VIA Rail Canada is offering all the fun for half the price this season on three of its most popular tourism services:

• Toronto-Jasper-Vancouver Canadian
• Montréal-Halifax Ocean
• Montréal-Gaspé Chaleur

The discount is valid in both Comfort (Economy) and Sleeper Class services and needs to be booked by March 31 for Discounted Travel.

VIA’s flagship Canadian

Voted by the International Society of Railway Travelers as one of the top 25 trains to experience, VIA’s flagship Canadian is a four-night journey that provides travelers with a glimpse into history itself. From the majestic Rocky Mountains, through the vast expanses of the Canadian Prairies to the Canadian Shield and lake lands of Northern Ontario, travellers can experience all this and more at a savings of 50% off the regular peak fare when you travel no later than May 31, 2009. Tickets must be purchased at least three days prior to departure or by March 31 whichever comes first.

Passengers can experience the entire cross country odyssey or opt for an overnight trip from Vancouver to the town of Jasper, Alberta in the heart of the Rockies. Choose from VIA’s economical Comfort class or let yourself be pampered with Silver & Blue sleeper class. Regional cuisine prepared freshly by an on-board chef and accommodation are included in the price of Silver &
Blue class along with access to the train’s 360 degrees panorama dome car.  Prices for a one-way trip on the Canadian between Toronto and Vancouver start at CAD $662 for an upper berth.

An overnight journey in a double bedroom from Vancouver to Jasper is available for CAD $447 plus tax, per person for
double occupancy.
For travellers looking to experience the charm of Eastern Canada, VIA’s Ocean service between Montreal and Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Chaleur between Montreal and the beautiful Gaspe region of Quebec are just the ticket.
And with savings of 50% on trips for travel until June 13, 2009, these are sites worth seeing. Tickets must be purchased at least three days prior to departure or by March 31 whichever comes first.

On VIA Rail’s eastern services, passengers wander through the beautiful towns along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River before descending through the Notre Dame Mountains in the Matapédia Valley. From there, the Chaleur continues to Gaspé while the Ocean travels through New Brunswick en route to Nova Scotia. Passengers can choose from VIA’s Comfort Sleeper or the economical Comfort Class.  Prices for this overnight journey in Comfort Sleeper Class on the Ocean in a standard double bedroom between Montréal and Halifax start at CAD $187 plus tax, per person for double occupancy. One-way travel in Comfort Sleeper Class on the Chaleur between Montréal and Gaspé in a double bedroom is available from CAD $164.50 plus tax, per person. Meals are extra on these two services.

To take advantage of this offer, for more information, or to book a trip on any VIA service customers can visit viarail.ca or call (888) VIA-RAIL. (1888 842-7245), or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired), or through their travel agent.
Only VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service, offers an original and unique rail experience across Canada’s wondrous landscape for travelers who value the journey as much as the destination.