List of Via Rail routes

Last updated

A route map of Via Rail frequencies from 2013. Viafrequencies.svg
A route map of Via Rail frequencies from 2013.

Via Rail operates 497 trains per week over nineteen routes. Via groups these routes into three broad categories: [1]

Contents

Current routes

NameRouteRoute numbersNotes
Canadian TorontoVancouver Westbound: 1
Eastbound: 2
Ocean MontrealHalifax Westbound: 15
Eastbound: 14
Québec City–Windsor Corridor TorontoKingstonMontreal Westbound: 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 669
Eastbound: 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 668
TorontoKingstonOttawa Westbound: 41, 45, 47, 53, 55, 59, 643, 645
Eastbound: 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54
OttawaMontrealQuébec City Westbound: 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 633
Eastbound: 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 38, 622
TorontoNiagara FallsNew York
( Maple Leaf)
Southbound: 97
Northbound: 98
Operated by Amtrak while in the US
SarniaLondonToronto Westbound: 87
Eastbound: 84
WindsorLondonToronto Westbound: 71, 73, 75, 79
Eastbound: 70, 72, 76, 78
Jasper–Prince Rupert JasperPrince Rupert Westbound: 5
Eastbound: 6
Formerly the Skeena and Panorama
Montreal–Jonquière MontrealJonquière Southbound: 600, 602
Northbound: 601
Formerly the Saguenay
Montreal–Senneterre MontrealSenneterre Southbound: 604, 606
Northbound: 603
Formerly the Abitibi
Sudbury–White River SudburyWhite River Westbound: 186
Eastbound: 185
Formerly the Lake Superior
Winnipeg–Churchill WinnipegChurchill Southbound: 690, 692
Northbound: 691, 693
Formerly the Hudson Bay and Northern Spirits
The Pas–Pukatawagan The PasPukatawagan Southbound: 290
Northbound: 291
Operated by the Keewatin Railway

Full listing

Intercity routes

  Transferred from Canadian National Railway (CN)   Transferred from CP Rail (now Canadian Pacific Kansas City)   Active route

Name(s)RouteFirst serviceLast serviceNotes
Atlantic Limited MontrealSherbrookeSaint John October 29, 1978June 16, 1979Renamed as Atlantic
Atlantic June 17, 1979October 27, 1979Extended to Halifax
Montreal – Sherbrooke – Saint John – MonctonHalifax October 28, 1979November 14, 1981
June 1, 1985December 16, 1994
Bras d'Or Halifax – Sydney 20002004Weekly summer tourist train
Calgary–South Edmonton CalgaryEdmonton October 29, 1978October 26, 1985
Campbellton–Moncton Campbellton – MonctonOctober 28, 1979January 14, 1990
Capreol–Winnipeg CapreolHornepayneNakina April 1, 1978September 28, 1980
Sioux LookoutWinnipeg April 1, 1978September 28, 1980Extended to Armstrong
Armstrong – Sioux Lookout – WinnipegSeptember 29, 1980November 14, 1981
Capreol – Hornepayne – Nakina – Armstrong – Sioux Lookout – WinnipegOctober 28, 1979May 31, 1981Briefly rolled into the Super Continental during 1981
November 15, 1981January 14, 1990Subsumed by the Canadian
Capreol – HornepayneJune 1, 1981November 14, 1981
Farlane – WinnipegSeasonal train
Chambord–Dolbeau ChambordDolbeau April 1, 1978June 16, 1979
Chaleur Montreal – Gaspé April 1, 1978April 30, 2009Name dropped
Montreal–Gaspé May 1, 2009August 2013
Edmonton–Drumheller Edmonton – Drumheller April 1, 1978November 14, 1981Now partially served by Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions
Edmundston–Sainte-Foy EdmundstonSainte-Foy April 1, 1978October 27, 1979
Enterprise Toronto – MontrealJanuary 16, 2000October 29, 2005 Night train
Evangeline Halifax – Yarmouth October 29, 1978January 14, 1990
Flin Flon–Osborne Lake Flin FlonOsborne Lake April 1, 1978October 27, 1979
Halifax–FrederictonMoncton – Saint JohnApril 1, 1978October 27, 1979Extended to Halifax
Halifax – Moncton – Saint JohnOctober 28, 1979November 14, 1981Extended to Fredericton
June 1, 1985January 14, 1990
Halifax – Moncton – Saint John – Fredericton November 15, 1981May 31, 1985Truncated back to Saint John
Halifax–Sydney Halifax – SydneyApril 1, 1978January 14, 1990
Havelock–Toronto HavelockPeterborough – TorontoOctober 29, 1978January 14, 1990
Hearst–Nakina Hearst – NakinaApril 1, 1978May 31, 1986
Hornepayne–ManitouwadgeHornepayne – Manitouwadge April 1, 1978April 26, 1980
International Limited Toronto – Chicago October 31, 1982June 12, 1983Operated by Amtrak in the US. Renamed as International
International June 13, 1983April 23, 2004Operated by Amtrak in the US
Jasper–Prince Rupert JasperPrince Rupert April 1, 1978June 16, 1979Named as Skeena
May 1, 2009Present
Skeena June 17, 1979November 14, 1981Extended to Edmonton
April 30, 1989April 30, 2009Name dropped
Edmonton – Jasper – Prince RupertNovember 15, 1981June 2, 1984Extended to Winnipeg and renamed as Panorama
June 1, 1985April 29, 1989Truncated back to Jasper
Panorama Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton – Jasper – Prince RupertJune 3, 1984May 31, 1985Reverted to Skeena name and route
Limoilou–Rivière-à-Pierre Limoilou, Quebec CityRivière-à-Pierre April 1, 1978June 16, 1979Replaced by Sainte-Foy–Rivière-à-Pierre train
Sainte-Foy–Rivière-à-PierreSainte-Foy – Rivière-à-PierreOctober 28, 1979February 2, 1980
Toronto–Niagara FallsToronto – Niagara Falls April 1, 1978January 18, 1992Renamed as General Brock
November 23, 1997December 9, 2012Service continued by the Maple Leaf and Lakeshore West line
General BrockJanuary 19, 1992November 22, 1997Name dropped
Toronto–North BayToronto – North Bay April 1, 1978January 14, 1990
Maple Leaf Toronto – Niagara Falls – New York April 26, 1981PresentOperated by Amtrak in the US
Moncton–Edmundston Moncton – EdmundstonApril 1, 1978November 14, 1981
October 28, 1984January 14, 1990
Montreal–Chicoutimi Montreal – Hervey – Rivière-à-Pierre – Chambord – JonquièreChicoutimi April 1, 1978April 30, 1988Truncated to Jonquière
Saguenay Montreal – Hervey – Rivière-à-Pierre – Chambord – JonquièreApril 25, 1993April 30, 2009Name dropped
Montreal–Jonquière May 1, 1988April 24, 1993Named as Saguenay
May 1, 2009Present
Sainte-Foy–Cochrane Sainte-Foy – SenneterreCochrane April 1, 1978
Abitibi Montreal – Hervey – SenneterreApril 25, 1993April 30, 2009Name dropped
Montreal–Senneterre May 1, 2009Present
Montreal–SherbrookeMontreal – Sherbrooke April 1, 1978October 30, 1982
Ocean Montreal – HalifaxApril 1, 1978Present
Ottawa–Sudbury Ottawa – SudburyNovember 15, 1981May 31, 1985Replaced a section of the Canadian when it was rerouted through Toronto following the first cancellation of the Super Continental
Saint-Laurent Montreal – Mont-Joli October 28, 1979May 28, 1983
Quebec City – Mont-JoliJune 1, 1985January 14, 1990
Regina–Prince Albert ReginaSaskatoonPrince Albert April 1, 1978November 14, 1981
Winnipeg–SaskatoonWinnipeg – Regina – SaskatoonNovember 15, 1981June 2, 1984Replaced a section of the cancelled Super Continental. Subsumed by the Panorama
Saskatoon–EdmontonSaskatoon – EdmontonNovember 15, 1981June 2, 1984
Saskatoon–The PasSaskatoon – The Pas April 1, 1978April 26, 1980
Scotian Montreal – Campbellton – HalifaxApril 1, 1978October 27, 1979Same route as the Ocean but with more stops
Senneterre–Rouyn-NorandaSenneterre – Rouyn-Noranda April 1, 1978June 16, 1979
Lake Superior SudburyWhite River April 28, 1996April 30, 2009Name dropped
Sudbury–White River October 29, 1978April 27, 1996Named as Lake Superior
May 1, 2009Present
Canadian Toronto – Sudbury – White River – Winnipeg – Regina – Calgary – BanffVancouver October 29, 1978June 16, 1979Exchanged sleeper cars with the Super Continental at Winnipeg
Montreal – Ottawa – Sudbury – White River – Winnipeg – Regina – Calgary – Banff – VancouverJune 17, 1979October 27, 1979
Montreal – Toronto – Sudbury – White River – Winnipeg – Regina – Calgary – Banff – VancouverNovember 15, 1981May 31, 1985
Montreal – Ottawa – Sudbury – / Toronto – Sudbury – White River – Winnipeg – Regina – Calgary – Banff – VancouverJune 1, 1985January 14, 1990Montreal and Toronto sections, divided at Sudbury
Toronto – Sudbury Junction – Sioux Lookout – Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton – Jasper – VancouverJanuary 15, 1990Present
Super Continental Montreal – Ottawa – Sioux Lookout – Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton – Jasper – VancouverApril 1, 1978June 16, 1979Exchanged sleeper cars with the Canadian at Winnipeg
Toronto – Sioux Lookout – Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton – Jasper – VancouverJune 17, 1979October 27, 1979
June 1, 1981November 14, 1981Exchanged sleeper cars with the Canadian at Winnipeg. Discontinued for the first time
Toronto – Sudbury – White River – Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton – Jasper – VancouverOctober 28, 1979May 31, 1981Combined with the Canadian between Sudbury and Winnipeg. Exchanged sleeper cars with the Canadian at Winnipeg
Winnipeg – VancouverJune 1, 1985January 14, 1990Discontinued for the second and final time
The Pas–Lynn LakeThe Pas – PukatawaganLynn Lake April 1, 1978May 22, 2004Truncated to Pukatawagan
The Pas–Pukatawagan The Pas – PukatawaganMay 23, 2004PresentRuns over the Keewatin Railway
Thunder Bay–Sioux Lookout Thunder Bay – Sioux LookoutApril 1, 1978May 31, 1986
Toronto–BarrieToronto – Barrie April 1, 1978September 3, 1982Replaced by the Bradford line (now the Barrie line)
Toronto–StouffvilleToronto – Stouffville April 1, 1978September 3, 1982Replaced by the Stouffville line
Malahat VictoriaCourtenay October 29, 1978April 30, 2009Name dropped
Victoria–Courtenay May 1, 2009March 19, 2011
Winnipeg–Churchill, Hudson Bay, Northern SpiritsWinnipeg – The Pas – Churchill April 1, 1978Present

Commuter routes

Via operated some grandfathered commuter passenger routes from CN and CP from 1977 until financial constraints led to cuts in 1981. A few became provincial commuter rail lines after transfer from Canadian National Railways or Canadian Pacific Railway.

RouteOriginal OperatorNotes
CN Uxbridge Subdivision (Stouffville line)CNToronto to Stouffville service by CN from 1971 to 1977, Via until 1981 and was restored by GO Transit in 1982
Guelph Subdivision(Toronto - Stratford/Georgetown)CNNever transferred to Via in 1977 but became GO Georgetown line in 1974. Extended to Guelph 1990 to 1993 (cut back to Georgetown by provincial cuts) and extended to Kitchener (line renamed) since 2011
Barrie line CNBegan by CN Toronto-Barrie from 1972 to 1977, transferred to Via 1977 and became GO line to Bradford/Newmarket only from 1982 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2008, extended to Barrie from 1990 to 1993 and since 2008 (now to Allendale)
CP Havelock Subdivision (Havelock/Peterborough)CPRetained as CP freight subdivision and now used by Kawartha Lakes Railway
Streetsville CPAbandoned in 1971 and partially restored as GO Milton line 1981
Lakeshore West CPTransferred from Via to STCUM in 1982 and then to AMT in 1996. Now Exo
Deux-Montagnes line CNTransferred from Via to STCUM in 1982 and then to AMT in 1996. Last operated by Exo. Ceased operations in 2020 and replaced in 2023 by Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light metro line.
Saint-Jérôme line CPTransferred from CP to Via in 1977 but abandoned 1981. Restored by AMT in 1997
Mont-Saint-Hilaire line CNNever transferred to Via and operated by CN until 1988 and later restored by AMT in 2000

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References

  1. Via Rail. "2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-02-24.