Family Travel in Canada: Free Train Travel

If you are planning your summer vacation in Canada this summer, I have the perfect way to travel for you AND your family: A Via Rail Train.

The Canada Strong pass is back, offering discounts and free admission to various places across Canada. Yay! But it also means discounted rail travel for kids and youth.

The price of gas is going up and the train is a relaxing way for all family members to travel. In our car, three of us are usually sleeping while Andy is driving. He enjoys the train very much.

Kids 17 and under travel for FREE with an adult. Youth 18-25 can get 25% off pricing.

A round-trip between Ottawa and Toronto can cost a family of four, with two adults and two children under 17 around $250. Seriously. And then once you are in Toronto, dropped of at Union Station, you can plan days of fun at the Aquarium, seeing the Blue Jays and more.

For years, I have shouted about how much I love taking the train.

It hasn’t changed. I frequently use it for work travel, but also with my family. In February, my daughter and I hopped the train for an exciting, brief, trip to Toronto for a concert. We couldn’t have made it happen without that mode of transportation.

Your older kiddo (under 25) can save too with a 25% off discount.

Travelling on Via Rail for free? Even better. Here’s how:

1. You need to sign up for the Via Preference points program. That means everytime you travel, you earn points. That train trip for the concert? Free with points (and thanks for a sale they had).
2. With the Canada Strong Pass, children 17 and younger travel FREE from mid-June until September.

However, I do have to say that unfortunately, there is a chance the train will have delays. Sometimes 15 minutes, other times 60+. It’s not ideal, and so I would recommend planning connections and events accordingly. When this happens (longer than a 60 minute delay) you are credited back from Via.

With the soaring prices of gas, it’s worth considering an alternate way to travel. I find it relaxing, comfortable and convenient.

Happy travels!