Canada: What to know before you go

Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens. Please see the Canada Government Travel website for further details. Anyone with a criminal record (including misdemeanors or alcohol-related driving offenses) may not be able to enter Canada without first obtaining approval well in advance of any planned travel. For further details, please refer to the Canada Government Travel website. 

Transportation

Taxis are not always readily available, and ride-share is not available in Alberta. If you are not comfortable with the short walk to your hotel upon arrival at the VIA Rail station, please contact your hotel in advance and they can arrange for a taxi to pick you up at the station. This is especially recommended for guests staying at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, as it is not possible to walk to your hotel.

Sightseeing

Many sightseeing tours require calling in advance to confirm the meeting location or pick-up time, as the details may change from the time of booking, or they may have different hotel stops for other travelers on the tour that they need to adjust the routing. Please refer to the instructions on your travel vouchers.

Banff

Banff offers The Roam transit shuttles throughout much of Banff townsite, and there are bus stops near just about any spot you want to get to. There are also stops either right in front of, or a short walk from, all hotels. Many hotels may offer complimentary shuttle passes, just ask at the front desk. Alternatively, a day pass is only a few dollars which can be bought onboard with Canadian or America bills and coins. You can also purchase a pass at the Banff Town Hall or at the Roam Customer Service Desk inside the Banff Visitor Centre.

If you have booked the Banff Gondola, we recommend that you use the Roam transit shuttle to get to and from the gondola, as there is a stop just outside the entrance.

You can view schedules and plan your journeys here: https://roamtransit.com/

Checking-in:

You should have received your train tickets along with your travel vouchers. However, sometimes, you may need to pick up your tickets at the station. If you need to collect VIA Rail tickets, scan the barcode on your e-booking confirmation at one of the station's VIA Rail self-service ticketing kiosks. Alternatively, please present your booking confirmation to a VIA Rail ticket agent with an appropriate photo ID.

How early must I check in for departure?

If you are traveling between Vancouver, Jasper, or Toronto onboard the Canadian, or between Montreal/Quebec City and Halifax onboard The Ocean, check-in is 1 hour prior to departure. You are also able to check in your luggage as early as 9 am on departure days. We recommend that you are at the station 45 minutes prior to departure if you are traveling between Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montreal, Ottawa, or Quebec City.

Track my train:

You can check the arrival and departure status of your train through this link: https://reservia.viarail.ca/tsi/tsiresult.aspx?l=en&from=iframe

Overnight journeys in Sleeper Plus accommodations:

When traveling onboard VIA Rail in a berth or cabin, all of your meals are included. Once onboard, your dedicated train car attendant will review safety and make your dining reservations. Additional snacks and beverages can be purchased in the café car.

As you will not have access to your checked luggage while onboard, it is recommended to bring a smaller bag with clothing and your personal essentials (including all medication) to your cabin or berth. Shower amenities will be provided for you (towels, shampoo, and soap). Additional amenities are available in Prestige Class.

With the exception of lower and upper berths, all cabins feature electrical outlets. However, we recommend a power strip as there are usually only 1 or 2 outlets. There are additional outlets throughout the train in the observation and activity cars. The electrical current in Canada is 110 volts, 60-cycle AC. An adaptor must be used with appliances from Europe or elsewhere that operate on a different voltage.

Overnight journeys in Economy accommodations:

If you are traveling onboard VIA Rail overnight in Economy, your meals are not included, however, you can bring your own food on the train, and there are also snacks, meals, and beverages available to purchase onboard with cash or credit. It is also recommended to bring your own pillow and blanket or purchase them on board.

Wi-Fi:

Wireless internet is available in most major stations across Canada and in the service car onboard the Montreal-Quebec-Halifax train (The Ocean). However, Wi-Fi is not available onboard the Toronto-Vancouver (The Canadian) train. There are plenty of activities and entertainment options in the activity car and observation car, and of course, the incredible scenery is the biggest draw!

Payments onboard:

VIA Rail accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and cash onboard. They do not accept prepaid credit or debit credit cards.

Am I expected to tip?

Any gratuities you wish to give are entirely at your discretion.

Economy Class passengers are entitled to one personal item (max. 25 lbs. and 17 x 6 x 13 in.) and one large item (max. 50 lbs. (22.6 kg) and 62 linear inches) or two small items (max. 25 lbs. each and 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in.) each. Additional carry-on items: One additional item up to 50 lbs. is allowed, for a fee of $40 (per direction, tax included).

Business Class passengers are entitled to one personal item (max. 25 lbs. and 17 x 6 x 13 in.) and two large items (max. 50 lbs. and 62 linear in.) each. One additional item up to 50 lbs. (22.6 kg) is allowed, for a fee of $40 (per direction, tax included).

Sleeper Plus/Prestige Class passengers are entitled to one personal item (max. 25 lbs. and 17 x 6 x 13 in.) and two small items per cabin (max. 25 lbs. and 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in.) each. No additional carry-on items are allowed. Additional bags must be checked.

Passengers aged 12 to 25 years old are entitled to one personal item (max. 25 lbs. and 17 x 6 x 13 in.) and two large items (max. 50 lbs. and 62 linear in.) each. One additional item up to 50 lbs. (22.6 kg) is allowed, for a fee of $40 (per direction, tax included).

Checked luggage allowance includes two large items (max. 50 lbs. and 62 linear inches). Checked baggage service is available at some stations and on a certain number of trains. Before traveling, make sure that this service is offered on your train. If offered, your baggage must be checked at least 45 minutes before your departure at terminal stations and 30 minutes at intermediate stations.