VIA Rail Canada Reviews 

Only one of five trips was less than 30 min late. Over hour late again from toronto to london.

This is the worst company with the worst policies ever. I traveled for many years with my trained service animal without issue. After the service animal policy changes in 2024 I was denied access with my dog. My options were to retain the animal or provide proof of his abilities. I paid a trainer for an evaluation and he confirmed his abilities. But this was not enough. They failed to provide a trainer they wanted me to use and because of a wording error by my physc Dr. I'm still refused. He clearly states that I have ptsd and my dog is trained for me but because he put that he is also for emotional support I'm denied. I put up for years with there delays and awful service and this is what you get. Boycott! I will never give them my money again. Trains are junk and the people are rude and entitled.

One of the worst train systems I’ve ever been on. Never get anywhere on time, waiting for nearly 40 mins in between stations every ride I have been on so far. Honestly the worst system ever, I have been on atleast 30 rides or more on this train and not once has it been on time.

Travelled Toronto to Montreal in Business Class. Onboard crew had a cold and impersonal manner about them. I asked for help with seat power not working and they gave couldn’t care less and incorrect solutions. Never offered a seat change. The train arrived just over 4 hours late. Their customer relations department refused my claim for late arrival compensation despite their published policy. It really means nothing as they can simply decide due to weather they will deny and claims for that date. We paid $500 for two one way tickets. We feel we did not receive our moneys worth.

The trains are always late, I’ve never had a train that was on time and it’s so disorganized when it comes to time management

Via is absolutely terrible. I’ve taken 8 trains in the last 6 months and only 1 arrived on time. The rest are 1-2 hours late. I’ve missed connections in Toronto. All they do is blame CN but GO transit also uses their tracks and manages to be on time. I wouldn’t recommend Via to anyone!!

Always delayed. Never on time. I have ridden several times and every time it has been A MINIMUM OF 3 HOURS LATE. Brutal travel experience. The cabin smells like farts on the old fleet as well.

7 hours for Québec City - Montréal. The train was stuck because of cargo trains (why?) that were blocking the way ahead. Nobody told us why.

I would avoid taking the line from Toronto to ottawa or vice versa if possible. It is never on time, I’ve taken this route at least 5 times both ways before and it is always late by an hour or more to the final destination.

Perhaps most frustratingly, even during peak hours Via Rail insists on stopping at the 12 stations along the way, like Trenton Junction or Cobourg, where hardly anyone boards or disembarks. You will spend upwards of 20 minutes sitting still on the tracks to let other trains go by.

If you have a mode of transportation scheduled later the same day as the via rail train, you will most likely miss it. Despite this being a routine issue, via rail fails to do anything to fix it and fails to offer any sort of compensation. Once again. Avoid this route unless absolutely necessary.

They are a victim of the rail lines that they use but don't own (CN track) and must 'share' with freight, but the whole operation is outdated, pathetic and frustrating. Constant delays, Soviet type experience in train stations waiting in line for hours. Poor updating of status of delays. They have spend billions on new rolling stock - so some great trains - but don't expect to arrive within an hour of the stated time.

Very bad experience, it will drive you to a crazy

Ottawa to Toronto. Delayed by over 90 min. The worst part was its -12C outside and the heat in the train was non existent. Everyone was wearing their winter coats as if we were outside for 6 hours. Costs twice as much as gas for driving would have been. Awful experience and I will never use VIA again.

Train is always late and they don’t give compensations if they are late for less than one hour. Often late by about 40 minutes, which is frustrating considering ticket prices

Boarding business class at Union Station, Toronto: A frustrating and unhelpful experience. Boarding staff are apathetic and one young lady demands that you weigh your suitcase as if you are entering a detention center. Someone from the Montreal team should provide training and oversight.

I think VIA RAIL NEEDS TO RETIRE SOME OLD TRAINS.
We took Via Rail from Toronto to Moncton New Brunswick at Christmas 2024. The train from Toronto to Montreal was perfect. However the Montreal to Moncton portion was AWFUL. It was obviously an old train. We were on it 17 hours Very very uncomfortable seats. Rather than take the chance of it going back we flew home. There was also a passenger agent named Richard who was unnecessarily rude and nasty towards my wife who relies on a cane for mobility. He had no patience Via rail will have to convince me to use their service in the future it gave me the impression of a NAZI CATTLE car.

The staff were excellent and helpful. The train was extremely clean and presentable. The only negative feature is in Canada there are multiple steep steps to get on and off which is a major factor for elderly customers. As the train goes to United States the exit and entrance are flat and quite easy to use

I have had 5 trips with VIA rail until now, 1 time delay for 3hrs, and they compensate half of the trip's worth. The phone service is fast, the attendants are nice and very helpful, and the staff will help you with baggage once requested.

I have taken a few trips with Via in the eastern part of Canada and they have been nothing but helpful and understanding when a situation arose that I need help with. The staff were wonderful and accommodating. Every employee I have come across was really great. The scheduling could be a bit better but overall experience is worth it.

This company is an utter disaster. Spent billions of dollars on new trains, and they are consistently delayed (and by that I mean EVERY time I have ever been cursed to ride in them). They did a massive "upgrade" to their website and it is garbage. Extremely poorly designed, always malfunctioning. And now they have the AUDACITY to CHARGE to select your seat on a train? Two people book together, and Via Rail's system seats us separately even though there are PLENTY of pairs of seats together on the train. Now I go to select those seats and now Via Rail is charging $7 per seat selection? YOU ARE PISSING EVERYONE OFF WAY MORE THAN YOU REALIZE VIA RAIL.

Allowing to put a pet in a baggage car alone is animal abuse! And this shocks me how much Canada considers itself democratic and humane while allowing such cruelty for an animal. I come from an Eastern European country and they have separate pet cars on every single train where you can take your pet with you on your bed safe and sound. Travelling alone can put a lot of anxiety on your animal, but imagine closing them off in a crate alone for a long time where the temperatures can drop. This is inhumane! Via rail has to dedicate a special pet car for every train in any direction, just like in all other European or Eastern European countries. Not only via rail doesn’t allow cats, they refused to let my emotional support cat in even with a letter from a doctor!