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Accessibility
We offer an environment where everyone can travel autonomously and confidently. To ensure the greatest ease and comfort of travel, we also provide special assistance services. Do you have a disability or reduced mobility? Here’s what we can do for you.
Travel tips
Our special and adapted services may vary from one region to another, depending on the station facilities and train cars. To help ensure that your individual needs are met and that your trip is as comfortable and pleasant as possible, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Book your trip at least 48 hours in advance.
- You can purchase your tickets by calling us 24/7 at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing) or by visiting one of our ticket counters at the station nearest you.;
- When booking your trip, let the agent know whether you require any special services.
- VIA Rail suggests that all customers with special service requests arrive at their departure station early for safe and timely access to the correct platform. Please validate our station hours, as some stations open 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure times.
Travel resources
Travelling with disabilities or specific needs is not always easy, but the information on this Government of Canada website will help make your trip as easy and safe as possible. This resource offers a wealth of information about accessible transportation and travel across the country.
Canadian Transportation agency’s websiteis also a useful resource to know every about the regulations, codes of practice and guidelines for accessibility.
Have you thought of everything?
Please note that our special and adapted services may vary from one region to another, depending on the station facilities and train cars. To help ensure that your individual needs are met and that your trip is as comfortable and pleasant as possible, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Book your trip at least 48 hours in advance. If, however, you are unable to book your tickets or request a service at least 48 hours in advance, we will make a reasonable effort to provide you the requested service.
- Contact a VIA Rail agent to get all the information you need to plan your trip, such as details about station equipment and accessibility or assistance getting on and off the train. When booking your trip, please let the agent know if you require special services.
Are you travelling in a wheelchair? Here is what your trip will look like.
The majority of reservations involving specific needs, assistance, or accessibility requests can be made online or through a VIA Rail agent.
To plan your trip and purchase your tickets, please call us at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245) or TTY 1-800-268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing).
Special seating requests
If you require more seat space due to a disability, you may reserve two side-by-side seats at no additional cost. Please contact our Customer Service at least 48 hours before your departure. VIA Rail may require up to 96 hours advance notice for requests requiring a medical certificate.
A Customer Relations Specialist will ask you for medical documentation, and accommodations will be made according to your needs and feasibility.
Passengers with a medical condition requiring a specific seat during travel can be exempt from the seat selection fee if they have proper medical documentation. If so, contact us at 1-888-VIA Rail or for TTY 1-800-268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing). Our agent will inform you of the various alternatives available.
Crossing the border
If you are crossing the border into the USA, our staff will assist you in proceeding through the security screening process, either by having a member of our staff assist you with the process, or, by collaborating with the relevant security authority to permit a person who is not travelling with you to have access to the security screening process so that they may be of assistance to you.
We provide the following booking options to passengers with disabilities to ensure they receive the assistance they need:
- Online booking. Passengers with reduced mobility or special needs can book accessible seats on the train and request assistance in station and on train. To do so, you must indicate that your booking includes a passenger with a special needs request (a maximum of two passengers with special needs applies for each online booking) when you select the number and type of passengers in your reservation. We will then invite you to complete a short form to determine your needs.
- Phone booking. . If the options provided do not meet your needs, or if your needs meet more than one category, please call us toll-free at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245) or TTY 1-800-268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing) to make your booking.
- Station booking.Purchase your ticket in person at one of our ticket counters, where you will be given priority to advance to the front of the line.
Good to know!
You can complete your specific needs, assistance, or accessibility requests in your profile. Simply log in to your VIA Rail profile that includes your requests for faster and easier booking.
Please make your special service request 48 hours in advance. If, however, you are unable to request a service at least 48 hours in advance, we will make a reasonable effort to provide you the requested service.
To help us ensure you receive the services you need and have a smooth travel experience, please let us know if you have specific needs when you purchase your tickets, whether by phone or in person. Here are some examples of accessibility requests you may have:
Here are some examples of accessibility requests you may have:
- You need assistance getting to the train platform.
- You need assistance with your journey that involves a transfer or connection.
- You need help boarding the train.
- You would like to confirm that your wheelchair fits within the size restrictions.
- You are travelling with a guide dog or service dog.
- You would like to receive a sensory support kit... notify us of your cognitive disability during your reservation. For a description of what it contains, contact our customer service.
If you share your personal information with us, such as health information or a special service request, we will keep an electronic copy of that information on file for at least three years to make your future trips easier.
In the written travel reservation and itinerary you receive upon booking your tickets, we include the services you will receive. However, if a service is confirmed only after the itinerary is issued, we will provide a written confirmation of the service without delay.
If, for one reason or another, we are not able to transport you, we will inform you of the refusal and, within 10 days, provide you with a written explanation of why it was not possible, including:
- The evidence of undue hardship, such as an engineering report, a medical report or an expert opinion that demonstrates that the risk was significant enough that it would have been unreasonable to waive or modify a requirement;
- Any relevant rule, policy or procedure or regulation;
- The duration of the refusal and the conditions, if any, under which we would accept the person for transport.
Passengers who, because of the nature of their disability, after departure and before arrival, need:
(a) assistance with eating meals, taking medication, using the washroom;
(b) assistance with transferring to and from a passenger seat;
(c) assistance with orientation or communication; or
(d) physical assistance in the event of an emergency, including in the case of an evacuation or decompression.
Can request to travel with a support person.
The support person must be at least 13 years old and will travel for free in the same class of service. The support person will be booked in the same cabin (Sleeper Class) or be seated in an adjacent seat (Economy or Business Class). When a child under the age of 13 is traveling with only a support person, the support person must be at least 18 years of age, unless they are the parent. If a child is traveling with a support person and other adults aged 18 or older, the support person can be 13 years old or older.
If a passenger only requires assistance with baggage and/or boarding, the request to travel with a support person will not be accepted as these services are already offered free of charge by VIA Rail.
Passengers who wish to travel with a support person have two options:
Option 1 – Request to Travel with a Support Person form
You must have your treating physician or authorized healthcare professional complete the form entitled: Request to Travel with a Support Person.
• Read the document entitled: Instructions and Privacy Notice
• Download the form entitled: Request to Travel with a Support Person
o Complete and sign Section A (Passenger Consent)
o Have Section B (Medical Certificate) signed and completed by your attending physician or authorized health care professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or nurse practitioner)
• Once completed, the form (sections A and B) must be submitted for approval, either by:
o Email: support_person@viarail.ca
o Fax: 506-859-3943
o Mail:
VIA Rail Customer Center
Support Person Request
77 Canada Street
Moncton, NB E1C 0V3
• We will contact you within 48 hours of receiving your request to confirm approval, if applicable, and to advise you on how to book a free ticket for your support person.
Option 2 – Card from an association / organization
You may also present, for each trip, a valid card from a recognized association or institution for persons with disabilities.
Make sure to consult our Medical Needs section if you plan to travel with medical supplies such as the following:
- Medication that needs to be taken during the trip
- Oxygen bottles
- Stretchers
Our stations are equipped with accessible features, infrastructure, and services that vary greatly from one station to the next. For example, some provide direct access to elevators or suitable public transportation.
To learn more about the accessibility services available in our stations, including adapted public transportation, use our Find a Station tool.
VIA Rail has a limited number of stations equipped with elevated platforms or mechanical lifts. Where such facilities are available, VIA Rail will help passengers with disabilities board and disembark from the train, subject to limitations on the size and weight of the passengers and their equipment.
Stations with no stairs or elevators
At many of our stations, the maximum weight that VIA can safely handle is 272 kg (600 lb.). This is the case when passengers and/or their wheelchair or scooter need to be lifted from the station platform to the train door.
Stations with stairs
Passengers who cannot use the stairs to descend to the boarding platform (e.g. at Montreal Central Station and Kingston Station) may use an inclined stair lift that can safely support a maximum weight of 2727 kg (600 lb.).
Wheelchair lifts are not required at our Montréal and Québec City stations, where the platforms are level with the train doors. All other wheelchair-accessible stations have devices used to lift the wheelchair and/or the passenger from the station platform to the train door. These lifts can safely handle a maximum weight of 272 kg (600 lb.) and mobility aids up to 56 in. (142 cm) long.
On the request of a person with a disability, VIA Rail will provide curbside assistance without delay at designated stations. Curbside assistance includes wheelchair assistance, guiding assistance, and assistance carrying baggage between the station and the curb.
More specifically, it includes the following:
- Assisting with the customer’s baggage or mobility aid and providing a wheelchair if needed
- For departures: Helping the customer from the curbside zone into the station
- For arrivals: Helping the customer proceed from the station to the curbside zone
This service is available at the following 9 VIA Rail stations:
For information about the location of curbside zones, please select any of the stations above to view its profile.
For more details or to make a request for curbside assistance, please call us (toll-free) at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing). We recommend making your request 48 hours advance. However if a person with a disability makes a request less than 48 hours before the scheduled time of departure, VIA will make a reasonable effort to provide the service.
Service animals are welcome on board VIA trains, and we understand that making sure they have a safe and clean place to relieve themselves is a very important consideration for those who travel with them.
Some of our stations are equipped with a service animal relief area (SARA): a quiet place where service animals can relieve themselves, which is essential before and after a train journey with their owners!
To check which stations have a SARA, please use our Find a Station tool..
Our personnel offers special services to passengers with reduced mobility. These services vary from one region to another, depending on the station facilities and train cars.
In most locations where we have personnel, our staff can do the following:
- Assist you to check-in at the check-counter
- Escort you to the platform
- Assist with a wheelchair
- Help you board and disembark from the train
- Assist with loading and unloading your baggage
- Before boarding, transfer you from your mobility aid to our mobility aid
- After disembarking, assist you by proceeding to the general public area, or, if you’re transferring to another segment of your trip within the same terminal, in proceeding to a location where you may receive assistance from the staff of the receiving carrier’s personnel.
You can also take advantage of priority check-in and pre-boarding, which begins five minutes before regular boarding.
To benefit from these services, we suggest that you make a request in advance or identify yourself to VIA personnel once you arrive at the station and as soon as you get on board. If you have a speech disability, please bring written instructions to inform station and onboard personnel of your itineraries, connections, and needs.
If you’re a passenger who is not independently mobile and in a wheelchair, a boarding chair or any other device and are waiting at a terminal for departure after check-in or to transfer to another segment of your trip, a member of our staff will provide you with a place to wait close to our staff who can provide assistance and will periodically attend to your needs.
You are welcome to familiarize yourself with the following announcements generally heard in our stations. Get ready to board!
Station announcements:
All VIA trains are accessible to travellers in wheelchairs. The washrooms are equipped with grab bars, and narrow wheelchairs are available for boarding, detraining, and accessing the washrooms. Furthermore, our staff will help assist you to transfer between your passenger seat and your wheelchair. However, the availability of this equipment, as well as door widths, can vary by train car. Click here to view diagrams of cars that are wheelchair-accessible.
For people who use a mobility aid, upon request and without delay, we will transfer you between your mobility aid and your seat before departure and on arrival at your destination, as well as assist you in moving in and out of the mobility aid space.
However, if you have a disability and are not able to request assistance from our staff by means of a call button, a member of our staff will check on you periodically to attend to your needs. And, if you receive a meal on board the train and need assistance, upon request and without delay, our staff will help you with the meal by opening packages, identifying food items and their location and cutting large food portions.
VIA Rail aims to provide sustainable, inclusive, and accessible mobility for all Canadians. For this reason, we are constantly monitoring industry best practices, especially in relation to universal accessibility. For instance, you can bring on board and keep with you any small assistive device you need during travel, such as a cane, a communication device, or a portable oxygen concentrator. Furthermore, if you require a mobility aid during travel, we will happily accept and make room for it as priority baggage, and, if necessary, remove any cargo or other baggage from storage to ensure it travels with you. Also, if the mobility aid needs to be disassembled and packaged to store it, we will disassemble and package it before departure, and, unpackage and reassembling it promptly return it upon arrival.
If you do not retain your mobility aid during travel and it happens to get damaged, broken, or lost during transport, or it is not made available to you by the time of you arrive at your destination, without delay, we will:
- provide you with a temporary replacement mobility aid that you are able to use and that meets your mobility needs until we deliver you your mobility aid, or until it is repaired or replaced, or until we reimburse you for the loss of the mobility aid;
- reimburse you for any expenses you’ve incurred because the mobility aid was damaged, broken or lost, or because it was not made available to you at the time of your arrival at your destination;
- arrange for the repair of your damaged mobility aid and promptly return it to you, or, if your mobility aid cannot be adequately repaired, we will replace the damaged mobility aid with the same model, or, if the same model is not available, a model that has equivalent features and qualities as your damaged mobility aid and that meets your mobility needs, or, we will reimburse you for the full replacement cost of your mobility aid; and
- in the case of a broken mobility aid or a mobility aid that is not made available to you when you arrive at your destination and that is not returned to you within 72 hours of your arrival, we will replace the broken or lost mobility aid with the same model, or, if the same model is not available, we will provide a model that has equivalent features and qualities as the broken or lost mobility aid and that meets your mobility needs, or, we will reimburse you for the full replacement cost of your mobility aid.
Some trains have baggage cars, which offer an additional storage option for wheelchairs or scooters during trips. Once on board, passengers cannot travel on the train with their mobility aid due to the narrow corridors.
To find out which train cars will be used on your trip, feel free to call us (toll-free) at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (for the persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing).
On VIA’s transcontinental trains, travellers who are unable to go to the dining car or snack counters may have their meals served at their seat.
Some VIA sleeping cars can accommodate passengers travelling on stretchers, provided a minimum of 48 hours’ notice.
Due to the narrow aisles, passengers cannot move around the train with their mobility aids once on board.
To avoid causing damage and to ensure the safety of all passengers on board, wheelchairs and scooters must be equipped with brakes.
Some passengers are able to leave their wheelchair or scooter to board the train independently, while others must remain seated. In either case, there are maximum weights that VIA can safely handle. Please note that scooters with four wheels are only accepted in our baggage cars.
VIA Rail will make every reasonable effort to accommodate two passengers with mobility aids to travel together.
If you’re a person with a disability, we will promptly provide you with an individualized safety briefing and demonstration before your departure. And, should you need assistant accessing entertainment content offered onboard our trains, we will be more than happy to assist you.
Our menus
The menus for all our destinations are available in PDF format on our Food and Drinks page (with the exception of our Business class menu, available only on board). Once on the train, you can also ask a VIA crew member for a menu in braille or large print.
If you have allergies or would like to order a special meal, whether for medical or other reasons, we invite you to consult the Special Meals and Allergies section prior to your trip.
Onboard announcements:
You are welcome to familiarize yourself before your trip with the messages generally heard aboard our trains.
On board, you can ask a VIA agent for a readable version of the audio announcements.
Safety card
On board, you can ask a VIA agent for the safety cards in braille or large print.
We’re always ready to help
Once you’re on board, we’ll be pleased to provide you with information about our menus and services. If you like, we can notify you of any schedule changes and let you know when you arrive at your destination.
To benefit from these services, we suggest that you identify yourself to VIA personnel once you arrive at the station and as soon as you get on board. If you are speech-impaired, please bring written instructions to inform station and onboard personnel of your itineraries, connections, and needs.
Our trains are designed to accommodate passengers with functional limitations or disabilities and their attendants. Since our train cars will vary according to your destination, please contact our Customer Centre at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (for the persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing) if you have specific questions about seat dimensions or the facilities that will be available during your trip.
If you are a person who is blind or has another visual disability, once you are onboard our trains, you can ask a VIA agent for the safety cards in Braille or large print. Our staff will describe to you, before departure or as soon as possible, the train layout, including the location of washrooms and exits, and the location and operation of any operating controls at your seat.
Please refer to the table below to view diagrams of our accessible train cars. The type of equipment varies and may be subject to availability.
Dimensions of mobility aids
Our wheelchair-accessible stations are equipped with devices for lifting wheelchairs and/or the passenger from the station platform to the train door.
- The maximum weight that the wheelchair lift can safely handle is 272 kg (600 lb.)
- The maximum length of a mobility aid that the manual platform lift can safely handle is 56 in. (142 cm), and the maximum length of a mobility aid that the integrated platform lift on the Siemens Venture fleet can safely handle is 53 in. (134 cm).
Wheelchair lifts are not required at our Montréal and Québec City stations, as the platforms are level with the train doors.
Only 3-wheeled scooters and small 4-wheeled scooters can board rail cars in our current fleet. Due to narrow passages when boarding, most scooters with four wheels cannot be accommodated on board. However, they can be transported in baggage cars when these are available.
Mobility aids must be within the dimensions listed below to safely access VIA Rail’s accessible cars. If the dimensions of your mobility aid exceed the listed dimensions, we may still be able to accommodate your device, depending on the specific car type or equipment used for your trip. Please contact us at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing) so we can provide information specific to your trip.
(1) Manual Wheelchair
Length 42”/107 cm
Width 25”/63.5 cm
Turning radius 31.5”/80 cm
(2) Power Wheelchair
Length 40”/102 cm
Width 24”/61 cm
Turning radius 20”/51 cm
(3) 3 Wheeled Scooter
Length 42”/107 cm
Width 21”/53 cm
Turning radius 36”/91 cm
(4) 4 Wheeled Scooter (small size)
Length 43”/109 cm
Width 21”/53 cm
Turning radius 50.5”/128 cm
(5) Child Push Chair (large size)
Length 47”/117 cm
Width 25”/63.5 cm
Turning radius 32”/81 cm
The table below indicates the mobility aid accessibility for different car types.
Fully accessible:
- Boarding/deboarding via a wheelchair lift
- Moving from the train vestibule to the mobility aid space or accessible cabin
- Entering and exiting the washroom
- Accessing the toilet and vanity
- Turning and exiting via the train vestibule
| Mobility Aids | REN Economy | REN Sleeper | LRC Business | HEP2 Business | HEP1 Park Prestige | RDC Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Wheelchair (1) | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible |
| Power Wheelchair (2) | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | Fully accessible |
| 3 Wheeled Scooter (3) | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | No washroom access | No washroom access | Fully accessible | Fully accessible |
| 4 Wheeled Scooter (4) | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | No washroom access | No washroom access | Fully accessible | Fully accessible |
| Child Push Chair (5) | Fully accessible | Fully accessible | No space for assisted transfer | No space for assisted transfer | Fully accessible | Fully accessible |
Ontario and Quebec
Route: Toronto-Ottawa
Toronto-Windsor
Toronto-Niagara Falls
Toronto-Sarnia
63 cm/25 in. Door width
142 cm/56 in. Maximum length
Venture cars
81 cm/32 in. Door width
134 cm/53 in. Maximum length of integrated platform lift
71 cm/28 in. Maximum width of integrated platform lift*
*Note that the width of the platform lift is narrower than the door in the train
Route: Montréal-Quebec city
74 cm/29 in. Door width
142 cm/56 in. Maximum length
Venture cars
81 cm/32 in. Door width
134 cm/53 in. Maximum length of integrated platform lift
71 cm/28 in. Maximum width of integrated platform lift*
*Note that the width of the platform lift is narrower than the door in the train
Route: Montréal-Senneterre
Route: Toronto-Montréal
63 cm/25 in. Door width
142 cm/56 in. Maximum length
Venture cars
81 cm/32 in. Door width
134 cm/53 in. Maximum length of integrated platform lift
71 cm/28 in. Maximum width of integrated platform lift*
*Note that the width of the platform lift is narrower than the door in the train
Route: Sudbury-White River
Route: Montréal-Gaspé
Route: Montréal-Ottawa
63 cm/25 in. Door width
142 cm/56 in. Maximum length
Venture cars
81 cm/32 in. Door width
134 cm/53 in. Maximum length of integrated platform lift
71 cm/28 in. Maximum width of integrated platform lift*
*Note that the width of the platform lift is narrower than the door in the train
Route: Montréal-Jonquière
Western Canada
Route: Toronto-Jasper-Vancouver
Route: Jasper-Prince Rupert
Route: Victoria-Courtenay
Service Suspended
Route: Winnipeg-Churchill
Atlantic Canada
Route: Montréal-Halifax
Trained guide dogs, service dogs or emotional support dogs are welcome on board. But before your trip, please read the following to make sure that both you and your dog have a smooth travel experience.
The following policy applies only to guide dogs, service dogs and emotional support dogs. If you wish to travel with your pet, we invite you to visit our Travelling with Pets section.
The following information applies to service, guide and emotional support dogs.
If your particular situation is not covered in this policy, please contact our Customer Relations group by phone at 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245) or 1-800-268-9503 (TTY number for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing), by email to customer_relations@viarail.ca, or by fax to 514-871-6104.
Guide or service dogs
These dogs are individually trained and certified to provide assistive tasks related to a person’s disability (e.g. motor, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities).
Examples:
- Autism service dogs;
- Diabetic alert dogs;
- Hearing ear dogs;
- Special skills dogs;
- Guide dogs (specifically trained for guiding a person who is blind or partially sighted);
- Post-traumatic stress disorder dogs;
- Seizure response dogs;
Emotional support dogs
These dogs meet 2 criteria:
- They provide support and comfort to persons with a mental health disability, diagnosed in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
- They have not received certified training to perform specific tasks to assist persons with disabilities.
Travel with your guide or service dog:
In either Economy or Business class, a second seat will be booked at no additional cost to make sure both you and your guide or service support dog are comfortable.
Please note that you may be required to produce documentation indicating that your dog has been certified by an accredited institution to work as a guide or service dog. Therefore, please ensure to always carry the documentation with you when travelling.
You may purchase your tickets online, by phone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or in person at one of our ticket counters. If you have a hearing or speech disability, please contact us toll-free at TTY 1-800-268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing).
Such requests must be made at least 48 hours before your departure and updated documentation may be requested.
Travel with your emotional support dog
If you are travelling on a VIA Rail train for the first time with your emotional support dog, please follow the instructions below:
- Download, read carefully and share with your healthcare professional the Instructions and Privacy Notice document on how to complete a request.
- Download and complete the Request to Travel with an Emotional Support Dog VIA Rail form.
Important information about completing the VIA Rail form:
1. Section B must be completed and signed by your treating healthcare professional (psychiatrist, psychologist or attending physician).
2. You must read and sign sections A and C.
3. If the functional limitations are temporary, the medical certificate (Section B) must not be dated more than one year before the date of travel.
Once completed, the form must be submitted for approval, using one of the following methods:
- Email: support_services@viarail.ca
- Fax: (506) 859-3943, or
- Mail:
VIA Rail Customer Center
77 Canada Street
Moncton, NB E1C 0V3
Once approved, you may purchase your tickets by phone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or in person at one of our ticket counters. If you have a hearing or speech disability, please contact us toll-free at TTY 1-800-268-9503 (for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing).
You have the option of paying for an additional seat for extra floor space when travelling with an emotional support dog. The number of emotional support dogs allowed on board is limited, and only certain seats can accommodate them. Please note that VIA Rail may require up to 96 hours advance notice for new requests requiring a medical certificate. A VIA Rail agent will contact you within 48 hours to confirm approval and explain how to book with your emotional support dog.
Guide or service dog trainers or volunteer handlers
Here’s what you’ll need to travel with a service dog in training:
- If you are a guide or assistance dog trainer, or a volunteer handler of puppies awaiting formal training, we ask that you provide proof of your occupation, such as a business card or official letter from the training facility.
- Once this condition has been met, you will be able to bring a guide dog, service dog or foster puppy on board the train free of charge.
- All dogs must be housebroken to ensure they can make lengthy trips. They must also wear a harness and leash at all times.
- In either Economy or Business class, you will be assigned a second seat free of charge so that both you and your dog are comfortable. On certain departures, you may also occupy a two-person cabin at a reduced fare.
Possible stops for service animal relief breaks during the trip
- Corridor trains: No breaks available.
- Long-distance trains: If the train is running on time, we will stop at the stations listed below.
The Canadian (Trains 01 and 02):
- Capreol
- Hornepayne (no designated relief area)
- Sioux Lookout
- Winnipeg
- Saskatoon
- Edmonton
- Jasper
- Kamloops
The Ocean (Trains 14 and 15):
- Moncton
- Campbellton
- Sainte-Foy
Important notice: If the train is not running on schedule or if the length of time between stops is unreasonable, arrangements must be made with the Service Manager on board to have the locomotive engineers stop the train at intermediate locations, when it can be done safely.
Passengers are advised of the applicable stops, and arrangements are made on board during the trip and before arrival at the stations. These guidelines are validated with each passenger’s itinerary, and adjustments are made if needed.
Passengers are responsible for taking out and walking their dogs during permitted stops. If a person with a disability is unable to take their dog out themselves, they will need to travel with a support person.
In-station service animal relief area
Some of our stations may have service dog relief areas and/or quiet areas. Because our stations’ infrastructure may vary, check the information about your departure and arrival stations beforehand using our Find a Station tool.
Travelling with a guide or service dog
- VIA Rail accepts one (1) guide or service dog per passenger on board its trains.
- Only dogs are accepted.
- Guide and service dogs always travel free of charge.
- Certain provinces and municipalities prohibit pit bulls. VIA Rail therefore does not allow this breed of dog system-wide. Mix or cross breed pit bulls are also not accepted.
- For operational reasons, we request 48 hours’ notice for passengers intending to travel with a guide or service dog. If notified less than 48 hours in advance, VIA Rail will make a reasonable effort to accommodate the passenger and their dog.
- The dog must remain on the floor at all times.
- The dog must accompany the passenger everywhere on board the train, including where food is served.
- Passengers must carry their dog's vaccination record and a document attesting that their dog has received training from an accredited professional establishment for guide or service dogs on all VIA Rail trips.
- The dog must wear a collar with an identification tag at all times.
Travelling with an emotional support dog
- VIA Rail accepts one (1) emotional support dog per passenger on board its trains.
- Only dogs are accepted.
- Emotional support dogs always travel free of charge.
- Certain provinces and municipalities prohibit pit bulls. VIA Rail therefore does not allow this breed of dog system-wide. Mix or cross breed pit bulls are also not accepted.
- For operational reasons, we request 48 hours’ notice for passengers intending to travel with an emotional support dog. If notified less than 48 hours in advance, VIA Rail will make a reasonable effort to accommodate the passenger and their dog.
- The dog must be in an animal carrier at all times on board.
- The dog must remain on the floor at your feet at all times.
- In stations, for security reasons, the dog must wear a muzzle and be always on a leash when out of its carrier.
- Mature animal - Dogs must be at least 12 months old.
- The dog must accompany the passenger anywhere on board the train, including where food is served.
- Passengers must have their dog's vaccination record in their possession for all VIA Rail trips.
- The dog must wear a collar with an identification tag at all times.
Animal Carrier Regulations
If any of the following conditions are not met, the dog may be denied boarding. Passengers must be able to place the animal carrier under the seat in front of them. Therefore, its dimensions cannot exceed:
Height: 27 cm (10.5 in)
Width: 40 cm (15.5 in)
Length: 55 cm (21.5 in)
- The carrier must be leakproof, and well ventilated.
- VIA Rail accepts hard and soft-sided carriers.
- The total weight of the carrier and dog must not exceed 10 kilograms (22 lb.).
- The animal carrier must be big enough to allow the dog to stand, turn or lie down safely and comfortably.
- No part of the dog may extend outside of the carrier.
- The dog must remain on the floor at the passenger’s feet.
- Under no condition can the dog carrier be placed on the seat.
Control measures
Guide and service dogs must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the dog’s work or the individual’s disability prevents the use of these devices.
Emotional support dogs must be in an animal carrier at all times on board. In stations, for security reasons, the dog must wear a muzzle and be always on a leash when out of its carrier.
VIA personnel may require you to remove your dog from the train or from the station premises in the following cases:
- The dog is not properly controlled and effective action is not immediately taken to control the dog (e.g., it barks repeatedly and uncontrollably or is not housebroken).
- The dog poses a threat to the health or safety of others.
Important notice: If you are asked to remove your dog but would like to remain on the premises and/or continue to travel without the dog, you must make arrangements at your own cost for another person or local animal control to assume custody of the animal. You may be required to continue your VIA train trip at a later time or on a later date.
Other passengers
Some passengers may be uncomfortable with the presence of an assistance dog due to factors such as allergies, cultural reasons, personal discomfort, or fear. To respond to conflicting needs, VIA personnel will consider options such as relocating passengers to separate areas of the train.
Amtrak - new CDC requirements for travel with a guide or service dog
We would like to inform you that new requirements for dogs entering the United States has come into effect on August 1, 2024.
These new rules, issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), could impact our passengers traveling with service dogs. We invite you to consult all the requirements on the CDC website: Bringing a Dog into the U.S. | Importation | CDC.
Accessible travel regulations
VIA Rail Canada complies with the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (ATPDR) of the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).
As required by the ATPDR, VIA Rail
- meets the communication needs of travellers with disabilities,
- trains its workers to provide assistance to travellers with disabilities,
- complies with technical requirements regarding its trains and stations,
- provides accessible services, and
- makes its security screening accessible.
Visit our corporate website to learn more about some of our accessibility initiatives across Canada.
VIA Rail Universal Accessibility Policy
At VIA Rail we do more than move passengers. We strive to be Canada’s most accessible national and intercity mode of transportation. Our vision is to be a smarter way to move people by ensuring access to a sustainable, affordable and accessible means of transportation. By promoting better accessibility, we are improving the customer experience for all our passengers as part of a barrier-free Canada.
Principles of Universal Accessibility at VIA Rail
VIA Rail acknowledges and strives to provide service that:
- is welcoming for all our passengers;
- provides a safe, comfortable and convenient journey;
- respects each individual’s autonomy, dignity and independence;
- enables full participation through an inclusive and intuitive environment; and
- offers meaningful options for passengers.
Our Commitments
VIA Rail values all our passengers and we pledge the following commitments:
- Our Culture: We will continue to be agents of transformation to foster a culture of respect and dignity.
- Leadership: We aim to integrate accessibility into decision-making processes at all levels of our organization so that we can continually improve the passenger experience.
- Continual Engagement: We value the experience of our passengers and will seek their input to imagine new possibilities for travel on our network. We will report back to you regularly regarding the progress we make.
- Training: We will equip ourselves with the training and tools needed to serve you well.
- Communications: We will provide clear and consistent information in a timely manner for all our passengers.
- Listening to You: We recognize that you know what is best for you and we strive to create an environment where you feel comfortable requesting those services.
- Barrier-Free Access: We strive to remove barriers and avoid creating new barriers across all our stations, trains and digital platforms.
- Proactive Design: We will work to provide you with flexible options to access our services.
- Collaboration: We will create community partnerships to continuously improve accessibility to our services.
Accessibility complaint form
We are sorry your experience didn’t go as planned. Please answer the following questions to help us determine the best way to resolve your complaint.