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Payment
Payment
Buy a train ticket
How can I pay for my ticket?
To offer our travellers the greatest flexibility possible, VIA accepts many forms of payment for ticket purchases.
Credit cards
VIA Rail accepts the following credit cards:
- American Express
- MasterCard
- Visa
Please note that all customers who purchase through our website will have to present a photo ID or the credit card used to book as proof of identification when picking up a ticket.
If you are using a credit card that is not Canadian, please confirm you can complete a transaction on a Canadian website with your financial institution before booking.
New security feature for credit card payments
In keeping with industry best practices, we authenticate the card using fraud-prevention tools such as Card Verification Value (CVV), Verified by Visa (VbV), MasterCard SecureCode and American Express SafeKey. The Address Verification Service (AVS) also serves as an additional security layer to help prevent fraud.
You will be asked to provide the billing address associated with your credit card during the booking process. This will enable us to ensure that the cardholder’s billing address matches the records of the credit card issuing bank prior to processing any charges.
Simplifying your future reservations
To simplify and speed up future reservations, we recommend that you create a profile if you don’t already have one or if you are not a VIA Préférence member. Once you have a profile, please login and update the payment information section of your profile to include your credit card billing address. Please note that all information entered is secured.
Debit cards
For an online booking, you can use Visa/MasterCard debit cards issued by participating Visa/MasterCard financial institutions.
If you wish to purchase tickets using Interac, you must purchase your ticket in station.
Unfortunately, reloadable fare cards like Presto Card or Opus card are not accepted as a method of payment for your transport on our trains.
MasterPass™ by MasterCard®
MasterPass is an easy way to checkout online. It stores all of your payment and shipping information in one convenient and secure place. With MasterPass, you simply shop, click and check out...fast.
You can register for Masterpass by visiting the website/app of your card issuer or through Masterpass.com
VIA Préférence points
You can purchase train tickets with your VIA Préférence points online. If you have enough points for your selected trip, you will automatically see the VIA Préférence option as method of payment during your online booking process.
You can also redeem your points by phone. To make a purchase by redeeming your VIA Préférence points, call 1 888 VIA-PREF (1 888 842-7733).
Cash
On-board:
Please note that since October 29, 2019, cash is no longer accepted as a form of payment on board our trains. Learn more
At the station:
Canadian or U.S. dollars only. Please note that all customers who purchase a ticket with cash at a VIA Rail station will be required to present either one (1) valid government-issued piece of identification with photograph, showing their full name, or two (2) valid government-issued pieces of identification with no photograph, showing their full name.
Prepaid Credit Cards, VIA Rail Gift Cards and meal coupons are also accepted.
Gift cards
To redeem a virtual gift card, please apply it to an online booking or present it at a VIA Rail ticket counter. You can use it to book train tickets for travel to any destination in Canada, or to purchase travel passes that will offer you some guaranteed savings.
Please note that gift cards are virtual only and cannot be used to pay for products on board our trains.
Prepaid Travel
Prepaid purchases refer to tickets or rail passes that you buy for someone else, either as a gift, for a child who is travelling with you or for an unaccompanied child.
To make a prepaid purchase, book online at viarail.ca or go to a staffed VIA Rail station (find a VIA Rail station). You may also ask your travel agent to do it for you.
When booking online, simply fill in the "Passenger Information" section with the traveller's name and contact information.
You will be given a special confirmation number. The traveller must give this confirmation number and, if over 18 years of age, show ID in order to pick up their ticket. In cases where the departure station is unstaffed, the ticket will be mailed directly to the traveller’s home, time permitting.
If the traveler is under 18, see the unaccompanied minors section on the specific needs page
Rail passes can be ordered online, but they must be paid for in person upon pick-up.
Questions?
If you have questions that are not answered in these pages or are unsure about the options available to you, please do not hesitate to contact us:
1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245)
1-888-260-9503 (TTY for hearing impaired)
Train Alert Service
By subscribing to the VIA Train-Alert service, you will be notified of delays and of any major schedule changes for your VIA train. Alerts are sent by email or SMS (text messaging).