Reduced mobility
Passengers with reduced mobility will receive special attention from our personnel. These special services vary from one region to another depending on station facilities and train cars.
Booking tickets
Please purchase your tickets by telephone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or in person at one of our ticket counters to let us know which special services you require.
Passengers with reduced mobility will receive special attention from our personnel. These special services vary from one region to another depending on station facilities and train cars.
Booking tickets
Please purchase your tickets by telephone at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or in person at one of our ticket counters to let us know which special services you require.
If you are hearing or speech-impaired, contact us via a teletypewriter (TTY) at 1 800 268-9503.
Travelling with a companion
In certain circumstances, VIA Rail offers free travel to one companion accompanying a person with disabilities. Any additional persons needed to assist in helping those with disabilities board and disembark will be offered the best available fare.
In VIA Rail stations
To find out more about the adapted services available in our stations, including specialized public transportation, visit the Web page about our stations, or call one of our agents at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).
VIA Rail has a limited number of stations equipped with high-level platforms or mechanical lifts. Where such facilities are available, VIA Rail will help those with disabilities board and disembark from the train, subject to limitations of size and weight of the persons and their equipment.
On board the train
All VIA trains are accessible to travellers in wheelchairs and are equipped with wheelchair tiedowns, narrow wheelchairs, tools to reduce the width of certain manual wheelchairs, and grab bars in washrooms. However, the availability of said services vary according to the train equipment in use. You may view diagrams of cars that are accessible to travellers using wheelchairs.
To find out which train cars will be used on your departure, please call VIA Rail (toll-free) at 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245) or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).
On VIA's transcontinental trains, travellers who are unable to come to the dining car or snack counters may have their meals served at their seat by VIA personnel.
Some VIA sleeping cars can accommodate passengers travelling on stretchers. A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required.
Wheelchairs
- VIA accepts wheelchairs as checked baggage free of charge provided that the owner travels aboard the same train.
- Acceptable wheelchairs may be folding or rigid, manual or electric, and must be no wider than 81 cm (32 in.) when fully open.
- Electric wheelchairs must weigh no more than 68 kg (150 lb.), however VIA will accept heavier wheelchairs provided that the departure and destination stations are equipped with lifts to load and unload them. This policy also applies to other vehicles (modified, customized or otherwise) designed for increasing traveller mobility.
Electrical scooters
- Three-wheeled electric scooters for travellers with reduced mobility will be transported free of charge in the baggage car regardless of whether or not the owner travels aboard the same train.
- Three-wheeled electric scooters must weigh no more than 68 kg (150 lb.), and must not exceed 81 cm (32 in.) in width and 182 cm (72 in.) in height or length. However VIA will accept electric scooters up to 114 kg (250 lb.) provided that the departure and destination stations are equipped with lifts to load and unload them.
