Train Travel Canada: Via Rail Business Class

The loyal readers among you know that we almost always travel by car on our trips through Canada. Sometimes we change to ferries or smaller boats, but we never travel by train in Canada. On our winter trip to Ottawa and Toronto, however, we decided to travel with VIA Rail Business Class. We wanted to test train travel in Canada. There were several reasons for this.

• In winter, the Canadian weather is unpredictable - we are lucky, we can do the route between Ottawa and Toronto, although with the rental car. Since nobody can guarantee that, however, the train travel seems more reliable and stress-free.
• On icy roads and dense snow, the distance between the two cities on a car ride can be quite uncomfortable.
• And then there was the curiosity: how do rail travel differ from traveling by bus or rental car? We wanted to test that and traveled by business class with VIA Rail from Ottawa to Toronto.

 

Train travel Canada in VIA Rail Business Class

The decision proved to be a wise one, as we were confronted with temperatures of up to -33 °C on our trip to wintry Canada, including the perceived wind chill factor. By the day of our departure to Toronto, the temperatures had risen again to a "comfortable" -25 degrees, but this is also a weather situation in which we, as Europeans spoiled by winter, whose winter temperatures very rarely fall below -5 degrees Celsius, prefer to be cautious.

Tickets at the station for train travel in Canada

We pick up our tickets for the trip from Ottawa to Toronto at the counter in Ottawa Central Station, where they are handed over to us on presentation of our passport. Only when we hold the tickets in hand, we find that we will travel in business class of VIA Rail. Thank you, VIA Rail, for the kind invitation! This allows us to use the Business Class Lounge at the train station, where we can serve up to the departure of the train to free drinks. I find it particularly pleasant that we have free Wifi access and can easily charge our mobile phone. Train travel Canada in a comfortable way!

 

 

Business Lounge guests

When our train, which comes from Montreal, enters the station, it is called in the Business Lounge. We take our luggage and queue with the other Business Class passengers. After the arriving passengers leave the train, the Business Class guests are taken to their wagon. Our seats are already reserved. Since there is no separate luggage cart on the train, the amount and weight of our luggage is limited. For large suitcases, there is a shelf at the beginning of the wagon where you can park them. In addition, we have a large storage compartment over our seats available. Sufficient space for our belongings.

 

 

Business Class Service at VIA Rail: Rail Travel Canada

Also during the train ride we have free Wifi available. So I can pass the time that our followers can experience our trip live on the social media channels. Only now and then does the digital access slow down a bit, but generally I can quickly upload my photos.

 

 

Snacks

But we would not be boring if we had no Wi-Fi. Shortly after leaving the Ottawa area, we are served a small snack: a drink - alcoholic or non-alcoholic - and some savory biscuits, similar to almost everyone else Transatlantic flight is offered. After that, nothing happens, certainly because the train stops again and again for short stretches.

 

 

Dinner in VIA Rail Business Class

Only on the longer route between Kingston and Oshawa, two places already on Lake Ontario, will we be served a warm dinner. This is brought on trays like in the airplane. I pick chicken with vegetables and Petar takes beef with puréed sweet potatoes. There is salad as an appetizer and a dessert: with me fruit, Petar Pudding. Finally, there's coffee, tea and - if you want - a liqueur, cognac and whiskey.

 

 

Arrival at Union Station in Toronto

Due to the snow conditions, the departures were delayed over and over again, and so our train rolls into Toronto's train station, Union Station, in the middle of the city center, about half an hour late. From here we have direct and easy access to the subway or skywalk, which allows us to reach our hotel in a few minutes, protected from the elements and dry feet, despite the storms and snow outside: the Delta Hotel on Lower Simcoe Street ,

 

 

Our conclusion on train travel in Canada with VIA Rail Business Class

With that, the Bahn Reisen Canada has proven itself for us, and maybe we also make a longer journey through the country by train? VIA Rail has convinced us with its service and made our wintry trip from Ottawa to Toronto an interesting experience.

 

 

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Do you know this?

• Our tip for the winter: the Winterlude in Ottawa
• Ottawa Winterlude hotels
• KLM and a carefree day in Amsterdam
• Trolley or travel bag - what is more practical for a train journey?
• Heuriger or Buschenschank - what is what?

Source: Rail Travel Canada: own research on site. We would like to thank VIA Rail for the kind invitation. However, our opinion remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos © Copyright MonikaFuchs and TravelWorldOnline