Via Rail Canada Montreal Station is quite large. We arrived here from Quebec and found our way out... read more
Via Rail Canada Montreal Station is quite large. We arrived here from Quebec and found our way out... read more
Montreal to Toronto business class. WOW. Better food , drink and service than most airlines... read more
Beat the hassle of driving and fighting traffic especially in the winter months. It is a peaceful journey to take the train. The ride from Ottawa to Montreal is quite enjoyable. Leave your worries behind. Read a book or enjoy a beverage while enjoying the passing scenery or have a nap! The cost is reasonable.
Easy entry and pick up points.
Although the food court part of the building offers some great options for food, coffee and there is even a SAQ liquor store.
However, given that it should accommodate travellers from all over, the building has so many flaws.
1) Signage is horrible. Unless you're a local and you know your way around this station that is built underground, you may be walking around a while. There is a large entrance on De la Gauchetière, but it looks not like a train station. On René-Levesque, people need to locate an entrance within a huge office tower. Same goes for the signage within the RESO corridors.
2) The connection with RESO, most notably the Bonaventure metro station, must have been designed by a sadomasochist. Small escalators, stairs, heavy doors, revolving doors, etc. I can't imagine anybody dragging heavy suitcases between the metro and the train. Even between the main hall and the train platforms: the lack of elevators is incomprehensible.
3) The parking is way too small. Even a bigger mistake was that they made the parking slots smaller to accommodate more cars. Can't decently park, turn, open doors.
4) Trains stop here. Can't have a train from Toronto continue to Québec City or the Maritimes. There was some hope with VIA Rail announcing a new HRF rail service, but then the ridiculous REM project showed up and monopolizes the Mount-Royal tunnel.
This station should be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.
I arrived in Montreal by VIA train. The Montreal train station is very clean and is brightly lit. The arrival/departure information is easy to find. Direction signs for the exits are very good, showing street names. The station is conveniently connected to the Bonaventure metro station. Inside is a good selection of dining options, convenience store, SAQ liquor store and a Bereau en Gros.
The Via Rail station is located right under the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel so we decided to stop here overnight on our way from Toronto to Quebec City. We have two suggestions. 1) Post better signage for the elevator up to the QE. 2) Business Class should offer luggage service between Toronto and Montreal so that you don't have to haul your luggage around Union Station in Toronto and up the escalator at the Montreal end. Coming back from Quebec City to Toronto with a quick change of train in Montreal, our luggage was transferred for us between the trains - much nicer!
The train station has lots of places to eat and is right on the Bonaventure Metro station and is ideally located.
Easy to navigate station, well connected to Metro and RESO, with a variety of shopping and dining options within, as well as at Place Ville Marie which you can readily access. Halles de la Gare has a large food court type setup.