VIA Rail is a popular train company offering affordable ticket options to top travel destinations throughout Canada. Wanderu has the information you need for smooth travels with VIA Rail.

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How much luggage can I bring on my VIA Rail trip?

VIA Rail's luggage allowances vary by ticket type. Escape/Economy/Economy Plus fares are allowed to bring at least one small personal item and one medium carry-on bag up to 50 pounds. Business/Business Plus fares may travel with one personal carry-on bag and two medium carry-on bags up to 50 pounds.

Please note carry-on baggage for long distance trains traveling on the Western, Maritime and Regional ways differ. Escape/Economy/Economy plus passengers are allowed 1 small personal item and 1 medium carry-on bag up to 50 lbs. Touring/Sleeper plus/Prestige passengers are allowed 1 small personal item and 1 small carry-on bag up to 25 lbs

​Bicycles may be carried on certain trains.

See the VIA Rail luggage policy for more details and additional baggage pricing.

Does VIA Rail have amenities on board?

VIA Rail does offer WiFi, power outlets, bathrooms, and snacks for sale on board most of its trips. Please keep in mind that since these are complimentary it is within the carrier's rights to not offer them on specific routes or if there are technical issues outside of their control.

Does VIA Rail have a discount for children or infants?

VIA Rail offers a 50% discount for children between 2-11 years old on Economy Fares. Child tickets must be purchased on https://www.viarail.ca/en.
Babies and infants under 2 years old travel free provided that they do not occupy a seat.
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Can minors travel alone on VIA Rail?

Children between the ages of 8 and 17 may travel unaccompanied on VIA Rail, with restrictions. See VIA Rail's Unaccompanied Minor policy. Tickets for children traveling alone cannot be purchased online. To make arrangements, please inquire at a VIA Rail station ticket counter or contact a telephone sales agent at 1 888 842-7245.

​Will I be charged in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars?

All tickets sold through Wanderu.com are listed in USD and will be charged as such unless otherwise specified. For VIA Rail tickets, you will be charged in USD, but when you receive your actual ticket, it will display the price in the current CAD conversion rate.
Keep in mind that if you are using a foreign credit card or bank to purchase your ticket, online foreign conversion rates and/or fees may have been applied by your bank. For more information, please contact your credit card provider directly.
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I didn't receive my confirmation email or ticket from VIA Rail!

Email us at [email protected] or chat with us using the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen to request a copy of your ticket and we are happy to send it to you!

Do I need to print my VIA Rail ticket?

VIA Rail does not require a printed ticket to board the train. An E-Ticket is sent to you by email that you can load on most electronic devices. You will want to have your ticket ready to be displayed as you board for the agent to scan.

How early should I arrive at the station?

We recommend arriving at least 20-30 minutes before the departure time to prepare for the boarding process. If you are unfamiliar with the departure station, it's always good to leave extra time to find your way around!

Do I need an ID to board my bus?

Yes, VIA Rail requires you to present an ID to an agent to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, like a college ID, won’t work.
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Can I make changes to my ticket?

VIA Rail tickets are non-exchangeable by Wanderu. However, you can call VIA Rail's support team at 1-888-842-7245 and ask to speak to a Customer Support Desk - Internet Agent or email [email protected] if you wish to make changes to your current reservation for a new ticket of equal or greater value. Changes where the new ticket if of lesser value, are not possible, you will need to cancel and repurchase.

All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the departure time.

Can I cancel my ticket and get a refund?

Tickets are exchangeable and refundable prior to scheduled departure time according to the fare conditions of your selected fare. You can cancel your ticket directly on your Wanderu User Account or we can manually submit the request on your behalf. If you'd like us to submit the request for you, please email [email protected].

Escape Fare - These tickets are non-refundable. However, they are exchangeable (fees of 50% of fare or minimum of $20 per segment + fare difference).

Economy Fare - These tickets are partially refundable (fees of 25% of fare or minimum of $20 per segment). They are exchangeable (fees of 25% of fare or minimum of $20 per segment + fare difference).

Economy Plus - These tickets are fully refundable. They are exchangeable (fare difference only).

Business Fares- These tickets are partially refundable(fees of 25% of fare or minimum of $20 per segment). They are exchangeable (fees of 25% of fare or minimum of $20 per segment + fare difference).

Business Plus - These tickets are fully refundable. They are exchangeable (fare difference only).

Where is the train?

VIA Rail offers an online tracker to see when your train will arrive!

I missed my train! What do I do?

Catching the next trip out or requesting a refund for the unused ticket would be completely up to VIA Rail, since reservations are made directly with the carrier.
Usually, no refunds or credits will be given in instances where passengers miss the train, but you can always contact VIA Rail to inquire at 1 (888) 842-7245 or [email protected].

You can learn more about traveling on VIA Rail here. If you have further questions, you are welcome to reach out to us at [email protected], or by chat using the chat bubble on the right-hand side of the screen.

You can learn more about VIA Rail's covid policies here.

Safe travels!