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As part of the Canada Strong Pass announced by the federal government to encourage domestic tourism and enable more families to appreciate Canada’s heritage and natural beauty, VIA Rail Canada will be offering a 25% discount on Escape and Economy fares for youth ages 18-24, and free tickets for children under 18 when accompanies by an adult, for travel between June 20 and September 2, 2025.
Reservations must still be made for children travelling free, and youth age 18-24 must carry a valid form of identification, and the discount codes CANADAFAM or CANADA1824 must be entered, so this offer can’t be combined with other discounts. Full terms and conditions can be found at https://www.viarail.ca/en/offers/canada-strong-pass.
The Canadian and other long-distance trains are already expected to be very busy this summer, even though VIA Rail will attempt to provide as much additional capacity as possible with its available fleet, so we recommend making reservations early.
If you have already made an online reservation for a trip that would be now be eligible for a Canada Strong Pass discount, VIA Rail has provided a refund request form so you can receive the discount without rebooking. Passengers who have made their reservation at a staffed station should request the refund in person.
The Canada Strong Pass also provides free admission to Canada’s national parks and federally-funded museums, many of which are easy to reach by rail. These include several museums in Ottawa, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, located next to the Winnipeg train station, the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, and Pier 21 adjacent to in Halifax. For full details see the Department of Canadian Heritage page.
Transport Action Canada has asked VIA Rail Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage to extend the 25% discount for youth to include youth between 13-17 years old when travelling without an adult.