Canadian Railroads > VIA no longer considering that November is summer on the Canadian

When I first checked the fares for the Canadian on the dates I usually travel in the first half of November I was surprised to see for the first time that summer fares were being charged.  $4800 for single occupancy of a cabin for 2 and $13,900 for Prestige seemed unusual, to say the least, for that time of year.  I wrote to VIA asking if this was an error.  The reply said it was no error and that VIA was using "dynamic pricing" year-round. I was advised that fares may go down as well as up according to demand.

On checking the same period yesterday I noticed that summer fares were no longer quoted for the first half of November.  The fare for cabins was slightly more than what is being charged for mid-November onwards.  Prestige was also showing the winter fare.  It is a long way off, but perhaps someone at VIA decided summer fares would be a hard sell for a period which often has winter weather.

 

Does anyone know offhand when prices generally start rising again for the summer season? Would like to make a trip one year with as much daylight as possible without having to sell the house to do so.

VIA is still holding the Park Car to peak season to mid-late November. Typically it was late October but now extended into November before Sleeper Plus passengers would be allowed into the Park Car in an all-day fashion. 

I typically watch for the magic window when the Spring days are longest and just before fares beging the climb from winter pricing and usually find myself booking an early- to mid-April departure on The Canadian.


irhoghead Wrote:
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> Does anyone know offhand when prices generally
> start rising again for the summer season? Would
> like to make a trip one year with as much daylight
> as possible without having to sell the house to do
> so.

irhoghead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone know offhand when prices generally
> start rising again for the summer season? Would
> like to make a trip one year with as much daylight
> as possible without having to sell the house to do
> so.

It is getting harder to see a large selection of fares because sleepers are sold out long in advance  and not just in the summer season.  When I was last able to make a comparison the peak season fares started on the 1st of May until the 31st of October.

jp1822 Wrote:
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> VIA is still holding the Park Car to peak season
> to mid-late November. Typically it was late
> October but now extended into November before
> Sleeper Plus passengers would be allowed into the
> Park Car in an all-day fashion. 

VIA moved this information from where I used to be able to find it easily.  The Park car access has changed.  I wonder if the restrictions will actually be in effect for the first half of November considering the  change as I indicated in my post.

The access policy is more clear now.  One change for peak season is that Sleeper Plus passengers can't use the Park car until 5:00 p.m. and the dome can't be used at all.  In the off-peak season the dome can be used at all times although it is mentioned that some seats will be reserved for Prestige.  The previous vague reference to an exception for departures from Vancouver and Toronto are now firm: it is Prestige only for one hour after departure.

Click on Prestige Park Car:  https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains/rockies-and-pacific/toronto-vancouver-canadian/train-cars

 

I was on number 1 earlier this month.  We had two Prestige cars, and all seats in the dome were blocked for Prestige except the last two rows, eight seats.  So 16 seats were reserved for Prestige, and never filled.  I was in Sleeper Plus, and didn't try to go to the Park car the first day, but went every day after that and found room in the dome and lounge.  The train was packed, three seatings for lunch and dinner in the dining car, and all the upper berths filled.

While late, it was a good trip and VIA service was excellent.

Jim

Thank you for all of the replies.

VIA and Amtrak are working off the same sheet:  charge every possible dollar for any sleeping accomodation.  Dynamic gouging.  

I don't love high prices anymore than anyone, but how is it gouging if they are selling out consistently? I guess we have our "free market" limitations. They are under pressure to make returns on their services, unfortunately.

MEKoch Wrote:
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> VIA and Amtrak are working off the same sheet: 
> charge every possible dollar for any sleeping
> accomodation.  Dynamic gouging.  

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VIA and Amtrak are working off the same sheet: 
> charge every possible dollar for any sleeping
> accomodation.  Dynamic gouging.  

With VIA Rail being a Crown corporation which receives a large subsidy, higher fares are inevitable.  The days are long gone when sleeping car fares were low.  My first sleeper trip on the Canadian was in 1968.  My roomette from  Toronto to Winnipeg cost $50.  The Bank of Canada calculator says the current equivalent is $435.   The VIA fare this year for a cabin for 1 (roomette) for the same month varies from $1602 to $2173.  There was no tax on train tickets until recently. There is 13% tax for w/b and 5% for e/b.

In the mid-1960s CN was charging about $65 for a roomette between Toronto and Vancouver with meals included.  I remember the president of CN saying it would be cheaper for CN to provide passengers paying those low fares a limousine to the airport and a first class flight on Air Canada than to run the Super Continental at such a loss.  Eventually the fares did go up a lot but were still reasonable.

Despite the high fares the Canadian is sold out most days this winter and there are five sleepers plus Prestige.  For a long time three sleepers was normal.  Last year there were four. Surprisingly Prestige is sold out on almost every train.  Before the pandemic there were few Prestige rooms occupied on any of my off-peak trips - and on one November trip it was completely empty.
 

I was on the phone booking a trip for this coming Oct/Nov and the VIA representative told me that Prestige class is basically sold out for the FY2025 season, except for a few openings in late fourth quarter 2025.......Prestige is selling well. In late October and into November I've seen consists with only 1 Prestige Sleeper. Have to wonder if they could sell out a second car! I believe there are eight Prestige sleepers? And with the current schedule and operations of 2x per week, they can't spare more than two per train set right? The new long distance VIA order still calls for something similar to Prestige class continuing on! No more rounded bullet lounge though at the end of the train, as they say those days are over for construction purposes (and likely egress purposes). 

$ 4800 and 13,900?   from where to where?

PaTrainFan Wrote:
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> I don't love high prices anymore than anyone, but
> how is it gouging if they are selling out
> consistently? I guess we have our "free market"
> limitations. They are under pressure to make
> returns on their services, unfortunately.
>
> MEKoch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > VIA and Amtrak are working off the same
> sheet: 
> > charge every possible dollar for any sleeping
> > accomodation.  Dynamic gouging.  

But to me this is VERY telling!!!! What happens if the price comes down and a car with just roomettes or all bedrooms is offered (if VIA had it)? What about the Slumbercoach concept where you get a sleeping space and have to pay for meals? Or, if it is just high end revenue that can be captured, what's the optimal level for ordering new "Prestige Cars" or what can be done to upsell "Sleeper Plus."