Looking for an easy, eco-friendly way to explore Canada’s stunning eastern provinces? Let someone else steer with VIA Rail’s new trains for the most comfortable and convenient way to travel between Québec City, Montréal, Toronto and Ottawa as well as from coast to coast.
Canada’s intercity train service VIA Rail has just launched state-of-the-art East Coast Corridor trains and you’ll definitely want to get on board this sleek new rail fleet.
Intercity by rail
VIA Rail’s Corridor intercity routes will transport you between Ontario and Québec provinces to major cities, such as Québec City, Montréal, Toronto and Ottawa, and panoramic landmarks like Niagara Falls.
It’s just over five hours by train from Toronto to Montréal, allowing you to visit two major metropolises across two provinces in one day.
Travel within Ontario from Toronto to Ottawa in 4.5 hours, or in just under six hours between Ottawa and Québec City.
The new VIA Rail fleet of trains runs between Québec City, Montréal and Ottawa with spacious and comfortable cabins that are fully accessible for all travellers.
Watch the scenery go by from large panoramic windows and move around easily with wider aisles and touchless automatic, interior doors.
What’s on board
Choose from award-winning Economy or Business class cabins – just like aircraft, but better.
Economy Class cabins feature comfortable, ergonomic seats with headrests and plenty of wriggle room to relax and enjoy the ride. Purchase light meals, such as sandwiches, snacks, and hot and cold beverages all while staying connected with free mobile Wi-Fi.
Business Class cabins up the ante, offering priority boarding, complimentary Wi-Fi and free newspapers along with extra baggage allowance.
Enjoy lunch and dinner meals with bread, an appetiser and a dessert (including the famous chocolate truffle) plus, Canadian wine or beer and hot drinks included in your Business Class fare. Breakfast meals include fresh fruit and hot beverages.
There is always a vegetarian pasta option available for the main course plus special dietary meals can be ordered at least 48 hours in advance.
Business Class passengers also have access to pre-boarding Business Lounges at select Corridor stations. You can even select and change your seat online, including single seats in Business Class for more space and privacy.
Overnight it
VIA Rail’s The Ocean sleeper train is the most scenic way to see Atlantic Canada between Montréal, Québec and Halifax, Nova Scotia – crossing the Maritimes in one day.
The 1,346km rail journey spans one night and one day in your choice of Economy or Sleeper Plus cabins with access to a service/lounge car for a selection of meals, snacks and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available from a takeout counter. You can also watch TV and use the free Wi-Fi in the service cars.
Overnight trains provide onboard accommodation from an upper berth for one, through to a combined cabin that sleeps four people.
Renaissance Sleeper Plus cars on The Ocean offer cosy quarters for two – with or without your own onboard shower – while spacious Economy Class cars will rock you to sleep in your seat with the gentle motion of the train.
Sleeper Plus passengers also have priority access to a dining car with wait staff to serve fresh meals, regional Canadian specialties and local wines on linen-laid tables to enjoy with your panoramic view.
Go from coast to coast
Keen on a bicoastal scenic train journey? The Canadian is VIA Rail’s iconic Western Canada train experience, travelling east-west between Toronto and Vancouver, as well as Vancouver to Toronto – making it super easy to travel in either direction with the same comforts!
It’s an epic 4,466km journey of four nights and four days crossing Canada and there’s no better way to have a front-row seat from the prairies to lake country to the Rockies.
You’ll travel through five provinces with stops in Sudbury, Sioux Lookout, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Kamloops on the way with time to disembark and stretch your legs.
Passengers can pick from Sleeper Plus, Prestige and Economy classes with the bonus of Skyline cars with a dome for elevated 180-degree views.
Prestige Class features a double bed and in-cabin bathroom including a shower, while Sleeper Plus passengers include accommodation in either cabins or berths and have access to shared showers on board.
Meals prepared by onboard chefs are served in the dining car and included in Prestige and Sleeper Plus fares. Special perks for premium passengers include wine tastings.
Best of all, The Canadian is a year-round rail service with a Winter Snow Train for epic vistas of the snowcapped Rockies.
Travel sustainably
Train travel is increasingly embraced by travellers as a more environmentally friendly mode of transport with less impact and contribution to climate change.
VIA Rail’s new fleet is more than three times greener than flying – and way more comfortable. These new trains are also almost twice as efficient as road transport in the Corridor.
Choosing train travel over flying or driving helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Travelling by train from Toronto to Montréal one-way produces 55kg of CO2 compared to 186kg by air and 104kg by car.
VIA Rail also focuses on minimising its footprint throughout the journey through packaging, waste management, reusing and recycling.
For more info and to get inspired, visit viarail.ca
This article is brought to you by VIA Rail Canada:
