Economy vs business on VIA rail?
Aug 11th, 2009, 06:53 AM
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Economy vs business on VIA rail?
Before I make my reservations for a VIA rail trip from Montreal to Quebec City, I'd like to get some advice. Besides the obvious cost difference, what would be the difference in my train riding experience between economy fare and business class fare?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
Aug 11th, 2009, 08:55 AM
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Hello,
Essentially, there will be an hot meal (usually, pretty good)included (with wine, except for breakfast of course). There is also a little more space between seats, but frankly, from having tried both classes many times, I can tell you that the economy one is still very confortable.
Essentially, there will be an hot meal (usually, pretty good)included (with wine, except for breakfast of course). There is also a little more space between seats, but frankly, from having tried both classes many times, I can tell you that the economy one is still very confortable.
Aug 12th, 2009, 04:37 AM
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I used to commute from Toronto to Montrea every week, most often by train.
From time to time I'd upgrae, but there's no advantage that matters, unless it is lout day in the cheap seats and your neighbours are rowdy.
On a departure from Montreal, there are excellent places in the station to buy snacks to eat on the train, so any advantage in food quality pretty much disappears.
BAK
From time to time I'd upgrae, but there's no advantage that matters, unless it is lout day in the cheap seats and your neighbours are rowdy.
On a departure from Montreal, there are excellent places in the station to buy snacks to eat on the train, so any advantage in food quality pretty much disappears.
BAK
Aug 12th, 2009, 04:03 PM
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For a short trip like yours I would not likely pay the extra unless I was very short of time and needed to have had my meal on arrival. The main difference in cost is for the meal service. The food is pretty good, think biz class on a plane but for the money you will get better food in a stationary restaurant. On longer trips like Toronto-Montreal the service is nice and helps pass the time.
Apr 29th, 2015, 10:13 AM
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The business class cars in the LRC train sets were renovated in 2014. There are now single seats on one side of the aisle and doubles on the other. Wi-Fi is improved too. The meals are very nice, not like airplane food. Also, the lowest fares in business class allow changes for a relatively small fee while the lowest fares in economy don't allow any change. I was on a train that was stuck behind another that had collided with a "trespasser" and we had to sit for hours until the coroner cleared the site. It was warm and comfortable waiting and they gave us a voucher for getting half our fare back for a future trip. Business class in an airplane costs a lot more than coach. On VIA, a "lot more" is not a lot - the cheapest business ticket is less than all but the cheapest economy fare.
Apr 29th, 2015, 04:59 PM
#7
I don't know the difference, but rode in economy last year and will ride in it again this summer. I found it to be comfortable and clean. We brought our own snacks and drinks on the train. It wasn't so long that we needed to pay more for the train ride.
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