Canadian Railroads > VIA baggage question

Am curious what folks' experience has been with carry-on baggage in coach, particularly on the Maple Leaf into Toronto.  Specifically, when I go to book coach tickets from Niagara Falls, ON to Toronto, I'm offered different ticket tiers with differing baggage policies.  The lowest tier ($26CDN) states it only allow a single small bag and offers an upsell charge for extra bags.  Higher tiers allow more carry-on, but are still restrictive on size, with the airline-like warning that "bags must fit into the sizer in the station".  Has anyone seen this policy enforced?  We're travelling from Albany to Toronto - using AGR points to get across the border - then a paid ticket for the VIA portion.  Our luggage (for two) consists of a duffel bag, two boot bags, and a ski bag, which are all allowed as carry-on under Amtrak's policy.  So presumably it will already be stowed on the train when the VIA crew takes over, unless Canada Customs is now making passengers disembark for inspection.  Any input from those with recent VIA experience would be appreciated!

Dave

For several years the Canadian officials have insisted passengers detrain with all their luggage and go into a room in the station for inspection.  I have never done this because we entrain in N.F. but have seen it happen.  VIA has not had an agent at the station since 2012.  It would be up to the VIA service manager to enforce baggage rules.  We haven't paid much attention to that but from what little I have observed the S.M. doesn't pay much attention to baggage. 

Perhaps there are others who have experienced crossing the border with luggage. 

I think you'll be fine. The offloading at the Niagara Falls Station on the Canadian side is absolutely ridiculous. I've ridden the train a number of time to Toronto, but stopped after going through this offloading drill....

I rode this train last March.  Everyone had to get off on the Canadian side and bring their luggage into the station..

In Montreal and QC  they are quite anal about tugging their scale around to see who is over 25 lbs (whatever that is in metric), regardless of the size of the bag. I guess if is 28 lbs, the engine may have to puff much harder and burn so much more fuel. 

In Toronto Union Station the station staff also do what they are required to do by the management.  As for intermediate stations in the corridor the baggage policy varies.  I often board trains in Oakville where the station agent weighs luggage.  In nearby Aldershot (VIA's station for Hamilton) there is no agent so baggage is not weighed.  Last month I boarded a train in Kingston where there is plenty of staff.  I don't recall any of them weighing luggage but that doesn't mean they don't do it at other times.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In Montreal and QC  they are quite anal about
> tugging their scale around to see who is over 25
> lbs (whatever that is in metric), regardless of
> the size of the bag. I guess if is 28 lbs, the
> engine may have to puff much harder and burn so
> much more fuel. 

I mean really, how dare they enforce their rules...

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In Montreal and QC  they are quite anal about
> tugging their scale around to see who is over 25
> lbs (whatever that is in metric), regardless of
> the size of the bag. I guess if is 28 lbs, the
> engine may have to puff much harder and burn so
> much more fuel. 

Maybe they're concerned that the overhead luggage racks can't handle more weight then they were designed to handle.
Carry on bags have gone up in size and weight over the years.

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In Montreal and QC  they are quite anal about
> > tugging their scale around to see who is over
> 25
> > lbs (whatever that is in metric), regardless of
> > the size of the bag. I guess if is 28 lbs, the
> > engine may have to puff much harder and burn so
> > much more fuel. 

> I mean really, how dare they enforce their
> rules...

The point is the rules are stupid and amount to junk fees, like a bank's. They weigh luggage, don't matter how small the suitcase is. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/25 06:51 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> longliveSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > joemvcnj Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > In Montreal and QC  they are quite anal
> about
> > > tugging their scale around to see who is over
> > 25
> > > lbs (whatever that is in metric), regardless
> of
> > > the size of the bag. I guess if is 28 lbs,
> the
> > > engine may have to puff much harder and burn
> so
> > > much more fuel. 
>
> > I mean really, how dare they enforce their
> > rules...
>
> The point is the rules are stupid and amount to
> junk fees, like a bank's. They weigh luggage,
> don't matter how small the suitcase is. 


Weighing all of the bags stops arguements. No one is being singled out.