Holiday Gift Giving Ideas and Suggestions from VIA Rail

Avoid the last minute shopping rush and frenzy

MONTREAL , Nov. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Just in time for the Holidays - VIA Rail Canada would like to make your holiday gift decision-making easier this year. Don't know what to get the person who has everything or is just too hard to buy for? With the gift of travel you'll have them singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas", no matter what the season.

VIA Gift Cards are truly the ideal gift. They are available at all VIA stations and online at viarail.ca in $25 and $100 denominations, or as reloadable Flex cards. The convenience and flexibility of gift cards make them a welcomed gift for family and friends, from students to business travellers. Gift cards can be used towards the purchase of any ticket or rail pass product and users are entitled to the same discounts applicable to purchases made using any other form of payment. For more details or to purchase your VIA Gift Card, visit viarail.ca/giftcard.

VIA's Getaway Packages - Just in time for the winter festival season, VIA's vacation getaways make a great gift and are the ideal way for relaxing after the hurried pace of the holiday season. With a number of winter activities taking place within VIA's Windsor to Quebec City Corridor, VIA's Getaway packages can be suited to individual preferences and budgets. Choose a getaway of one to three-nights stay in a number of urban destinations in Ontario and Quebec . For more details visit viarail.ca/packages.

VIA Souvenirs

VIA Rail is also pleased to offer a selection of souvenirs for the rail fan in your family. Gifts include the popular train whistle that appeals to children both young and old, a travel mug, clothing, engineer caps, books, even a Canadian geography lesson as told by a young boy as he travels across the country in the video production of "The Big Train Trip". For more information please visit viarail.ca/giftshop.

VIA Recipes - Railway plum pudding and Vanilla Fudge

Served aboard VIA's world-renowned Canadian for decades, now you can savour this traditional dessert with family and friends this holiday season. Visit viarail.ca/plumpudding to get our famous and hard-to-get recipe as well as viarail.ca/vanillafudge for those with a real sweet tooth ... and make everyone happy during the holidays!

Thinking of travelling this holiday season? Book early!

Christmas is coming, and seats are going fast! For those planning on travelling over the holiday period that have yet to book their trip, VIA suggests that you purchase your tickets as soon as possible to take advantage of the best fares available. Traditionally one of the busiest times of the year, discount fares are still available on many departures during the holiday period, which runs from December 14th to January 4th . Visit viarail.ca/en/holidays/ontario-quebec for more details.

With winter weather just around the corner, VIA expects some popular train departures to sell out quickly. VIA will be monitoring ticket sales carefully so it can assign and cycle passenger cars to meet demand. Customers should leave plenty of time prior to their train departure, as ticket line-ups are longer than normal.

For more information or to book a trip anywhere in the VIA system, customers can visit viarail.ca. Train tickets are also available at VIA stations across Canada , including self-service ticketing kiosks located at major stations in central Canada . Passengers can also book their tickets by calling 1 888 VIA-RAIL (842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired), or by contacting their travel agent.

For further information: Catherine Kaloutsky, VIA Rail Canada, [phone], [email protected]; Elizabeth Huart, VIA Rail Canada, [phone], [email protected]