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Comparison Tool

More and more travellers are choosing VIA Rail as their principal means of transportation for business and recreational trips. Why? Because the train saves time and money.Travellers also turn to VIA as an alternative means of travel that is environmentally-friendly.

Why waste productive time travelling by plane or by car? VIA Rail offers an efficient and economical solution.

Compare the train to other means of transportation and you be the judge!

Help reduce air pollution and GHG emissions by choosing VIA!

The train offers a clear advantage over the car and plane.

Total travel time vs productive travel time/ Toronto - Montréal

train
Average travel time in train: 5 h 08 min
Productive time in train: 5 h 08 min
airplane
Average travel time in plane: 1 h 15 min (in air) + 2 h (travel time to/from airports, security, lineups) = 3 h 15 min
Productive time in plane: 1 h 15 min
car 541 km* in car
Total travel time in car: 5 h + 30 min for traffic = 5 h 30 min
Productive time in car: 0 h 00 min
*Car distance and trip time based on one-way trip according to Google Maps.

Emissions CO2e / Toronto - Montréal

train
55 kg CO2e
airplane
186 kg CO2e
car
104 kg CO2e

CO2e emissions calculation methodology
Calculations based on a one-way trip for one person. Train CO2e based on VIA Rail’s five-year average of total fuel consumption and passenger-km (excluding 2020) and conversion factors from the latest ECCC inventory report conversion factors. Aircraft CO2e based on five-year average of DEFRA emissions factors for domestic flights (excluding 2020) and IPCC recommended radiative factor. Car CO2e based on five-year average of Natural Resources Canada Comprehensive Energy Use Database’s average fuel for cars in Canada and conversion factors from the latest ECCC inventory report conversion factors.