VIA Rail

As with another Unilocaler, I didn’t utilize the VIA Rail services either. Considering the fact that I came to Halifax by a cruise ship, there was no point for me to take a train unless I wanted to go somewhere so far away that I would miss the ship. Every time I came to Halifax by cruise ship (including most recently), I’ve always ended up stopping here whenever I head back to the cruise ship terminal. I’ve always stopped in here just to take a break from all of the walking.
Inside the terminal was a big, clean, open space. Some indoor plants made the space look even better. There was a good amount of benches available for those who just wanted to either take a break or wait to catch their next train. The benches looked clean and felt okay, which was fine. The restrooms were okay too. At the time I went, it felt quiet, which was nice. They had vending machines for those who wanted to buy snacks, and a ticket office for those who needed to utilize the rail. They also had the entrance to the train platforms, in which you had to go outside in order to board the train. (Apologies for no photos due to having no additional memory.)
The exterior of the building looked historical. Two poles stood on each side of the entrance, which were attached to the roof above. Those poles looked like the ones that you would see on certain historical government buildings. There was a little statue on top of the entrance which showed two people standing around an object. I didn’t know what that represented, but it looked cool.
The location of this rail terminal isn’t too far from some of the major points of interest in the area. The terminal is connected to the Westin hotel, which is convenient for those who want to stay over for a night or two after riding the rails. The Atlantic Superstore is right next to the terminal, which is convenient for those who need to buy groceries before or after utilizing the rails. Downtown Halifax and the Harbourwalk aren’t far away for those who want to walk over to those areas.
Overall, I enjoyed my visit here, just as much as my previous times when I was younger.

Defiantly the «more civilized way to travel». It was more then I expected and I would redo in a heartbeat. To much to rewrite about here so if you have any direct questions just email me.

I have never used the Via Rail services before. But, I’ve been in the terminal plenty of times. It is a very large beautiful open space with lots of places to sit and relax and is usually pretty quite.
There are vending machines for munchies, but they are also attached to the Westin hotel that has a gift shop and Starbucks café. There is a Canada Post office there as well incase you need to send any packages.
Taxis are usually waiting outside, so you won’t have a problem getting one to your end destination.
This train station is also a Bell Hotspot!

Via Rail established by the Canadian Government in 1977 run approximately 503 trains on a weekly basis. Now if you have patients and don’t need to be somewhere asap I suggest taking the train.
I went to Quebec on the train and it was not too bad. I did get a bit antsy but nothing a nap wont cure. EX: from Halifax to Toronto is about $ 198 which is not bad it is the travelling time that you would have to be concerned about. Now if you are talking the kids don’t worry they have activities for kids on the train. Movies are playing during the trip for them to help entertain them. As well the train are equipped with wireless Internet so yes you can travel with the laptop.
Now I myself did bring some snacks but yes they have a menu service on the train as well and will serve things like hotdogs, hamburgers, salads light meals as well as the chips and pop and the prices are fairly reasonable.
So maybe on your next trip check out Via and explore some of this great place and let someone else do the driving.

Dear VIA trains: Why must you be so expensive? Every time I look at using your services, my mouth is left gaping as I reel from your price list. I want to use your old timey milieu of transportation; conductors tipping their hats, me waving at loved ones as we chug out of the station… but alas, it’s often cheaper to fly AND it takes a fraction of the time.
I’ve traveled to Montréal on the train, and although it was a fun experience, sitting upright for 24 hours did a number on my body. Not only that, it takes days to recover from sitting for so long. The prices were better than flying at the time, but the inconvenience of feeling like crap for a number of days made it not so worth it.
I’d prefer to use VIA to send boxes than to send myself somewhere. They’re pretty timely when it comes to shipping and it doesn’t cost as much as mailing. I wish taking the train was a little more financially sensible because it’s such a fun way to travel. Maybe in the next decade we’ll get all European ’round these parts, and figure out a proficient train system. I can dream, right?

I’m a public transportation enthusiast and because I’ve recently had a falling out with the Acadian Lines bus service I had to look into a more comfortable way to travel to visit my friends at school in New Brunswick. My one-​way ticket cost about 50 bucks dollars which is only about 10 dollars more than it would have cost me to take the bus.
The extra money was worth it and offered perks like not having to change buses, guaranteed seating, access to a concessions car and an overall more comfortable ride.
For longer trips VIA rail offers it’s passengers comfortable sleeping cars which operate with key card access, similar to a hotel. I’m convinced by my experience that travelling on the train is the best option for long trips and if you can afford it, it might be worth your while to drop the extra money for a short trip as well.

Via Rail, is a great service. I find that a lot of seniors like to travel this way, it gives them the opportunity to stretch their legs.
Also, you get fed on the train, or if you are on a long ride, get sleeping quarters. It really is a step up from the bus.
I prefer the train, and took it down to Moncton on numerous occasions. I just like it better. A few dollars more, but we are all worth it.

I hate the bus, I’ll be honest. I have cancelled trips because I was going to be traveling on the bus. It is definitely a last resort kind of travel option. Now, on the other end of that spectrum, I love the train.
My parents live about an hour away and when I go visit them, the train is my preferred method of travel. You can stretch out and poke around the cabins. You get a great alternative view on your trip and for some reason you just feel alive (does that make sense?).
The train, for short trips, is only a few more dollars than the bus and it is definitely worth it. The only downside is you know that someday you’re going to have take the bus again. This can be a bit of a dreadful feeling after riding ViaRail. Regardless, take the train, you’ll feel good, I promise.

I’ve used Via Rail to ship all sorts of stuff now — clothes, books, a guitar, a box of records, and lots more — and it’s all gotten here safe and sound. Plus, since it has all had to travel from Vancouver to Halifax, I really feel like I’ve tested them at their limits. So far, so good. All shipping has happened in a timely matter, and while the boxes usually don’t look *pretty* when after traveling over 6000 km, nothing has ever been damaged. The most important thing is that you take responsibility for packing your boxes well, and acknowledge what kind of service you’re using. These cats are moving your boxes on and off buses many times (if you’re shipping as far as I have) and you have to expect a fair deal of rough handling. Just do a good, solid job packing and you shouldn’t have any problems. Plus, the guys in the Halifax bus depot office are super sweet. Hopefully most of my shipping is done now, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use this service again.