Riding Via Rail's Corridor Service | Business Class | Toronto-Ottawa-Montréal

Welcome to another video! Last month during a visit to Canada, I decided to try out the country's national passenger railroad, Via Rail Canada. I've traveled countless times with Amtrak in the United States, but have never taken Via Rail, until now. Since It's my first Via Rail experience, I wanted to do something a bit different that would give me an opportunity to really see how this railroad operates. So, I purchased a Business Class ticket from Toronto to Montréal with a layover in Canada's Capital, Ottawa, Ontario. The usual 5 hour trip will instead take over 8 hours due to the layover. Business Class has has additional amenities such as lounge access, included beverages and a meal, and a more comfortable seating arrangement. Come along with me as I travel aboard Via Rail's Corridor Service in Business Class from Toronto to Ottawa and Montréal, Québec!
Enjoy the video!
Consist:
GPA-30H (EMD F40PH) Diesel Locomotive (6436)
LRC Business Class Car (My Car) (3471)
LRC Economy (Coach) Car (3324)
LRC Economy (Coach) Car (3335)
LRC Economy (Coach) Car (3338)
GE Genesis P42DC (Number Unknown)
Railroad: Via Rail Canada
Train: Corridor Service 42 (Toronto, ON to Ottawa, ON) and Corridor Service 38 (Ottawa, ON to Montréal, QC)
Class: Business Class
Fare: $216.96 CAD
Date: October 6th, 2022

[@potter3439]

As the Via Rail slogan says, “LOVE THE WAY”!

[@nskid]

Thanks for posting this, Dan. I know the route pretty well -- I lived in Ottawa for several years -- but my last ride was in December 2019, pre-pandemic, and found myself getting quite nostalgic🥲 Via's service levels have always been exceptional; every crew member is a great ambassador, in my experience. Back then Via routinely had packaged cookies and other snacks and fresh fruit on hand in the business class lounges. Eliminating that seems like clueless cost-cutting.

[@trainglen22]

Ottawa Station is the same as Gare D'Ottawa. You got the right-hand side of the sign. And yes, Business class on Via rail is so worth the money.

[@kbroadhead10]

I've only travelled by car across this route (in reverse), but this looks like a pleasant day's travelling with excellent service. I'm surprised you mentioned Brockville's name change (the year before the Americans crossed the frozen St Lawrence river to kidnap the mayor), but not the fact that it has the oldest rail tunnel in Canada, which goes from the main line under the hill to the harbour on the river.

[@ggreg2258]

Enjoyable, as always. You have very high praise for VIA. I traveled Vancouver--Toronto a few years ago on the Canadian. The service, food, and entire trip was spectacular. I would suggest that you consider it for one of your trips in Canada. I traveled in a cabin for one and loved it. Initially I thought that it was a bit smaller than an Amtrak roomette but I quickly go to loving it, with the sink and toilet! And the bed is great!

[@mariahahn-silva7132]

Very well thought out, clear and looking forward to more videos from you. helps me to plan my trip from Albany, NY to Halifax. Thanks!

[@michaellee9411]

Well done on your presentation I know you took effort to try to inform and entertain as well as evaluate your own personal trips so thank you for doing that regarding the train tour that you took a video it was and is helpful to see what to expect on Canadian lines regarding me trying to book from Toronto to Montreal as you did Thanks you did a terrific job :)

[@davidlisowski5245]

For adventure routes, the Winnipeg-Churchill train is a must, especially during polar bear and beluga season.

[@williamturnbull1011]

Thank you for your great video. It really captures the essence of the train trip. Appreciate text comments in the video without voice comments. Well done!

[@mrHBarry]

I did my first and only train trip from Endako, North Central B.C to North Sydney N.S. in 1980 and then Marine Atlantic to Port Aux Basque Newfoundland and then Marine Atlantic coastal service to Argentia, Placentia bay, Newfoundland. Thanks for your tour.

[@Lakeshore14]

Haven’t taken that route but would like to soon. Thanks for a great video and for sharing your experience. 👏🇨🇦

[@vicsams4431]

Hi Dan, Nice to see you enjoy travelling by train. I don't think there is a nicer way to see a country, meet the people, and relax with good food. You really see far more than on a plane, and a better quality of ride than a bus. I have travelled on the AMTRAK Maple Leaf from Toronto to New York, and the AMTRAK Vermonter between New York and St Albans, Vermont. I have travelled on all FIVE railroad routes in Alaska (including the Alaska Railroad, the White Pass & Yukon and the Tanana Valley). I have travelled on EVERY Canadian railway line (except Churchill), including Vancouver, Whistler, Quesnel, Jasper, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Kamloops, Banff, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, Sarnia, Windsor, Aldershot, Kitchener, Senneterre, Jonquiere, Cochrane, Moosonee, Niagara Falls, Sept Iles, Schefferville, plus all of GO Transit, AMT Montreal, West Coast Express, Skytrain networks. I have also done every railway in Britain, Ireland, Isle of Man, Portugal and Norway, plus most of Europe. If you have any questions, just ask. Always happy to help. Kind regards from London, England.

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Thank you so much! I couldn't agree more. There's something truly special and unique about train travel and It's very underrated. Some of my favorite travel experiences have been on trains. I've traveled on Amtrak many times before, though never on the Vermonter or Maple Leaf! The Via Rail Ocean and Canadian are high on my bucket list, along with the Alaska Railroad. I have taken a few trains throughout Europe, and will be returning very soon to take a variety of different trains in Europe next month, Including Portugal! I was in London a few months ago and had a fantastic time, It's one of my favorite places in the world! Thanks again for your kind comments!

[@vicsams4431]

@@travelingadventureswithdan3181 My pleasure, Dan. I laughed that I had done the Maple Leaf and the Vermonter. That is just typical, and happens here too. I can recommend both. The Maple Leaf has 5 Amfleet 1 Coaches, and is hauled by a P42DC from Toronto. The route follows the northern, then the west shore of Lake Ontario, then crosses the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge at Niagara Falls, then Lake Erie. At Albany, they swap the P42DC for a P32-AC-DM (with third rail shoes for the electric third rail supply under the River Hudson). But on the day we did it, we had P32-AC-DM + P42DC + P42DC (11,700 hp). Whoosh ! LOL ! The routes does the Hudson Valley and that is very nice too. The Vermonter has an ACS-64 as far as New Haven CT, and a P42DC to St Albans, VT. The line is very scenic and the P42DC gets up to 110 mph near Hartford. We found a delightful B&B in St Albans. They picked us up from the station, and drove us back to the station too. Being a bird watcher, I loved seeing 40 new species in their garden, including the Ruby Throated Hummingbird, which is like a hornet in size. St Albans VT is very pretty, has nice people, several large churches, a railroad roundhouse, the 14th Star Brewery, some great cafes and great restaurants. The Ocean is a necessary evil. You have to do it, if you want to claim doing Canada coast to coast by train. However, the equipment is dire and the track is worse. The bedroom washroom is so small, when you wash under your arms, you hit both elbows, and you wash WITH the toilet bowl which is INSIDE the shower. Yuck. There were 18 of us in my group. One fell out of bed and gnashed his legs badly as he plummeted to earth. None of us could sleep. I slept on the top bunk. The mattress was narrower than my body, so when I laid on my back, my left arm hung over the side. The bed was placed only a few inches below an air vent, that blew icy air on your chest all night. Then I woke up, hitting my head on one wall and my feet on the other (whilst laying in bed) as the train rocked back and forth so violently, my first conclusion was "Oh $£$%%£""$% ! We have come OFF the rails !" I expected to die ! Looking out the window, I saw the train was negotiating a track twist at walking pace. The food is okay. The Canadian is truly superb. Recommend you do it eastbound, from Vancouver. Best to do the Rockies first. The Great Lakes are good too, but the Prairies are a tad flat. We all put on 28 lbs in weight. With the twin bunk bedrooms, you get SIX meals a day. Breakfast, bunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper, including wine and beers etc. We got a fabulous deal for the Alaska Railroad. I think we only paid $3,000 in 2010 for 27 trains, 27 buses, 3 x 7 hours sea voyages, 12 nights hotel and 12 breakfasts, including upgrade to Gold Star Class (which has free drinks and and outside viewing platform, and access to the restaurant car), 5 flights, and 15,000 miles of travelling (when from London, England). The trip is run by PTG Tours (www.ptg.co.uk) every other year, and includes all three routes of the Alaska Railroad (Fairbanks, Seward and Whittier), the Tanana Valley Railroad, and a few days on the superb White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad from Skagway to Carcross. Recommend you DON'T just do a Summit Train from Skagway to White Pass. You need to do the whole line to Carcross, Yukon. Trains that do the entire route, get lunch in Bennett, BC. I cannot guarantee you will see the world's largest falcon with a 5ft wingspan, the extremely rare Gyrfalcon, but we did ! KZbinr Jersey Johnnie from New Jersey, has filmed the Vermonter, but he only goes as far as White River Junction VT. I have told him, he needs to do St Albans, VT. LOL ! If you need tips for Portugal; we have stayed in Lisbon, Lagos, Sines, Setubal, Abrantes, Evora, Coimbra, Porto, etc. so just ask. Always happy to help. I have done 33 tours with PTG Tours. Alaska, Canada, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Wales, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria and the Ukraine. They go worldwide, and passengers come from across the globe. I have also ridden on board several locomotives in various countries. Whilst in Hungary the loco engineer (train driver) insisted that I drive the train ! Holidays like no other. Cultural tours can include wine tasting, river cruises, French chateaux. Tour numbers vary. 450 of us went together to Portugal ! 76 to the Ukraine. 15 to Alaska. 40 to France. 57 to Italy. Immense fun. You might get hooked ! We did.

[@kelvinbaptist3333]

I did the Montreal to Toronto route in Business class in July 2022. I echo all your comments about the great service.

[@colinbarrett3016]

Really enjoyed your video. I have traveled the "Ocean" from Moncton New Brunswick to Montreal. And then Montreal to Ottawa. Love traveling on VIA. I have also traveled the "Canadian " from Toronto to Edmonton.

[@SamualWalker]

I did my first ever VIA Rail Canada just a few weeks ago, but not on this route. I did the longest route "The Canadian" Train #2 from Vancouver to Toronto. I suggest you give it a try the longest route when you have the time

[@voxer99]

So, apart from the inexplicable lack of pastries, a rather enjoyable trip!

[@scrambaba]

I have found Via business class between Toronto-Montreal to be exceptional as well.

[@nicholasyoung9758]

The Business Lounge in Toronto was a "retro" renovation, that's why it looks "old"! I like it well enough myself.

[@SkysTrains]

I WAS ON THAT TRAIN. so cool. i was in economy though

[@marilynmuller3469]

Tell me about mobility accessibility on trip from Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal, the rejoining trip to Halifax… thank you for any practicalities you observed.

[@rcl1955ca]

When you add the fact that you have to arrive at the airport 2 hours ahead (recommended for a domestic flight) and one hour and change travel time (plus 20-25 min. if you use UP Express to the Airport, no idea how long from Dorval to downtown) Add to that the hassle of retrieving your luggage, I'd rather take a 5 hour train ride. Which I might add lets you off right downtown.

[@himbourbanist]

wow these VIA coaches look really nice! I love the 2x1 layout, wish Amtrak would do more of these instead of going all in on airplane style seating, but I'm glad Amtrak is finally updating the old Amfleet coaches with the new Venture coaches from Siemens to get a more competitive modern look. Really interesting to see the differences between VIA and Amtrak since they're both very similar systems and organizations on the surface

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Via offers a much better business class product than Amtrak, While Amtrak does have the combination Cafe/Business class cars on select routes many still use the standard 2x2 config. I haven't had a chance to ride the Venture cars yet but hope to do so soon! Thanks so much for watching!

[@mayfleur36]

I’ve travelled on the Ocean from Truro to Quebec City in economy in my mid 20’s, for French Immersion at Université Laval. I’d love to see you do a video please, on the Ocean from Montreal to Halifax in sleeper class.

[@toddMcAllister-tj8px]

Love Via1, but since COVID they've had a real issue with keeping to their schedule. My daughter rides London-Toronto and in 6 trips in the last year NONE have been on time. Some are :30 minutes plus late in arriving.

[@lezhu6856]

Part of that is their stupid boarding processes. Since it takes 20 minutes to board at a major station, there's a guaranteed delay right there.

[@murraymaxwell637]

I personally have been on the Via Rail Canadian train to Vancouver as well.

[@Whitbypoppers]

You need to try the Ocean from Montréal to Halifax. It's almost 24 hours.

[@clarification007]

Well, Canada will get the slowest train service in the G8 for many years. Canada need absolutely a HSR (High Speed Train) from Quebec City to Toronto. But not under VIA Rail. Then the HFR under VIA Rail, would be perfect use for intercity (Montreal-Cornwall-Kingston-Toronto // Montreal-Ottawa, Kingston-Ottawa, Montreal-Drummondville-Quebec-city) Toronto-Mtl average 5h / on HFR 4h10min / with HSR 3h Source: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmXXZWuPfJp5m7s

[@Trilobite4127]

We really enjoyed your video and the text only narration was perfect. Suggested other Canadian train trip by Budd Car: Sudbury, Ontario to White River, Ontario (home of Winnie The Pooh). It’s an adventure trip.

[@travelingadventureswithdan3181]

Thanks for watching! The Canadian is on my bucket list!

[@murraymaxwell637]

Be sure to get on Via Rail's Canadian. Toronto to Vancouver B.C. and go with a sleeping car accomodation

[@murraymaxwell637]

I will tell you a very prime reason I am dedicated to traveling to Vancouver on Via Rail Canada. I current reside in Penticton B.C. in the South Okanagan Valley okay? What I do is travel on buses up to Kamloops B.C. to transfer to the Via Rail Canadian train to Vancouver.

[@tomblack6972]

No tipping on this trip? Also, I did the reverse trip in business in 2000. Out of Montreal the French was first and English second. Halfway through the trip it was flipped: English first French second.

[@richardm8328]

Hi thanks for video it was excellent when me and my wife 2 years ago de union station Toronto we had to tske business class as my legs not good et swollen more room on business class I know it’s more expensive it’s ok thanks for video

[@hanssamson5436]

Never knew they put another locomotive at the back end, maybe to put more power to push the train thay are needed?

[@zytakwiatkowska7414]

Did you get Business or Business Plus? Do you happen to know the difference between the two of them?

[@ronclark9724]

VIA uses three different coaches for its trunk line trains ad hoc: LRC, Renaissance, and Budd. Any train on any day can be different, therefore, why no pre bookings outside of a window or aisle seat... Amtrak only pre books coach seats for the Acela trains only... Renaissance cars are smaller in size than LRC and Budd cars...

[@zedacruja681]

Nice work,,But what we need its the MAGLEV ....lol

[@jimbobogie8204]

When I was at university in Ottawa I used to take the train from Toronto. The original stone was right across the street from thr Parliament Buildings...that's where the Senate is located (as well as the House of Commons). The old station is actually the National Conference Centre (where provincial premier's come o a regular basis to complain to the Prime Minister)☺ IMHO the new Ottawa station is too far from the city (airports are in the outskirts, train stations should be downtown).

[@IntegratedMarketingOttawa]

👍👍

[@adreya1]

woot I am now a KZbin star I just saw myself!

[@Whitbypoppers]

"Kilometres per hour" is abreviated "km/h", not "kph".

[@BeeRich33]

August 2023: still no baggage, no new trains from Toronto. No answers from the government, just stellar salaries.

[@jamalalrefaie3767]

I was so glad 🙂 today while i was traveling with via rail in train 🚊 number 54 in car number 4 To see your lovely lady worker I forget her name she was So happy 😀 of serving the riders on bord With lovely happy smile and cheering all I told her i was missing this since long time with Via rall workeres Iam so glad 🙂 that Via Rall Have such Employee. On bord All workers in car 🚗 4 so nice and gentle Iam proud 🥲 of them Plse thank Them in my behalf Regards

[@Bivolari]

Canadian Premium rail service always puts Amtrak to shame. Even Amtrak's sleeper long distance service could use a huge upgrade. I always wonder why Americans dislike trains.

[@robertgergely431]

Its called Ottawa station

[@jeanbolduc5818]

Canada has 2 official languages , english and french ... we also speak english in Quebec , the only province speaking both official languages of Canada .

[@seesaw5916]

Don't forget New Brunswick!

[@wakey1086]

You have to wonder why Amtrak business class offers you a drink only with your ticket and offers no meals in the price? With VIA 3 course meal choices and continued coffee n drinks n treats thru out your trip why can't Amtrak do the same? This has me hesitating taking Amtrak now in business class I rather VIA excellent on time trips instead of being late on Amtrak.

[@alborzdmavandi8190]

I'm so sorry for Canada. Most things about a good Canada are not true, Including clean cities - beaches, and forests. It's a big lie. The first time I arrived in Vancouver in 2018, I was shocked. As soon as I left the airport door, I saw tissue, disposable glasses, and other garbage left in the city. The further I went, the more I saw them. Before I moved to Canada, I lived in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Serbia, The United States, and for a short time in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Netherlands, Germany, and England, but I have never seen the amount of garbage that people leave in different Canadian cities. Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec are no less than Vancouver. Canadian and Canada Governments don't care about this tragedy. I think everything that says about Canada as a clean and powerful culture is not true. You don't need to travel to Canada to see this. Just watch some videos about walking in downtown Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec. You will find the truth. Impossible for you to walk in a Canadian city and you don't see the dark side of that. Everywhere you will see garbage. You will never see this in Europe, Australia, the United States, Japan, and Korea. This amount of waste is not even seen in Malaysian, Indonesian, or Thailand cities. It is impossible for you to use public transport and not see a lot of garbage at stations or on the route. You will be surprised to find a lot of garbage even in the woods - by the rivers and on the beaches in Canada. I wish the Canadians woke up and had no enmity with their country. I randomly looked at videos from downtown Manchester and Concord in New Hampshire - Philadelphia - Detroit - Chicago - New York - Baltimore - Denver - Nashville, and Knoxville in the United States, and Toronto - Quebec - Montreal - Winnipeg - Calgary - Vancouver - Victoria - Ottawa and Thunder Bay in Canada. we should be fair. The bitter truth must be accepted. Without any exaggeration. Completely impartial. I have to say that I didn't see a single piece of garbage in any of the US videos to convince myself. Without exaggeration, in all Canadian cities, there must have been a piece of garbage on the ground less than every hundred meters.

[@shelleyquinns]

This is sad and true … I live in Ontario ..