The Ocean (French: L'Océan) is a 1,346 km (836 mi) passenger route operated by VIA Rail Canada running between Montreal and Halifax, with numerous intermediate stops including Drummondville, Sainte-Foy (near Quebec City), and Moncton. The route connects the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. There are three trips per direction per week. The train takes about 22 hours in each direction, operating day and night. The route is scheduled such that the portion of the route between Sainte-Foy and Campbellton travels during overnight hours in both directions.

The Ocean is the eastern of at least three three train routes needed to cross between Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts. See across Canada by train for further information.

Getting on[edit]

Tickets[edit]

Tickets can be purchased directly from VIA Rail Canada through its website, over the phone (☏ +1 888-842-7245 (in Canada and the United States), +1 514-989-2626 (worldwide), +1 800-268-9503 (TTY)), in person at any staffed VIA Rail Canada station counter, or through overseas travel agents. Unlike European rail tickets, the ticket is valid only for a specific date of departure.

Route[edit]

46°51′18″N 68°37′55″W

Map of The Ocean

Stations[edit]

From west to east:

Quebec (Time zone: Eastern)[edit]

• 45.5-73.56671 Montreal - Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale), 895 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest. Departs at 19:00 on Wednesdays and Sundays. 21.75 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 45.4992-73.50722 Saint-Lambert - Saint-Lambert station, 329 avenue Saint-Denis. 13 minutes to Montreal and 21.25 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 45.6276-72.94883 Saint-Hyacinthe - Saint-Hyacinthe station. 48 minutes to Montreal and 20.75 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)

• 45.8821-72.488364 Drummondville - Drummondville station. 1.5 hours to Montreal and 20 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)

• 46.754346-71.2976545 Sainte-Foy (8 km west of downtown Quebec City) - Gare de Sainte-Foy, 3255 Chemin de la Gare. 3.5 hours to Montreal and 18 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022) A shuttle between Sainte-Foy train station and 46.817476-71.2138881 Gare du Palais station in Quebec City is available for The Ocean trains, but must be reserved in advance.
• 46.9733-70.55976 Montmagny - Montmagny station. 5 hours to Montreal and 16.75 hours to Halifax. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.36118-70.025357 La Pocatière - La Pocatière station. 5.5 hours to Montreal and 16.25 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.82488-69.527528 Rivière-du-Loup - Rivière-du-Loup station (Gare de Rivière-du-Loup), 615 rue Lafontaine. 6.25 hours to Montreal and 15.5 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 48.127099-69.1733889 Trois-Pistoles - Trois-Pistoles station, 231 Rue de la Gare. 7 hours to Montreal and 15 hours to Halifax. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 48.45015-68.5213510 Rimouski - Rimouski station (Gare de Rimouski). 8 hours to Montreal and 13.75 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 48.5889-68.189511 Mont-Joli - Mont-Joli station. 8.5 hours to Montreal and 13 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 48.55871-67.6894312 Sayabec - Sayabec station. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 48.466405-67.43608313 Amqui - Amqui station, 209 boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest. 10 hours to Montreal and 11.75 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 48.3497-67.227114 Causapscal - Causapscal station. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.97485-66.9392915 Matapédia - Matapédia station. 11.25 hours to Montreal and 10.75 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)

New Brunswick (Time zone: Atlantic)[edit]

• 48.00411-66.6806116 Campbellton - Campbellton station, 99C Roseberry St. 11.75 hours to Montreal and 10 hours to Halifax. Adjacent to the provincial boundary between New Brunswick and Quebec. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.99449-66.305617 Charlo - Charlo station. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.92045-66.0011618 Jacquet River - Jacquet River station. 12.75 hours to Montreal and 9 hours to Halifax. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.77878-65.7298519 Petit Rocher - Petit Rocher station. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.62022-65.6707120 Bathurst - Bathurst station. 13.5 hours to Montreal and 8.25 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 47.00472-65.5733621 Miramichi - Miramichi station, 251 Station St, Newcastle. 15.5 hours to Montreal and 6.5 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 46.72955-65.4253622 Rogersville - Rogersville station. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 46.08338-64.7860823 Moncton - Moncton station, 1240 Main St. 17.5 hours to Montreal and 4.25 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 45.8902-64.367524 Sackville - Sackville station. 18.75 hours to Montreal and 3.5 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)

Nova Scotia (Time zone: Atlantic)[edit]

• 45.83047-64.2125525 Amherst - Amherst station. 19 hours to Montreal and 3.25 hours to Halifax. Located about 5 km from the provincial boundary between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. (updated Jun 2022)
• 45.69181-64.1119226 Springhill - Springhill Junction station (Located 6 km north-west of Springhill along Highway 2.). 19.25 hours to Montreal and 2.75 hours to Halifax. Stops on request. (updated Jun 2022)
• 45.362771-63.27547227 Truro - Truro station, 104 Esplanade St. 20.5 hours to Montreal and 1.5 hours to Halifax. (updated Jun 2022)
• 44.63962-63.5679728 Halifax - Halifax station, 1161 Hollis St. Departs at 13:00 on Wednesdays and Sundays. 22 hours to Montreal. (updated Jun 2022)

On board[edit]

Cars[edit]

Economy class - coach cars[edit]

These cars, named Renaissance service cars, are intended for economy passengers. They have large seats with significant legroom and recline, leg and foot rests and airline-style tray tables. Seats are in a 2-2 configuration. There are washrooms at each end of the car, one of which is wheelchair accessible and has a changing table.

Sleeper Plus class - sleeping cars[edit]

All Sleeper Plus cabins are cabins designed for two people. Except for the accessible cabins, all cabins are bunk-style with one bed near the floor and one elevated bed over top. There are three variations on these cabins:

• Cabin for two. Cabin includes a washroom. Includes access to a shared shower facility in the same car.
• Cabin for two with shower. Cabin includes a washroom with a shower.
• Accessible cabin for two. Cabin includes a washroom with a shower. The washroom is equipped with a transfer seat.

Dining cars[edit]

A dining car is available to Economy and Sleeper Plus classes, though Sleeper Plus passengers receives priority access to the dining car. Sleeper Plus passengers have meals included as part of their fare and have a choice of three meal options per meal, including one vegetarian option. For passengers with special dietary needs, arrangements can be made at least 72 hours prior to the trip. Economy passengers can purchase food for take away part to their coach car.

Communications[edit]

Wi-Fi is not available on the train.

Passengers with mobile wireless plans on their phones should have service along most of the route, including throughout the daytime portions of the route. A section of the route between Causapscal and Matapédia does not have mobile wireless coverage.

Smoking[edit]

Smoking (and vaporizers) are prohibited on the train and that prohibition is strictly enforced.

Baggage[edit]

Carry on[edit]

Economy: 1 Personal bag (max 11.5 kg/25 lbs., 43 x 15 x 33 cm/17 x 6 x 13 in.) and either one large bag (max 23 kg/50 lbs., 158 linear cm/62 linear in.) or two smaller bags (max 11.5 kg/25 lbs., 54.5 x 39.5 x 23 cm/21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in.).

Sleeper: 1 Personal bag (max 11.5 kg/25 lbs., 43 x 15 x 33 cm/17 x 6 x 13 in.) and two small bags (max 11.5 kg/25 lbs., 54.5 x 39.5 x 23 cm/21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in.). As there is significantly less storage space than in the coach cars the larger bag is not an option.

Purses and small folding infant strollers are not included in the carry on baggage count.

Checked[edit]

All passengers: Two large bags (max 23 kg/50 lbs., 158 linear cm/62 linear in. each)

Oversized and excess bags can be transported for a $40 fee. Bicycles can be transported for $25 ($50 for tandems and ebikes) and bike boxes are available for free at major stations.

As of May 2023, due to "operational adjustments", pets cannot be checked into the checked baggage area; additionally, access to the checked baggage area on this route is not possible, with VIA recommending to carry all important items (such as medication) on your person, or in a bag in the train.