Canadian Railroads > VIA Rail discount fare question

I'm considering taking The Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver in late March.

On VIA's site, it has a link to discount fares:
http://www.viarail.ca/en/fares-and-packages/special-offers
http://www.viarail.ca/en/deals/from-toronto

I see discount fares for upper berth sleepers Toronto => Vancouver are only available for March 3, $752 + tax.

For those that have followed VIA and discount prices, 2 questions:

1) Is it possible that discount fares will "open up" as the date gets closer?
2) Google cites text on this page as containing "On Tuesdays only, we're offering reduced fares in Sleeper class." Does this mean that if I check back in next Tuesday that there might be discount prices available if I book on Tuesday that are not available when booking on other days of the week (like, say, today, a Wednesday)? Or is it for booking itineraries that depart on Tuesdays? Or is this an expired offer that Google's webcrawlers are still reporting as a ghost offer?

& on this page:
http://www.viarail.ca/en/fares-and-packages/our-lowest-fares#
I can find an "Escape Fare" coach seat for $431 + tax for March 20, which is about when I would like to travel. This seems like a pretty reasonable fare, though spending 4 nights on a coach seat isn't really my idea of a relaxing travel experience...

Any thoughts on this?

Ted, formerly of BC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/18 14:45 by gobbl3gook.

As far as I know, VIA has their "sales" on Tuesdays - meaning booking on Tuesday, not traveling on Tuesday. And remember, sleeper class fares include all of your meals over 3-4 days.

Or longer!

pummer and anderson, thanks for the info. I'll look again next week on Tuesday. Maybe midnight Monday night.

Also, another question --

Here are all the sale prices available *to* Vancouver.
http://www.viarail.ca/en/deals/to-vancouver

Looks like the most distant date available is March 20, 4 weeks from today.

Do these open up on a rolling 4 week time lane? Daily? Weekly?

I'll start watching and post results here, just wondering if anyone already knows this...

Ted in OR

You are considering taking a trip on The Canadian? I thought we were told not to patronize poor service...............Sorry but I could not resist.

I sincerely hope you have a great trip and thank you for patronizing VIA
Rail Canada.

From someone with enough points to do a round trip on #1 & 2!

4489 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are considering taking a trip on The Canadian?
> I thought we were told not to patronize poor
> service...............Sorry but I could not
> resist.
>
> I sincerely hope you have a great trip and thank
> you for patronizing VIA
> Rail Canada.
>
> From someone with enough points to do a round trip
> on #1 & 2!


Amtrack would be a better choice. Agree, though, on the upper sections being a great choice.

The Sleeper Plus Discounts (used to be called "Express Deals") get refreshed every seven days, on Tuesday, but stay available (what has not been purchased) for purchase any day of the week. Go to VIARAIL.CA and click on the drop down FARES & PRODUCTS. Then, click on the drop down SPECIAL OFFERS. Scroll down and you will see a box where you can click on SLEEPER PLUS CLASS DISCOUNTS. For Toronto to Vancouver, those discounts do not currently go out as far as March 20, but keep looking. You will often find uppers and lowers on the SLEEPER PLUS CLASS DISCOUNTS. Bedrooms ("Cabin for 2") and Roomettes ("Cabin for 1") occasionally show up, but not often.

reindeerflame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 4489 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------


>
>
> Amtrack would be a better choice. Agree, though,
> on the upper sections being a great choice.

AMTRACK??????

Although March is when he wants to travel, I have found that Black Friday specials in November seem to be the best deals of the. And they can be booked for most of the winter.

Looks like the Tuesday discount is Toronto => Vancouver coach for $388 + tax. And no discounts available for sleepers.

That's a pretty good deal for 4 nights and 3 days in a Budd dome.

Thanks for the tips.

At this point it doesn't look like I'll be making the trip, but that could change...

Ted in OR