Rail Travel Canada: Business Class

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Business Class Tickets from VIA Rail

The loyal readers among you know that we are almost always traveling by car on our travels through Canada. Sometimes we change to ferries or smaller boats, but otherwise we never travel by train in Canada. On our winter trip to Ottawa and Toronto, we decided this time, however, for a ride with VIA Rail. We once wanted to test train travel 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.

 

Rail Travel Canada in Business Class by VIA Rail

The decision turned out to be wise, as we were confronted with temperatures of up to -33 ° Celsius including felt wind chill on our trip to wintry Canada. The temperatures had risen again a bit to "chubby" -25 degrees by the day we left for Toronto, but that too is a weather situation in which we Europeans who are spoiled by winter, whose winter temperatures rarely drop below - 5 degrees Celsius, prefer to be careful are.

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!

 

Storage for large luggage in the Business Class compartment of VIA Rail
Large luggage storage in the Business Class compartment of VIA Rail - Rail Travel Canada from Ottawa to Toronto

 

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.

 

Free Wifi in Business Class by VIA Rail
Free Wifi in Business Class by VIA Rail makes rail travel Canada varied

 

Business Class Service at VIA Rail: almost like a flight

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.

 

Snack Bahn Travel Canada: Business Class
Snack in Business Class by VIA Rail

 

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.

 

Like on the plane - refreshing towel in Business Class by VIA Rail
Like in the Airplane - Refreshment Cloth in Business Class by VIA Rail - Rail Travel Canada

 

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.

 

Dinner train travel Canada: Business Class

 

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 ,

 

Baileys on the Rocks Bahn Travel Canada: Business Class
Baileys on the Rocks in Business Class by VIA Rail

 

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.

 

 


Travel Arrangements:

Parking at the airport

Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.

Arrival:

Arrival by plane, bus or train*. Air Canada, Lufthansa, Condor and Icelandair fly from Germany Toronto. You can also buy train tickets here.

Car Rentals:

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Camper Rentals:

Compare motorhome prices here

Transfers:

Conveniently from the airport to the city center bring you these transfers *.

Hotels:

Hotels in Toronto * You can also book through our partner booking.com.

Sightseeing tours

Bay here your sightseeing Tours in Toronto or a trip to Niagara Falls * through our partner Get your Guide.

Travel guide for your Toronto vacation in Canada:

Toronto Travel Guide * You can also order from Amazon.de to prepare for your holiday.


 

 

 

Do you already know:

Source: 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

Rail Travel Canada: Business Class

Monika Fuchs

Monika Fuchs and Petar Fuchs are the authors and publishers of the Food and Slow Travel blog  TravelWorldOnline. They have been publishing this blog since 2005. TravelWorldOnline has been online since 2001. Their topics are trips to Savor, wine tourism worldwide and slow travel. During her studies Monika Fuchs spent some time in North America, where she - partly together with Petar Fuchs - traveled to the USA and Canada and spent a research year in British Columbia. This intensified her thirst for knowledge, which she satisfied for 6 years as an adventure guide for Rotel Tours and then for 11 years as a tour guide for Studiosus Reisen around the world. She was constantly expanding her travel regions, but curiosity still gnawed at her: "What's beyond the horizon? What else is there to discover in this city? Which people are interesting here? What do they eat in this region?" As a freelance travel journalist (her articles have appeared in DIE ZEIT, 360° Canada, 360° USA, etc.), she is now looking for answers to these questions as a travel writer and travel blogger in many countries around the world. Petar Fuchs produces the videos on this blog as well as on YouTube. Monika Fuchs from TravelWorldOnline is among Germany's top 50 bloggers in 2021. Find more Information about Monika and Petar Fuchs here.

2 thoughts too "Rail Travel Canada: Business Class"

  1. A nice report! But I miss the facts - how much does the ticket cost, how is the stafflung, how can one book (also from Europe ...)?

    1. Hello Evy,

      the current prices change again and again. Currently, an economy ticket for the route from 44, - $, costs a business class ticket from 109, - $. You can book the tickets directly online via VIA Rail.

      Best regards,
      Monika

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