VIA New Corridor Trains - 2021 - 2023 Updates

[jiml]

Upbeat American reviewer checks out VIA's new train:

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Upbeat American reviewer checks out VIA's new train:

I wonder if the Business Class lounge in the Ottawa station is also available to sleeping car passengers on the Ocean?

 

[PVD]

Access to the Business lounges is available to the following travellers:

Passengers travelling in Business class, Sleeper Plus class, Prestige class, and VIA Préférence Premier members travelling with an Economy Plus fare ticket (exclusions apply).

 

[Anderson]

Access to the Business lounges is available to the following travellers:

Passengers travelling in Business class, Sleeper Plus class, Prestige class, and VIA Préférence Premier members travelling with an Economy Plus fare ticket (exclusions apply).

There's an unclear question as to whether an Ottawa-Montreal-Halifax (or v-v) passenger traveling in a sleeper Montreal-Halifax would have access in Ottawa.

That being said, I once got access to the lounge in Montreal after traveling Ottawa-Montreal in Business while connecting to the Adirondack - I was a Premier member at the time, and they agreed that between the Business ticket and my status (which would give me access on E+, which is all they offer on the Maple Leaf), it was enough to let me grab coffee while waiting for Amtrak.

 

[DaveKCMO]

Traveling on The Ocean to Montreal in mid-October. Curious how likely it will be that new corridor trainsets will be running more often than not? Is there anyway to tell when booking? Thx.

 

[jiml]

Traveling on The Ocean in mid-October. Curious how likely it will be that new trainsets will be running more often than not? Is there anyway to tell when booking? Thx.

The new equipment is running between Ottawa and Quebec City via Montreal, so unless you are connecting to the Ocean from either of those directions you are unlikely to be on one.

 

[lordsigma]

Question about business class on the Corridor trains. I’ll be riding from Toronto to Montreal in December. From their description it seems business is sort of equivalent to Acela first class as far as amenities. Is that an accurate assessment or is it more airline Cart style?

 

[jiml]

Question about business class on the Corridor trains. I’ll be riding from Toronto to Montreal in December. From their description it seems business is sort of equivalent to Acela first class as far as amenities. Is that an accurate assessment or is it more airline Cart style?

It can be either, however recently the cart model is preferred. The sum total of amenities roughly equals Amtrak FC. It's not unlike Amtrak (or the airlines) where staff make their own rules. Some examples of the service range from my own experience: A nice tray presentation with the entree brought separately vs. the entire tray plunked down with the entree still in the foil heating pan. Sometimes it's the latter with entree plated. Then there's drink service... sometimes cocktails are served - sometimes in glass, other times in plastic. Same for wine, even when there's already a glass glass on the tray. Sometimes "they didn't load the wine". As with all things travel these days, your mileage may vary.

 

[lordsigma]

Thanks. Will report back on my experience.