Such a disappointing experience. We bought the cheap seats from Kamloops to Edmonton. Train was 1 1/2 hours late with no way to check for arrival time and no employees at the station to ask. Estimated arrival times posted on their website were nowhere close to being accurate. Ended the trip in Edmonton more than 8 hours later than scheduled. Spent more than 24 hours on a train for a trip that was supposed to take less than 18. (One of the last delays was because our engineer was over his time limit — they didn’t tell the passengers this, but my ride was at the station and found out and texted me. So we parked 60 km from Edmonton and waited over an hour for a new engineer to come out and drive the train. Like they couldn’t have had that planned out and had an engineer out here already???) There was no info on their website about excessive delays until we were about 3/4 into the trip. Really difficult to get info re: checked baggage, station hours of service, normal check-in procedures, etc. Seats are incredibly uncomfortable, old, and dirty. Not at all how they’re portrayed on their website. Lots of other incorrect information online. No Wi-Fi / entertainment package, or at least no info on it. Certainly no kids activity kit. There isn’t even an indicator on the bathroom door to tell if it’s in use. Food available on board is different (and more expensive) than what is shown online and on the menu cards in the seat backs. And yes, they accept Visa, MasterCard, etc., but only if the card is embossed like we’re in the 80s. Where is that information given? Online? No. Apparently it’s posted in the Vancouver station, but certainly not in Kamloops, and even if it had been given there, there’s no ATM available anyway. Even my 11-year old couldn’t believe they wouldn’t just charge to the card we’d purchased our tickets on. Not sure if we’d have had a better experience with expensive tickets or not, but I’m certainly not going to spend the money to find out. I’ll stick to taking trains in Europe. I will probably never choose a train over a plane in Canada again. While Via Rail needs to update everything about their service, there are certainly many quick, inexpensive changes that could be made to better share information and help first-time travelers (like telling travelers to expect delays because of sharing the lines with freight trains). First- and last-time Via Rail traveler P.S. Haven’t been able to get off the train since Jasper at 12:30, so now people are smoking on the train.

DO NOT FALL FOR IT, no views, no food. 30+ hours. travelled economy, not having a bed for a two day trip was going to be uncomfortable regardless but we had hoped that it would be more fun than flying. However we were surrounded by people playing music loudly, yelling, people who had clearly been using who would not stop trying to talk with us, sick people without the decency to even cover their cough and even a person smoking in the cabin. The economy class food options are very limited (chocolate bars or cans of Soda) also and there is not very much time at stops to get provisions otherwise. With the trees along the tracks you can’t see anything so it’s not even scenic. It’s unlikely we will ever take the train again after this but it seems that getting a cabin is the only way to go as economy may as well be a very long greyhound trip.

I would give this via rail station and Edmonton a -1000 because of the disgusting Customer Service. The station manager is very rude and aggressive. The station manager obviously has no conflict resolution or management skills. This station manager should be fired. You are trying to promote tourism in Canada and you got people like this working at via rail. having these people represent our country through our rail does nothing good for Tourism. The station manager needs to realize that he works for the people of Canada. I would never use via rail again because of the rude staff.They are rude to everybody. They don’t care if you’re elderly disabled or a mother with kids. Shame on them! You will be reported to the accessibility advisory committee.

I travel with VIA on a semi regular basis and have always had a pleasant experience. The trains are sometimes behind schedule, but I enjoy the slow pace and relaxing nature of the ride. If speed is your goal, a plane ride would be better suited to your needs. I think it would be helpful to first time VIA passengers if they updated their website and included a list of items that will improve the quality of your trip. I always bring my own snacks, an inflatable pillow, sleep mask, and earplugs, in addition to a blanket or sleeping bag for overnight rides.

Even the old Soviet trains in Siberia have beds for the lowest class cars. This railway has you sit in a chair for 36+ hours with the lights on. With the cheap airlines you can fly to Vancouver for as low as $20 sometimes. And if you’re thinking of the “views” just drive, you can’t see anything through the trees or rocks right next to the tracks. Rail is such an underused method of transport in Canada, and instead of looking to the rest of the world for practical and pleasant accommodations, A cabin and the option to even buy food shouldn’t cost $3000+.

Falsely advertised their Student 150 pass in March 2017, originally saying there were unlimited passes. Then, they oversold anyways. To those they oversold (~2100 people), they prioritized everyone elses bookings over theirs, thus rendering a chunk of those 2100 people unable to properly book their vacations. Now the student 150 pass they fought for is useless, so they seek to get rid of it. Cant transfer it to someone else, put their name on the ticket. Oh, and refund? They dont get a full refund. ~ 66% refund only. Never will deal with Via Rail.

I was excited to do the train through the mountains, but not so much anymore. I traveled economy so had to sleep on my seat for two nights. Not great. Dome car was bloody freezing, so it was not comfortable to sit for any length of time. Food choices were limited and allowed one alcoholic drink EVERY hour which had to be consumed in the dome car. I would never do the trip again by rail nor recommend it to anyone. The one positive was the staff assigned to economy - Kevin and Madison.

horrible service i plan to visit calgary but the railway oonly arrive edmonton.without greyhound,i definaly can''t go calary. when i back to edmonton station in the mid night,office is close!.i remember schedule shows open!so i stay over night outdoor on the bench.i still feel cold when i wear 3 layer of shoes.in the early morning at 5am,stuff arrive.i ask him if i can get it in.he reject me.at 6am,another stuff arrive,i ask him same question ,he reject me rudely.i wait until 8am!

Very small and functional station. no transportation and no snacks. But you will survive if you go an the sleeping car. I would suggest stopping by a store before coming to the station. This place everything but a real station. It looks more like a rail truck in a factory yard. It is most of the time closed and most people in the city have no idea of its existence. You may have do difficulty find it.

Passenger trains are not a priority in Canada as a result the train will never be on time. Food is available from vending machines but is questionable at best. I strongly recommend bringing enough for a few meals before the train shows (I waited 6 hours past the original time for my train). There is no city transit nearby, you are looking at a minimum 10 min walk for a bus stop, food, shopping, etc.

If u know Edmonton there's many parks and trails for biking walking picnics etc great restaurants if u take the time to look some major attractions such as the zoo which is finally starting to have some appeal, fort edmonton, nature center, space science center etc wyte ave and downtown if your into doing some shopping or into the spirits excellent restaurants and night life as well...

Very helpful and nice staff. The VIA rail station is a lot safer now that the Greyhound station is gone. Would recommend calling in advance or looking online to see when your train is coming in to the station. If it is late and you don't have a ride, there is nowhere close to go and do something around the station while you wait.

Station is in a terrible location, both for the trains and the passangers. Trains either need to back in or out to get to the station, and once it drops off the people, they have nowhere to go. The station is literally in an industrial neighbourhood with no public transporation to or from it. Edmonton needs a new station ASAP

There is a covered building beside the platform here and I could not see anything aside from a basic seating area inside. It's not much but looked to offer good protection from the elements if needed. There was nothing much that I could see near the station and would spend as little time there as possible.

I would use Via Rail more often if there was public transport going directly to the station. You either need someone to drop you off or pay extra for Uber as if train tickets were not expensive enough or walk >1km with your luggage (extra 'fun' in winter).

Absolutely horrible place. There is even no sidewalk to get there from the bus stop. And even no crossing to cross the road. How is it even possible? The station was closed when we got there to see it. Who is it made for? Absolutely disgusting spot

Before booking even on the faq, no indication that you can’t get a refund it you cancel, they only send this via email after you have booked. Website actually suggests that you can get a refund till you pay, that’s when they reveal the the truth

There's seriously bad communication among staff members and between staff and passengers. It took us 1 hour to stop the train properly. We were waiting for 20 mins on the train before they said that we were waiting for a train to leave so

We flew to Edmonton to take the train to Kamploops as the first part of a western Canada vacation. The train was 14 HOURS LATE!!! VIA refund our tickets, but its cost us a considerable amount to travel to and stay in Edmonton and

One of thé worst train stations of any major city in Canada. Why is there not à bus stop even remotely close to a rail station? We have to walk 1,6 km with all of our luggage on a road without sidewalks to get there? What a joke.

Caught the midnight ViaRail in Edmonton & travelling to Vancouver. In Jasper at 8:30 am watching the sun hit the Rockies. Will post more as the adventure continues. So far great& friendly helpful staff & service! …

Ride from Jasper to Edmonton took 11 hrs advertised for 6 hrs , no coffee or cafe access last 3 hrs. when a passenger inquired, angry conductor said, take a different mode of transport. Good idea..

Was here a little while ago and since I don't often review I forgot but I had an amazing encounter with an employee named Kevin. Nicest, most helpful employee I've ever met. Truly seemed to care.

Outdoor porta potties and the station is heated to maybe five degrees above zero Hardly any parking as most is designated staff parking (and empty) or used by the (closed) Hertz rental agench

No public transport available. No sidewalk to the station. You just have to walk on the gras next to a road for about 20 min to the next bus station. Worst location for a station ever!!!

In the middle of nowhere, and the trains are always late, but that's why you check online or call the station for updates. Don't take if you have a tight schedule, just for relaxation.

Absolutely worst experience. Train was 6 hours late, then when it finally came, we sat around for over 5 hours before the train actually left. Never taking a train again.

The train from Vancouver to Edmonton is a total joke. The arrival time has changed and its after 2am Wed July 24/19 and still hasnt arrived. Pathetic.

There is no ATM. Bring cash for the vending machines. The credit scanners didn't work for the vending machines. Very filthy

Quite far away from the city center, free wifi, clean washroom, snacks vending machines and customer service reception.

I was surprised actually to see how populated the town was, busier than Calgary . However entertaining enough.

Great facility, great staff. Plenty of space to pick up or drop off. A little hard to get to without a car.

Sketchy location and operation but once in train you are set. Place is either a ghost town or mad house.

Come every year just getting to know it going to baff and then Calgary and back to edmonton

Greyhound, via rail and a whole lot of nothing. shops need to be built in this location.

Cute station, in the middle of nowhere. No public transportation options available.

Good place for the people who visit Edmonton to explore.

It's my home town, have always loved it.

Same old same old

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