For immediate distribution - Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Correction : VIA Rail's student savings make the grades
MONTREAL - With back-to-school sales beginning, students are budgeting their hard-earned summer funds with a year full of activities in mind. Students of all ages can take advantage of savings and fare discounts available with VIA Rail Canada throughout the school year. With discounts ranging from 35-50%, and plenty of departures from university/college towns served by VIA's Windsor-Québec City Corridor services, travelling by train makes the grade.
Here are a number of ways students can take advantage of VIA savings to travel.
Students can use their ISIC card, (International Student Identification card) available at any VIA Rail station or Travel CUTS location, to obtain discounts on train travel with no service charges or advance purchase required. To purchase an ISIC card, students must provide proof of full-time status, which can be obtained from the administrative offices of colleges, universities and high schools.
Students purchasing Comfort class (Economy) tickets receive 35% off the full adult fare. Students wishing to experience any of VIA's first class products such as VIA1 in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor or Silver & Blue aboard the Canadian, receive a 10% discount.
VIA's 6 pak offers great savings to students travelling frequently between two destinations, such as home and school. With an ISIC card and the VIA 6 pak, students save up to 50% on the purchase of six one-way tickets between the same two VIA stations.
Starting in September 2005, VIA Rail Gift Cards will be available for purchase at VIA Rail stations system-wide. The perfect "care package" for students who need a break from school.
This September, VIA will be introducing two new train services that will provide travellers between London-Toronto-Kingston with a convenient, thru service between these cities.
Starting September 15, 2005, a new weekday evening departure from Toronto to Kingston will add flexibility for the business, leisure and student traveller. Departing at 10:00 p.m.(Train # 650), the new schedule will provide an eastbound connection for travellers arriving from Windsor/London and southwest Ontario on Train #78.
Also beginning September 16, 2005 a new Friday evening departure from London to Toronto at 9:50 p.m. will be introduced. This train (#686) will allow London-area students more flexibility to head home for the weekend, check out Toronto's nightlife, or reconnect with friends in town.
For a complete listing of train departures, fares, or to make a reservation please visit http://www.viarail.ca/en_index.html. Passengers can also book their tickets by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245), at kiosks in major Corridor stations or through their travel agents. Students can visit VIA's dedicated website at http://www.viacampus.ca/en_index.html to order a VIA 6 pak, review schedules or simply connect with other student travellers. Students can also sign up for VIA1's Student e-Letter to receive updates on contests, promotions and other savings.
As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to provide efficient and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada's busiest corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. Serving more than 450 communities across Canada, demand for rail services continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice.
