MONTREAL, Jan. 23, 2026 /CNW/ - VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is proud to mark the success of the winter edition of the Canada Strong Pass, which encouraged thousands more Canadians to explore the country during one of its peak travel seasons. Running from December 12, 2025, through January 15, 2026, the second edition built on the momentum of last summer's program launch, once again helping families and young travellers discover Canada safely, comfortably, and affordably.
The Canada Strong Pass, an initiative of the Government of Canada, continued to make travel more accessible by offering free travel for children and teens aged 17 and under travelling with an adult, as well as discounted fares for youth aged 18 to 24. This winter edition provided an opportunity for Canadians to reconnect with loved ones during the holiday period, experience winter landscapes by train, and support local tourism during a vibrant travel season.
Winter Edition Highlights:
- More than 24,000 bookings made using the pass
- Over 21 million kilometres travelled, showcasing strong demand for winter rail travel
- More than $1.9 million saved by Canadians through free and discounted fares
"The winter edition of the Canada Strong Pass once again demonstrated how meaningful accessible rail travel can be for Canadians," said Mathieu Paquette, Lead Executive of VIA Rail. "Whether visiting family, discovering our country's snowy landscapes for the first time, or returning to favourite destinations, passengers embraced the comfort and convenience of travelling by train. We are proud of our teams across Canada who delivered exceptional service throughout this busy season."
This second edition further highlights Canadians' enthusiasm for sustainable travel. From the snowy Montréal–Halifax route through the Maritimes, to the expansive winter landscapes of the Toronto–Vancouver journey, and across the Québec City–Windsor corridor, passengers experienced Canada's winter beauty--without the stress of winter driving.
"Canada in winter is breathtaking and seeing so many Canadians experience it by train is something we celebrate," said Jonathan Goldbloom, Chairperson of VIA Rail's Board of Directors. "The continued success of the Canada Strong Pass reflects both the strength of the program and Canadians' growing desire to rediscover their country in an environmentally responsible way."
As Canada's national passenger rail service, VIA Rail is proud to participate once again in a program that strengthens connections between communities, supports local economies during the winter season, and encourages accessible, sustainable travel across the country.
About VIA Rail
VIA Rail Canada's mandate is to operate the national passenger rail service on behalf of the Government of Canada, and to provide a safe, accessible, efficient, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible service that meets the needs of Canadian passengers. VIA Rail operates intercity trains connecting over 400 communities across Canada and ensuring rail transportation services to regional and remote communities. The Corporation safely transported over four million passengers in 2024 and has been awarded nine Safety Awards and three Environment Awards by the Railway Association of Canada. For more, visit our website: https://corpo.viarail.ca/en.
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SOURCE VIA Rail Canada Inc.
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