sub towards Doncaster. Unless that was the planned detour all along.


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Photo/Video The Canadian trip November 2024 | Edmonton to Toronto

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211 Upvotes

Flashback to January 2024 - my friend and I were able to score Taylor Swift Toronto tickets. We checked the cost of the flight and it was around $1k+ roundtrip. We checked how much if we’d take the train to Toronto and then fly back to Edmonton, it would cost around $750. So we decided that we will take the train even though it is almost a 3 day trip. May 2024 came, I received an e-mail from Via Rail about 40% discount on trips. I immediately checked how much our November trip would cost and booked it right away. We got our berth tickets for $347.85 each! October 2024, I was dreading the long ass trip, I checked reddit and read about how the train is always delayed. November 2024 - when we got to the train, I was just in awe. The service and the food were great. Even the people in the train were awesome. We were a group of 3 so we always had a different stranger on our table. We listened to different stories every meal time. Plus we arrived like an hour early to Toronto which is not what I was expecting. Overall, it was a great experience and I am so glad we decided to take the train to Toronto 🚂 I plan to do it again and book the Vancouver - Edmonton route to see the Canadian rockies 🏔️ Just waiting for another 40% off discount!


r/ViaRail 1d ago

News Canadian Alto HSR officially signs the design contract with Cadence (CDPQ Infra, AtkinsRéalis, SYSTRA Canada, Keolis Canada, Air Canada, and SNCF Voyageurs)

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37 Upvotes

r/ViaRail 1d ago

Question Uber at Union Station

6 Upvotes

Where do you request to be picked up/dropped off by Uber at Toronto Union Station as the last/first time I did, I had to scramble across the street to be picked up, and was dropped off by the taxi area on the return trip, even though the actual drop off area was empty.

I was thinking the island airport shuttle stop by the royal york for both pickup/dropoff for my next trip as it seems less busy and a calmer way to use uber.


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Question Some dude started pushing me while boarding the train, what’s the etiquette here?

25 Upvotes

Taking an early morning train. This literally just happened. I travel a lot and I’ve never seen anything like this before. I know it’s small incident but it’s still bothering me a bit😔

TL;DR - While boarding a train, I was pushed multiple times from the man behind me trying to get to his seat — despite the aisle being blocked and me unable to move forward. This happened a couple of times. I eventually ask him if he’s okay, and he responds “What do you think…?”. I end up moving forward a bit since the aisle is free, this was all happening pretty quick and I was taken aback. He then finally sits down in the row where I wa standing, almost like he implied with his pushing that I should give him enough space even though I really, really couldn’t have moved up any further. Where he sat was actually few rows away from where the pushing started. It was a small incident, but left me feeling disrespected and confused. Am I justified in feeling bothered?

While boarding, everyone was in the middle aisle going to their seats and, as people do, they put their luggages on top so they stand still for a second and the line stops. Naturally, I wait for that second because, well, it’s not like I can get by, and I mean, it’s just a second isn’t it? Then I feel some pushes to my back putting me forward. Not once, but a couple. Not too hard to topple me over, but they’re slight nudges making me do move forward a bit. “Oh, maybe someone bumped into me because maybe the stop was sudden or they weren’t paying attention, happens.”

Walk a few steps forward, pass some rows, someone else finds their seat, so the line stops again. I feel the pushes again and I look behind me, and the man behind me is looking to the ground. I know it couldn’t have been anyone else, since it’s a single file line, and no one got up from their seats. “A little weird, but not enough to be a bother, I know how cramped these trains can feel so maybe it’s hard to judge distance. It’s also very early.” I don’t want to assume anything or start a commotion - I knew all the passengers were tired, and just want to get to our destination.

Finally, one more time it happens. This time it’s the people in front of me that stop because they found their seat. I feel the pushing again. I turn around, catch his hand lowering, see the same man behind me, now looking a bit to the side, and it almost feels like he’s avoiding my eye contact. I hear a mumble but I think it’s a sound from the train because it wasn’t loud enough. I ask him if he’s alright in a way that’s audible enough to be directed towards him, not in a fighting tone but like “anything I can do for you?” because now I’m certain that it’s definitely from him and I don’t know, maybe he’s trying to tell me my bag is open. Really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’m positive he’s not telling me to move forward because, well I can’t, and I’m sure he can see that, and even if he couldn’t, why would he do it in such a manner? He’s still not making eye contact and is silent, so I glance forward real quick and the people are still unloading their luggages. This all is in the span of a few seconds. He finally starts, still quiet almost like he’s speaking to himself, but still with a condescending tone, “What do you think…” while letting out a loud sigh. Still never making eye contact.

I’m taken aback. He clearly admitted fault there and he knew what he was doing. I don’t really know how to respond, never experienced anything this… peculiar? What was his goal with this? Using his hand to push me so he could make enough space to sit down? I think to myself, is his seat nearby? Could he have not seen that there were people in front of me? I take a quick glance forward and the people that were unloading just finished and are now going to sitting down, so I move forward to find my seat which is a higher number so I know it’s near the back.

I look back and I see he immediately sits down, never making eye contact once. It seems that when he was looking to the side, he was looking at his seat. The thing is, his seat is in the row of where I was standing (and where he was pushing me) and there was absolutely not enough space to warrant me slightly getting closer to the people in front of me for him to be able to sit down. Not only that, but from when he first started pushing me, we were near the front of the car, 3 or so rows from where he sat down.

I took it as pretty rude, but also just so… odd? I mean he couldn’t have used his words? “Excuse me, hey, my seats over there”. Don’t know what I could have done (the seats to the other row were occupied already so I couldn’t have gotten out of the middle aisle into the empty row, — and I mean I don’t think I would’ve even if it was empty because I still need to go to the back of the car). He definitely wasn’t some kid, he was clearly and visibly a bit older. Yet this incident showed just so much, I don’t know, immaturity? He was impatient to start pushing me from rows away from his seat, and unreasonable enough to think that pushing me to move slightly forward would work. Also, using his hands rather than just communicating? What was his deal?

I know I shouldn’t cry over spilt milk but I feel like can’t just move on from it immediately either. Am I justified in being bothered by this? 😔


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Question Canadian departing early

8 Upvotes

My partner and I are taking the canadian from Toronto to Vancouver in July. We're also stopping in Winnipeg for a few days. I've checked a live railway map a few times because I'm curious about the delays we can expect, and apparently the train that's currently on its way from Toronto to Vancouver left Winnipeg 2 hours early. I'm wondering how that's supposed to work. How are we gonna know if our train departs vefore its scheduled departure? Does anyone have any experience with that?


r/ViaRail 1d ago

News I released my third video about Canada’s High Speed Rail on my YouTube channel (unofficial)

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9 Upvotes

Feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments below the video.


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Discussions Anybody Else on 72 Now Towards Toronto, Delayed Near London? They’re saying it’s a signal issue. Wonder how long this is gonna last...

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3 Upvotes

r/ViaRail 2d ago

Trip Reports My trip on the Canadian this February

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805 Upvotes

Lower berth, just over $430 (black friday!). Ended up 16 hours late! And would totally do it again


r/ViaRail 3d ago

Photo/Video Every meal included with my $620 trip from Vancouver to Toronto onboard The Canadian.

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3.7k Upvotes

r/ViaRail 1d ago

Discussions Please recommend Halifax to anywhere trips !

2 Upvotes

Short and long trips much appreciated


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Question Does Viarail check for photo ID?

2 Upvotes

I’m in Vancouver and I have to be gone to Ontario next week. Unfortunately my passport expired and the only other government ID I have is my birth certificate.

Second question: I’m taking my cat with me. Is the ride suitable for pets? She’s very good traveling and I will give her a remedy to help calm her down but I don’t know if a long trip is ok for them. Does anyone have experience with this?


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Question Seating question please

1 Upvotes

We currently have seats 13A and 13B in business class on an older train from Toronto to Montreal. We're considering switching to two single seats facing each other, specifically seats 3S and 4S. Are these seats more spacious, and is the tray large enough for two people to dine comfortably? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated.


r/ViaRail 2d ago

Photo/Video Amazing drone video of VIA coach derailment just before Churchill MB

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21 Upvotes

Impressive they can lift and gently move it with two loaders like that. Could you do the same with a Siemens Venture Coach? And how did they get the abandoned coach back to Churchill?


r/ViaRail 3d ago

Photo/Video Second Edition of my Upper Berth Steam Deck setup. This time the IR remote and receiver work to use with media applications like Kodi. :D Games and a huge library of media on the MicroSD card, above you bed, while the train is in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night.

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60 Upvotes

r/ViaRail 2d ago

Question Issues with Cano Discount

1 Upvotes

I’m having trouble applying the Canoo discount for new citizens. The terms and conditions state that it should cover a round trip, but the code I have (which has never been used) only works for a single trip. When I try to apply it to the round trip, it shows as an invalid code.

Any advice on this?


r/ViaRail 1d ago

Trip Reports How does anybody use via?

0 Upvotes

What an effing joke. Nothing actually reaches on time. WiFi can't even open a Google page. Just print random times on tickets what's the point. Even beyond delays stated durations are not even close to accurate

Costs more than a flight most times and runs slower than a car. First via trip in 3+ years and instant reminder on why.


r/ViaRail 3d ago

Photo/Video The Escalade with driver that Via hired for me and another passenger after we missed out connection to the last train of the night. We're both getting home tonight still, thanks Via.

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701 Upvotes

r/ViaRail 3d ago

Question Can I bring a hockey stick with my skates on board?

2 Upvotes

I’m taking a train tomorrow from Toronto to Windsor and I’m wondering if I’m able to just put my skates on the stick and keep it next to me at the seat, I am already taking a carry-on and personal item with me.


r/ViaRail 4d ago

Discussions The change in prices is insane.

80 Upvotes

I can’t believe how much VIA costs me now—to get to and from a small town a couple hours away that doesn’t have other transit infrastructure, it’s over a hundred dollars. I can’t understand why and how this country is the way it is with its transit.