Traveling by Train from Montreal to Halifax on Via Rail's The Ocean

What to Expect During a Scenic Rail Journey in Maritime Canada

Slow Travel by Train in Atlantic Canada aboard The Ocean

Traveling by train from Montreal to Halifax on Via Rail's The Ocean is an unforgettable experience, filled with breathtaking landscapes, luxury dining, excellent company, and a true connection to the Canadian outdoors. As you traverse 1,346 kilometers (836 miles) across the wild and rugged landscapes of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, Canada, this scenic rail journey encourages you to embrace slow travel and enjoy the moment. The Ocean follows the route of Canada's oldest passenger rail service, providing a window into the country's history. Once traveled by immigrants arriving in Canada for the first time, soldiers heading off to war in Europe, and war brides searching for a new start, today this unique railway adventure offers an opportunity to sit back, relax, and immerse yourself in the Canadian experience from a unique perspective. The trip between Montreal and Halifax takes just under 22 hours, and it showcases the best of the Maritime landscape, from the rugged shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River in Quebec, to the rolling hills and pastoral scenes of New Brunswick, to the rivers, wetlands, and coastal vista of Nova Scotia. Whether you're a lifelong rail enthusiast, visiting Canada for the first time, or simply looking for the perfect way to experience Maritime Canada, a journey aboard Via Rail's The Ocean is an unforgettable adventure.

All Aboard at the Gare Centrale, Montreal, Quebec

Our journey began at Gare Centrale, Montreal's historic train station, located in one of Canada's largest and most cosmopolitan cities.   Excitement filled the air as the announcement for The Ocean was made, leading us down to the platforms below. As the train pulled out of the station, we were treated to a spectacular view of the Montreal skyline as we crossed the mighty St. Lawrence River. Interestingly, the towering skyscrapers quickly gave way to forested hills, and as the train sped across the quiet countryside, the darkness was periodically broken by the lights of small communities like Saint-Lambert, Saint-Hyacinthe, and Drummondville. We were on our way!

The Dining Experience on Board Via Rail's The Ocean

One of the highlights of traveling by train from Montreal to Halifax on Via Rail's The Ocean is the dining experience, and shortly after leaving Montreal it was time for dinner.  When traveling aboard The Ocean your dining experience depends on the type of ticket you purchased. In particular, for passengers traveling in Sleeper Class all meals are included in the fare price, and they are served in a formal dining car on white tablecloths with silverware and white china. Specifically, lunch and dinner are three course meals, including a soup or salad, main course, and dessert. In contrast, for those of us traveling in Economy Class, light meals, snacks, and beverages are available for purchase in the Lounge Car. Interestingly, this is not just a place for purchasing food, but also a social hub where passengers can hang out, watch a movie, recharge their devices, connect to WiFi, and get to know one another. As a result, over a falafel wrap and glass of wine we chatted to a few of our fellow passengers, exchanging stories about our favourite Unusual Places to Stay in Eastern Canada and engaging in a lively and good natured debate about the Best Hiking Trails in Atlantic Canada.

Economy or Sleeper Class? Two Ways to Experience the Rail Journey

When booking tickets to travel by train from Montreal to Halifax on board Via Rail's The Ocean, you have a choice between traveling in Sleeper Class or Economy Class.  Sleeper Class offers a higher level comfort and luxury, whereas Economy Class provides a more budget friendly option. Ultimately, since this train journey is relatively short, we selected Economy Class tickets, which meant that after dinner we returned to our comfortable, spacious seats for the night.  As such, traveling in Economy Class, we had access to a shared washroom with a toilet and sink, and could purchase our meals in the snack car for an additional cost. In contrast, passengers traveling in Sleeper Class had their meals included in the base fare, had access to a shared shower, and could select either a cozy berth with a shared washroom, or a cabin with a private bathroom. When traveling across Canada on Via Rail's The Canadian between Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia we traveled in a berth in Sleeper Class, and during that five day journey it was well worth the upgrade. However, as we settled down for our only night  aboard The Ocean we were perfectly happy with our choice of traveling in Economy Class for this train journey.

Entering New Brunswick on Via Rail's The Ocean

Dawn broke as we left the forested hills around Matapedia, Quebec behind and crossed the picturesque trestle bridge over the Restigouche River into New Brunswick. Outside the window the fluffy clouds hung like cotton balls in a sky of pale pinks and yellows, before the landscape was shrouded in a thick blanket of fog, giving it an air of mystery.  We were sitting in the Lounge Car enjoying a steaming hot cup of coffee and a slice of thick, warm banana bread for breakfast as the train arrived in Campbellton, New Brunswick.  Interestingly, this small forestry town is known for its alpine and Nordic skiing in winter and its world class Atlantic salmon fishing in the summer.  This was not our first visit to this beautiful Atlantic province, as we had previously hiked New Brunswick's famous Fundy Footpath, but we soon realized we were getting a unique perspective by traveling across it on the train.  As such, this added to our excitement about entering the second province on our rail journey across Eastern Canada!

Rest Stops along the Way

As the morning unfolded we passed through long stretches of solitude and natural beauty characterized by rolling hills and farmland, river valleys, and Acadian villages with tall white church steeples poking up through forested hills. Just before 10 am we passed through Bathurst NB, a town of around 12,000 people located on the warm, salty waters of Chaleur Bay and known for its beaches and nature reserves. Fortunately, the train made a 15 minute stop at the station, so we took advantage of the opportunity to step outside for some fresh air and stretch our legs on the platform.  However, we were soon back on board, passing the time with a friendly game of Canadian Trivia, one of our favourite Canadian-themed Board Games.  By early afternoon we pulled in to Moncton, New Brunswick's largest city, where we had another short break. Located at the geographic center of the Maritimes, this city has earned the nickname 'Hub City' due to its rich history as a railway and transportation hub. 

What We Love About Train Travel in Canada

As we continued eastward the landscape opened up into lowland forests and vast expanses of wetlands that each spring and fall are filled with thousands of migrating waterfowl. The experience of sitting back, relaxing, and watching the scenery slip past outside the window felt like a rare and priceless luxury. There's something timeless, romantic, and almost nostalgic about traveling by train. It invites us to slow down, immerse ourselves in the journey, relax into the rhythmic rocking of the train, and find time and space to connect with the landscapes we're passing through. Traveling by rail across Canada also offers an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the many small, out-of-the-way places that exist far from the top tourist destinations. It's an experience that allowed us to savour the journey itself, from watching the sunrise, to connecting with our fellow travelers, to spotting a herd of white-tailed deer, to soaking up the ever-changing scenery. 

One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.

by Henry Miller

Tried and Tested Tips for Traveling Canada by Train

To help you get the most out of your trip when traveling by train from Montreal to Halifax on Via Rail's The Ocean, we have put together a list of tried and tested tips that are based on more than a decade of traveling in Canada on Via Rail. For additional tips, check out our list of 10 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling on Via Rail's The Canadian.

Book early: Purchasing your tickets well in advance can save you money by allowing you take advantage of 'Escape Fare' tickets, Tuesday Discounts, and other travel deals. It also ensures you have the most choice available for the type of ticket you want to purchase, especially in Sleeper Class, which is often fully booked.

Arrive early and choose your seat wisely: When purchasing an Economy Class ticket you are not assigned a specific seat. Therefore it is important to arrive at the station well in advance (1-1.5 hours before departure) to get the best choice of seats when you board. I typically select a forward facing seat with an unobstructed window that is located near the middle of the car away from the washrooms.

Pack smart & bring essentials: Bringing small, lightweight luggage is ideal as there is limited overhead and under-seat storage. However, it is important to bring layers, as temperature can vary inside the train and the weather can shift considerably as you cross Canada. In Economy Class it can be beneficial to bring a compact, light blanket and inflatable airplane pillow for sleeping, as well as earplugs or noise cancelling headphones.

Bring Snacks and refillable water bottle: If you're traveling in Economy Class purchasing dinner in the food court at Gare Centrale in Montreal, and bringing along some snacks and a refillable water bottle for the journey can help reduce costs.

Bring Entertainment: The lounge/service cars - especially the café - are the only areas with usable Wi-Fi and more-or-less reliable cell service. Therefore, downloading some offline entertainment options before boarding, or bringing some old-fashioned options like board-games or a book is a good idea.

No two trips are the same: The best part about traveling across Canada by train is that no two journeys are the same. When traveling from Montreal to Halifax the train passes through different communities during daylight hours than it does when making the return journey, giving you a whole new perspective on the Maritimes. Furthermore, depending on the season, the Canadian Maritimes can be alight with fall colours, look like a winter wonderland, or be blanketed by the lush greens of spring and summer. Finally, during peak summer season you will share the trip with a train full of interesting and enthusiastic international travelers, whereas the winter offers a quieter journey and a chance to connect with the locals.

End of the Line:  Arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia

The sun was already sinking toward the horizon, painting the sky with brilliant pinks and oranges, as the train pulled in to Amherst, which is affectionately known as the 'gateway to Nova Scotia.' We had made it to the final Maritime province on our journey by train from Montreal to Halifax aboard Via Rail's The Ocean! Several years ago, we had disembarked in this charming Acadian town to get a bus connection for Prince Edward Island, where we hiked the Confederation Trail, but this time we continued to the end of the line. Halifax is the most easterly railway terminus in Canada, and its hilly and historic downtown sits on the edge of the world's second largest natural harbour, overlooked by the massive, star-shaped Citadel, now the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site and a must-see for anyone visiting the 'Birthplace of English Canada.' As we pulled into the station, just two hours behind schedule, we were sad that our epic train journey across Atlantic Canada was drawing to a close, but we were eager to explore everything that Halifax, Nova Scotia had to offer.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, traveling across Maritime Canada between Montreal QC and Halifax NS on Via Rail's iconic The Ocean is an unforgettable journey. Viewing the stunning natural beauty of Canada while relaxing and enjoying the luxury, comfort, and camaraderie of the train is a truly unique experience. We have traveled across Canada by plane, by car, and by walking the Trans Canada Trail, and the train is by far our favorite way of seeing the country.  Whether you're seeking an eco-friendly journey or simply a new way to experience the Canadian countryside, Via Rail's The Ocean offers a beautiful escape from the fast pace of modern life.

Traveling by train from Montreal to Halifax on Via Rail's The Ocean

 Slow Travel by Train in Atlantic Canada