A journey from Toronto Union Station to Montreal Gare Centrale in Business Class on board VIA Rail Canada train 62. Toronto to Montreal takes just 4h58 by train, for information see www.seat61.com/Canada.htm
In just a few years, just imagine the new Siemens Charger train sets recently purchased by Via Rail running even faster at a full 110 mph or 177 kph on high frequency dedicated tracks between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City! Passenger rail enthusiasts really look forward to that day since this project will provide an affordable, more environmentally-friendly, faster, more relevant, reliable and safer travel choice to Canadians!
@@tommyvohs8815 I agree wholeheartedly! If only our federal government would give the green light to the HFR project, the sooner Canadians would get to enjoy train travel similar to that of regular intercity trains in Europe!
Hi there, I've been enjoying watching this. It's good to discover how we can share and learn so much from each other about places, through channels such as this, especially about places we may never get to visit, thank you for taking the time to add it.
Thanks for the ride, interesting to note that they still are using the same plates in business class (VIA 1) as my visits in the mid 1980's and various other trips in the 90's and min 2000's.
Great video Mark! This really helped me for my trip. I did a slightly longer one from Toronto to Vancouver. These trains are quite different but stunning none the less.
Recently went to Montréal from Toronto by Via rail economy class and covid made the experience a little different but still worth it. I want to go again for sure!
Canada...my dream land to study there. I wish I could take the train there for sight seeing and enjoying the sceneries of the beauty naturally of Canada. 🙂
I took this Train a few times decades ago but never arrived at the Station early enough to benefit from snacks and soft drinks, and travelling 1st Class certainly does have its privileges!
@2:46. Idyllic Canada. Scene could not have been better if in a movie.A glorious sun-shiny day with Kayaking, paddle-boating, couple on the riverbank and a dog paddling to shore. Stephan Leacock would be proud. Brilliant!!!
Hello! I loved the video! If you have the curiosity to take a train trip in Brazil, here we have the Vale Railway, trips between Belo Horizonte to Vitória and Parauapebas to São Luís, among several other steam train tours. Bye!
It was about 37 years ago. I rode the midnight train with roomette from Toronto to Montreal, then transferred to Quebec City in the next morning. Returned with Business Class at daytime. That was really fun. Since the train speed got faster and time shorter, they eliminated the night trains and sleeper cars. I never ride train to Montreal again. Fly, drive or Megabus preferred.
I will be on VIA next week Windsor to Toronto. Economy Class out, Business Class return. To me this is the touchstone for what rail service should be if we get service on the Cleveland-Pittsburgh corridor.
If you look at the difference between flying and the train between Toronto and Montreal for example keep in mind of a few things. Lets pretend you live in downtown Toronto and want to visit a friend in downtown Montreal. If you fly, first you will need to take a taxi (about $50) or the Union Pearson (UP Express) yes a train which will take you 25 minutes and cost $12 one way, then you have to be there 2 hours early. Flight time is about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Then you arrive at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport in Dorval. Then it's about 30 minutes by car to downtown Montreal, I'm not sure about the cost but would say about $50 like it is in Toronto. Total time to fly there is a bit over 4 hours. The train for the cheapest Business Class fares took about 4 hours and 50 minutes. Also remember, AC provides no food or you have to pay for it, I'm not sure if they have WiFi on AC flights, no complimentary paper while flying and no access to Business Class lounge. For trains you can arrive 30 minutes early if you want but won't have time to enjoy the Business Class lounge. I looked at both Air Canada's and Via Rail for a departure leaving tomorrow and coming back Saturday. Via Rail is $411 in business class and Air Canada in economy is $579 both include taxes. But remember you still need to get to and from the airport so add another $75 to $100. So the difference is that you pay more to fly, you get there about 30 minutes earlier since your final destination is not the airport but downtown and you get to sit in cramped seats with no amenities. It's all a matter on what you want and how you look at things.
Can you take just a motorcoach (Greyhound) between the two cities? How much does it cost and do you have to ride with crazy homeless people or ex-convicts? And meal stops at run-down overpriced roadside gas stations?
Although I do agree, and even use the same comparison as you do, I would add that, although the train does stop in downtown, not all destinations are in downtown, so you will need a taxi or bus ride when you arrive by train, too, in most cases. Still, it's a much better deal, I'd think, even if it's longer, those hours in a comfy chair are much more relaxing, and productive for those who chose so. On a flight, you hardly have the space nor the time to pull out your laptop.
Western Canada is already upset the Canadian isn't a everyday train, and are jealous Toronto and Montreal have multiple services everyday. The Maritimes are also upset the Ocean isn't a everyday train. And you want HSR? Do you think the rest of Canada feels they are getting their share of the Canadian budget? Hint, they don't by a long shot...
+Ron Clark. Its simply because Toronto -> Montreal is where the bulk of Canada's population is concentrated. I take the train on the corridor route every weekend and its either always sold out or 90% sold. Via tried and had a hard time filling seats on routes in other parts of the country. If I was a business why would I run a train on routes that don't even make break even. To be fair the Edmonton -> Calgary route whould be the only other route that might sell out. But in reality the rest of country lacks the population to support via.
Try driving it. There used to be one (probably still is) that left Toronto at 4:00 p.m. and was in downtown Montreal at 8:00 p.m. 4 hours flat. Try that downtown to downtown in a car. 6 hours at least. Central Station in Montreal is far from grim.
@@1articoli I would leave and be in no rush to do overnight and so far zero parking issues at that time Check into hotel have a quick snooze . Then I let my feet do the rest until it's the me to go!
No. This was a train directly from Toronto to Montreal. A separate train goes to Ottawa via a different route. No Via train goes direct to Hull / Gatineau. The last one stopped in 1981. There are long range plans to connect the Quebec City of Gatineau to Ottawa Station with a light rail tram but construction has not started.
Hello I'll be visiting in early October, and planing to take viarail from Montreal to Toronto, is there space for luggage in bussines class? Do all schedules have a hot meal included? Can you walk arround to stretch legs etc? Thank you for the advice
To really improve this line for faster trains and help eliminate collisions, the level crossings will have to be eliminated; with bridges for the railway or the roads. Closing off some roads at the railway and providing bridges or underpasses for other ones could also work too. It's long overdue.
You’re right and that’s the barrier to high speed rail; the level crossings. Via has purchased the Old CP havelock Sub to run its high frequency rail and I’ll be very interested to see what kinds of speed they post. It’s going to take a lot of work but it’ll happen and I can’t wait to operate that new equipment they’ve purchased on that sub which will cut almost 1 hour off the running time to Ottawa. Yes, that’s right.
Union station has been completely renovated and it doesn’t look like this anymore other than the central hall. Get ready for a huge change when you visit it.
Nice video. Thanks. Why does the Toronto station 'appear' empty while the Montreal one is not. Is it a spacious station or there aren't as many users in Toronto?
Most likely because it's 7am. However, the area in the video is purely for ticket purchases and the counters are to the bottom right of the frame. There are different areas for departures and arrivals, along with a subway and inter-regional trains area on the lower level.
