Natalie Crenna, like many others, relocated from a major city to a smaller town amid the COVID-19 pandemic for cheaper housing and proximity to family. However, she is contemplating a return to Toronto not due to her office’s demand for in-person work but because of the escalating train travel costs, reaching around $1,200 monthly for tickets. Working in Belleville, Ont., about 190 km east of Toronto at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Crenna deliberates the financial implications as her mortgage renewal approaches.
Numerous Via Rail passengers have voiced concerns about the impact of the company’s pricing strategies on their travel decisions. Commuters from smaller towns along Via Rail’s Quebec City-Windsor Corridor, traveling into major cities like Toronto for office days, find themselves constrained by Via’s dynamic pricing model and limited fare options, resulting in increased expenses.
Via Rail, in response to inquiries from CBC News, clarified that its pricing structure is influenced by factors such as train capacity and booking proximity to departure. Booking approximately two weeks ahead or selecting off-peak travel times generally secures the most economical fares according to Via Rail’s recommendations.
Despite Via’s average economy ticket pricing in the Quebec City-Windsor corridor rising modestly by approximately 2.5% from 2022 to 2025, some travelers express discontent with the evolving pricing system. Tim Hayman from Transport Action Canada notes that Via Rail’s pricing structure underwent significant changes in late 2023, introducing more fare variability with advanced yield management tactics.
While Via Rail promotes discount cards for frequent travelers to save up to 30% on economy fares, limitations on applying these discounts to the cheapest fare class and other promotional offers may limit their attractiveness to passengers seeking savings. Sonja Smith from West Lorne, Ont., highlights the affordability challenges, emphasizing the noticeable fare increases and fluctuation, making rail travel less viable for her work-related travels to Toronto.
Commuters find it increasingly challenging to navigate Via Rail’s pricing fluctuations and reduced commuter-focused services post-pandemic. Despite Via’s recommendation to book outside peak hours for lower fares, commuters like Crenna find themselves financially burdened, especially when constrained by limited train options and escalating costs, making long-term commuting with Via Rail seemingly unfeasible.
