Moreover, please note that tickets for them must be purchased directly from a VIA Rail agent at the ticket counter in any of our stations, or by phone at 1 888 VIA RAIL (1 888 842-7245).
Tickets for children travelling alone may not be purchased online.
How old is the child?
Age 7 and under: The child must always be accompanied by a parent or adult age 18 or over aboard VIA trains.
Age 8 to 11: Usually the child may travel alone aboard a VIA train. Yet this permission is subject to certain conditions and a parent or legal guardian must fill out and sign a Waiver of Liability form (VIA form 59-09-8) available at the ticket counter in VIA stations. Parents whose child travels alone regularly can obtain multiple copies of the form to fill out in advance. Yet they must be signed and validated by an agent at the station before departure.
Age 12 or over: Children age 12 or over may travel by train alone.
Service charges
A $15 service charge applies to each one-way trip by a child travelling alone. When children in the same family travel together, the service charge is only applied once, but each child must have their own form and bracelet.
All of the following conditions must be met:
Class: The child must travel in Comfort or VIA 1 class.
Connections: The child's trip aboard the train must be direct with no connections to another train or carrier.
Departure and arrival times: The child must not leave before 6 a.m. and the train must reach its destination before midnight the same day.
Departure station: An unaccompanied child may not board the train at an unstaffed station.
Arrival station: The child may get off at an unstaffed station providing a parent or designated adult is there to meet them.
Food allergy: Children suffering from a potentially lethal food allergy such as to peanuts may not travel by train alone.
Limited number: For safety reasons, the number of children who may travel alone aboard the same train is limited to six (6). It is therefore advisable to make the necessary arrangements as early as possible.
Responsibilities of parents or guardians
The parent or guardian must be the child's father or mother, or an adult age 18 or over. When accompanying the child to the departure station or meeting the child at the destination, they must go to:
Toronto: information counter
Montréal: wicket #1
Other stations: ticket counter
Other obligations of the parents or guardians:
Show photo ID (driver's license, health card, etc.) at departure and arrival;
Carefully read the waiver form, agree to follow the instructions, and sign the form;
Hand over the child to the Service Manager on the platform at the time of priority boarding (30 minutes before departure), and remain in the station until the train leaves.
Planning a trip between Victoria and Courtenay?
No child under age 12 may travel alone on the Victoria Courtenay train because the onboard personnel are not VIA Rail employees (the conductor works for Rail America).
Declaration - READ FOR YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY
I attest that this child:
Does not have any life-threatening food allergy, such as an allergy to peanuts or peanut products;
Is capable of traveling alone, has been informed of the schedule, and will be met at the destination;
Will carry all travel documents required by applicable laws, and has been instructed to cooperate with and follow the instructions of VIA personnel; and,
Will by greeted by a designated person at the destination station who will be on time and have appropriate PHOTO ID: passport, driver's license, government health card, etc.
Bring the child to the departure station at least 1 hour prior to departure and report to the appropriate place (information counter, ticket office, or a VIA agent - check with the station beforehand). VIA will provide the same care and will assume the same responsibility for the child as is normally provided to an adult passenger. Do not leave the departure station until the train has left. The child must have sufficient funds for meals and incidental expenses.
NOTE: If the arrival station is an unmanned station and the person designated on the form is not there to meet the child when the train arrives, VIA Rail will take the child to the next station where there are VIA personnel on duty. VIA personnel will then contact the designated person and ask them to greet the child within a reasonable time. If the child is not greeted within this time, or if VIA is not able to contact either the designated person or the person who signed the form, the child will be handed over to local police.
If unforeseen circumstances (ex., weather, delays or cancellation) affects the train arrival, VIA Rail will inform the person designated to meet the child. If VIA is unable to contact this person, VIA Rail will contact the person who brought the child to the departure station. In all cases the child will remain in the custody of a VIA Rail representative.
Please expect a certain delay before your child is escorted to the assigned meeting point.
VIA Préférence Check out VIA Préférence, our reward program for frequent travellers, and turn every dollar you spend with VIA Rail into points you can exchange for free train trips.
