VIA Rail Canada Reviews 

Via rail did amazing today ! My partner has a brain injury and needs assistance to go up to the platform .
A young Asian man immediately got someone to take him up so he didn’t have to wait …the guy who took him up was fun with a stuffed animal in his pocket and was really nice and inclusive .I am sure that this made my boyfriends day !
It was the 11:30 train to Windsor on March 23rd !

Wrote to customer service to find out if I can take my ebike(pedal assist) on the train from TO to Montreal. I write to customer service because that info is not clear on the website, what is their answer? Visit website re baggage. Why does it take several emails to get a simple answer? The email just sprouts corporate non-answers. Last year VIA RAIL said that in 2024 new trains would come in and yes, ebike could go on the train. It is 2024 and NO, you cannot take an ebike on the train, not even a reguar bicycle, only a foldable one. Our train infrastructure is pathetic.

The train (train55 car 1, March 17, 2024 Ottawa to Oshawa) was spotless, comfortable and our waiter (concierge? Attendant?) was excellent and very courteous and attentive. Wish I could remember his name (Paizal? Faizal? Couldn't fully see the tag on his shirt) he was great. Will be travelling with Via more in the future.

Quite the gong show at the London station this morning. Going to exit the door, hearing no, no, no getting yelled at quite loudly, turn around and yelled at no exit, we’re working there. I said it should be blocked off then, not getting yelled at. Then the same person let a vehicle in with no “work” details on it and got a ride that’s blocked off with actual work trucks. Then I had to speak to the “person in charge” as if in all my 47 years there’s no manager or supervisor. I had too many bags and she said, did you not read the baggage instructions? My brain getting searched instead of an adult who has an education in customer service or supervision who says, if you go over there or pack everything into your bag you will be fine as long as it’s not over… I took the refund and and saved $43 on a ride to my destination.

What a HORRENDOUS site to navigate. I was trying to get information regarding a round trip from Ottawa to Edmonton. I tried getting information numerous times only to be advised there was no schedule available. I called the 800 number 3 times and after PAINFULLY long wait times I simply hung up and proceeded to book the trip via Porter Airlines in less than 3 minutes. Via sorry but you've lost a client and I will NEVER use your services

Customer Service Call: Answered the phone in 2 rings, answered my query immediately, and processed my request just as quickly. Didn't catch the representative's name, but was incredibly helpful in a moment of need.

I have never taken a train that was on time in all the time I’ve used Via rail. There are always random stops without explanation and you end up 30mins to an hour late. They should just add it to their travel time so you’ll be pleasantly surprised if they are on time. Driving from Ottawa to Montreal it always quicker

On February 01, 2024 My wife and I went to Quebec city by train (VIA RAIL) and spent the weekend there. Car 5 and ( 4 returning at 3pm)
When we were returning from Quebec city we encountered problems on the train with the service personnel there. We were not given the proper seats that we had asked for? our seats were switched to the opposite side, facing back when leaving Quebec city? We inquired why and we were told it was a gliche in the system?
I was bending over to tie my shoelaces when a VIA passenger service person growled at me and said move it! She had no name tag and she hurried off the train when it stopped in Ottawa? This same person went around glaring at all the passengers when she got on the train from Montreal? There was Iliana from VIA service personnel who was nice to us and helped us when prompt.
There were 2 interruptions because of faulty switches on the tracks during our return from our trip (1hr down time)
My wife was told that there was no stops in-between Ottawa and Quebec city and so we booked our trip to Quebec city and find out that my wife was given poor information about the stops that the VIA train would make? It stopped at all stops?
Our trip by train was not as one would expect from a fine company?
We took the train to give ourselves a break from driving and did not expect to be treated in this manner on VIA RAIL.

Richard Roch

9 hour delay . Unacceptable. We're not informed at all only about 4 hour delay. Missed our rental car missed a day of touring. Customer service could care less . Write to president who bounced it back to customer service. Via used to be good. They have gone to not good and uncaring. Maybe time for new president of via who actually cares!

Spent over $400 only to be sitting in a worn out, almost no padding seat from Ottawa to Toronto from probably the 1980’s. Time to retire these fleets for your riders.
Disappointed rider…

I tried to book a trip and after 4 attempts, I gave up. Their online booking system has lots of bugs and sucks, typical for government owned entities. I plan to go to the via rail station in person to buy my tickets. Not only my experience was totally disappointing but disgusting. This should be a simple thing to do like ordering online which I did hundreds of times with other business entities with no issues at all. I have a good idea why government cannot do things right. I would rather not say more for fear I will be banned for expressing my honest opinion.

I hate driving to Toronto, so I take the train and go business class all the way.

Parking problems
train trip was fine but the new parking system using QR codes was disaster. The site was down when I first tried and then would not complete the registration, resulting in a $50 parking ticket.
For anyone not fully smart-phone literate, or new to dQR codes, beware

Wow we just had an excellent experience travelling across Canada in a birth with Via. The train was tidy, the service was superb, the food was surprisingly amazing, and the attendants were attentive and super helpful. Thank you for making this experience incredible!

Terrible train service. Never on time. And $140 to get from Toronto to Windsor. Disgusting.

Really a sad business. 2 of my last 3 trips have been delayed. There is no way to get a receipt online via your profile. Via sends the receipt via email but you need to print off the email (no attachement). Finally, Via does not have an 'App'. This is 2024!!!! WOW

Our first time traveling home from Toronto Union station to Perth On, in BUSINESS CLASS, was a great experience. Our Senior Service Attendant, CESAR was incredible! He took the time to chat several times with us. He was courteous, friendly, interesting, and joked along with us. He is very proficient in mixing drinks. We asked for an extra spicy Caesar drink, it was spot on! He also makes the perfect gin and tonic. Service was always with a smile. He made us feel very welcome. Big thank you to CESAR.
Our meal was delicious! We chose the cod with lobster sauce, rice, vegies. A chick pea salad and apple pie square was also on the tray. This meal far exceeded our expectations. Not only very tasty, but perfectly hot. Wine, Chardonnay was also very good, and a nice accompaniment with the fish.
The seats are comfortable and roomy, the foot rests were a good idea as well. Charging ports between the seats, also a good feature.

I’ve taken Via Rail a few times in my life and each time has been alright. Train is usually on time. Seats are not comfortable enough to sit still in for 4 hours. Transferring trains in London was confusing for me so I missed my train. But this time when boarding from Windsor on Christmas Day, our train was over 1 hour delayed. And we never got a reason why, we never got an ETA. We just kept getting announcements about instructions for what to do when “the bus” arrived. I have never seen a train be late and then replaced by a bus. So I was also confused about this. There was no explanation through an announcement like “the train is NOT COMING so we have arranged for a bus to take you”. So I was expecting the train to arrive late meanwhile everyone was lining up by the doors opposite the train tracks. I was so confused I thought they all decided to go home and travel to Toronto a different way. But the announcement kept saying “you can board NOW” and there was no train there. So I figured it out through logic rather than helpful announcements. They did order 4 pizzas for all the waiting individuals but do u think anyone ever remembers the vegans ? Ofc not. So no I couldn’t even benefit from the free food. By now there is a giant line to get on the bus and I’m straggling at the end. Via rail did nothing about our seats. I’m picky about my seating and in this case it became first come first served T^T I needed the space on the train to use my laptop onto study on the whole ride.

it’s not like I will ever benefit when I get off the bus by grabbing my luggage first which is at the front cuz I placed it in last, because I know I will get off last. They should empty the bus by the back first since we have already been the less fortunate.

And I want my money back now. I was supposed to be in Toronto on time to feed my friend’s pets and to attend an important meeting at 6:15 and now I will arrive after 8. This is so ridiculous. They need to compensate us for our lost time and dirty bus. The bus still had garbage in it, like it wasn’t even cleaned before we got on. And the bathroom stinks like heavy chemicals. I’m glad I have my mask but even still, the stink seeps through so I have to wrap my face in my sweater

Update: they did inform us that we can use our booking info to get credit off of our next train ride because our train was late. But I didn’t pay much for this ride ($50ish) and I don’t want to ride on the train again. Refund would have been better.

Worst first time experience!!!!!
We were travelling from Toronto to London early morning on Christmas day 12/25/2023 and end up stranded at Brantford station.
Train scheduled on final destination to Windsor became out of service at Brantford due to techical issue related to engine.
We were advised by the crew that alternate transportation arrenged and get off the train.
In addition to the long wait in the train we had to wait for more than two hours to get the replacement bus.
Train became out of service due to major technical issue (engine failure) not even half way to scheduled final destination🤔 wondering about pre departure safety check???
Customer service, recovery plan and management of irregularity was the worst.
Finally arrived at destination after more than 4hrs delay 😔 Not reliable and recommendable service provider at all ⛔️

I am currently on the train from Toronto Union station to Montreal. I am still fuming! When boarding the train I was notified I was 3 lb overweight. This is Christmas, I'm sure everybody is a couple of pounds overweight. They actually made me remove three pairs of jeans from my suitcase, and I had to carry them in my arms up to the train. All this could have been avoided if business class did their job properly, and weighed my suitcase while I was in the lounge. I would have had time and space to organize my luggage. And not get blocked going up the escalator to the train.

There is a little blonde French lady who works for via rail at the Toronto Union station, who was a mouthy piece of work and a bully! I had told another lady this was horrible! And the blonde French lady kept yelling. We're not horrible. Do you hear me? "We're not horrible! I will stop you from traveling!" And put her arms out to block me from the escalator making a big scene. So I carried my jeans in my arms and my suitcase up the escalator. While on the platform, a dark skinned lady approached me and said if you put your jeans in your suitcase, I'm going to prevent you from traveling! Wow! I have never experienced such aggressive behavior in my life!

I travel with via rail about 5 or 6 times a year. I will start reconsidering flying. It is no longer a pleasant experience.
I don't understand the issue..... Whether I have an extra 3 lb in my suitcase, or I'm carrying them in my hand, what's the difference? And as soon as I got on the train I put my three pairs of jeans back in my suitcase. Completely rude at Toronto Union station via rail! Especially the short blonde French lady. You will not bully anyone! I will be calling via rail