Via Rail Toronto to Montreal

Last Updated:
Sep 5th, 2018 2:04 pm

Tags:

SCORE

Reply to ThreadReply

Search this thread

Search this thread

Sep 2nd, 2018 10:15 pm

mangoworms [OP]: Newbie; Sep 1, 2018; 2 posts; 2 upvotes

Sep 2nd, 2018 10:15 pm

Via Rail Toronto to Montreal

Hi everyone -

I was wondering: How strict is the baggage policy on the Toronto to Montreal Via Rail train during non-rush hour? The baggage allowance is supposedly one large item and one small personal item, but I have one large item and two small personal items (one of which may have exceeded the dimensions a bit).

Also, I bought an adult ticket but I'm one year past the cutoff for the youth tickets, which allows you 2 large items rather than one. Do they actually check that I have an adult ticket rather than a youth ticket, or do they just look at the passengers to gauge their age?

Thanks so much for your help!

9 replies

Sep 3rd, 2018 12:19 pm

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 25702 posts; 25251 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

Sep 3rd, 2018 12:19 pm

Tickets are looked at / checked.

Baggage scrutiny depends on what equipment is assigned to the run. If it’s a train with a seperate baggage car, where you hand off your bags to the conductor then things can be a bit more stringent in my experience. (Think checked bags on an airline)

If it’s a train where the baggage is corralled into a section at one end of the Pax Car, then things are a bit more laid back because you have to carry your own stuff aboard.

Either way, I would say you are going to be ok, cause they are “carry on” items.

Sep 3rd, 2018 1:41 pm

lennyandcarl: Deal Addict; Jan 18, 2013; 3009 posts; 1650 upvotes; B.C.

Sep 3rd, 2018 1:41 pm

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Tickets are looked at / checked.

Baggage scrutiny depends on what equipment is assigned to the run. If it’s a train with a seperate baggage car, where you hand off your bags to the conductor then things can be a bit more stringent in my experience. (Think checked bags on an airline)

If it’s a train where the baggage is corralled into a section at one end of the Pax Car, then things are a bit more laid back because you have to carry your own stuff aboard.

Either way, I would say you are going to be ok, cause they are “carry on” items.

Really?

Aren't they going person by person and weighing it before they let the coach passengers on to the train now?

Sep 3rd, 2018 2:15 pm

foreigncontent: Deal Addict; Mar 1, 2016; 1092 posts; 401 upvotes; toronto

Sep 3rd, 2018 2:15 pm

lennyandcarl wrote: ↑ Really?

Aren't they going person by person and weighing it before they let the coach passengers on to the train now?

they did last time I took the train in Toronto

Sep 3rd, 2018 2:33 pm

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 25702 posts; 25251 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

Sep 3rd, 2018 2:33 pm

lennyandcarl wrote: ↑ Really?

Aren't they going person by person and weighing it before they let the coach passengers on to the train now?

foreigncontent wrote: ↑ they did last time I took the train in Toronto

Ok if so, that’s new.

But then I have not been on Via Rail so far in 2018

Sep 3rd, 2018 3:25 pm

lennyandcarl: Deal Addict; Jan 18, 2013; 3009 posts; 1650 upvotes; B.C.

Sep 3rd, 2018 3:25 pm

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Ok if so, that’s new.

But then I have not been on Via Rail so far in 2018

I haven't been on the train in ages (maybe 2013?) and it was new at the time. I only had a backpack with me and got to skip the weigh in.

VIA is already less than ideal but adding this is just salt to the wound.There are always so many people with no bags why bother harassing the few that have extra? I saw one guy arguing with them that him and his wife were sharing a bag and it was 55lbs. If they had each brought a bag it would be heavier and take up more space but totally allowed. Plus they have to load it themselves!

Sep 3rd, 2018 10:27 pm

JC69: Deal Addict; Jan 8, 2007; 3136 posts; 1798 upvotes; Kingston

Sep 3rd, 2018 10:27 pm

Can anyone confirm if this is a new policy? I often upgrade my air tickets to allow an extra checked piece of luggage and don’t want to have to fork over extra cash to Via if I can help it.

Sep 4th, 2018 2:37 pm

Talamasca: Deal Guru; Apr 26, 2004; 12991 posts; 3486 upvotes; Mississauga

Sep 4th, 2018 2:37 pm

lennyandcarl wrote: ↑ Really?

Aren't they going person by person and weighing it before they let the coach passengers on to the train now?

I took the VIA train from Toronto to Ottawa on Canada Day weekend a couple months ago and staff went down the line weighing luggage that looked overweight. Anyone with excess luggage weight had to re-distribute or dispose of it. Now this was Canada Day to Ottawa, so it was a full train. Not sure how strictly they would enforce this on a more "normal" trip.

Sep 5th, 2018 12:13 am

4seasonscentre: Deal Addict; Feb 11, 2009; 1020 posts; 284 upvotes

Sep 5th, 2018 12:13 am

Yes, that is what happens.

Most people will proceed without being stopped. Those with heavy looking baggage will be asked to put their stuff onto the scale.

Sep 5th, 2018 2:04 pm

mangoworms [OP]: Newbie; Sep 1, 2018; 2 posts; 2 upvotes

Sep 5th, 2018 2:04 pm

So I took a risk and brought the luggage and both bags as carry-ons onto the TOR-MON train on Labour Day at 6:40am. The staff only weighed heavy-looking luggage and one passenger in front of me had two bags, both of which exceeded the 50lb weight limit (one was 3lbs over and the other was 9lbs over), and they let him by with a verbal warning. After the weighing, there was another checkpoint where someone promptly scanned the QR code on my ticket and didn't even give me a second glance. I think I would've gotten away with bringing a second 50lb luggage if I tried.

+2

Reply to Thread

Top