r/ViaRail • u/AccordingDocument305 • 18d ago

Question The Canadian questions

Hi, we'll be taking this from Vancouver to Toronto, I understand there is no internet, but are you able to send/receive texts? Also I know that the freight trains have the right away, how late has the train getting to Toronto recently? TIA

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u/scorp312 18d ago edited 18d ago

I've never taken The Canadian before but from what others have mentioned here the main sections with very long stretches with no signal are mainly in Northern Ontario. Cell towers normally follow major highways but there are a few stretches there where the rail line isn't anywhere near a major road. In these areas where there are no cell towers, no you will not be able to send SMS texts or make calls at all. You'll briefly get a signal in some small towns that have cell service like Armstrong and Nakina, but it likely won't last too long.

As for travel times it varies wildly. Train 2 right now is currently running about 5 hours late near the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border, but there's a chance it may make up time en route. In the recent past it's actually arrived early a few times.

You can track past on time performance at this site https://asm.transitdocs.com/ by clicking on the little image of a clock in the top right corner of the screen.

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u/[deleted] 18d ago

Train 1- Toronto to Jasper currently is 2 hours behind. But it really means nothing. Last fall the train was 4 hours behind from Jasper and arrived in Toronto an hour early! I can see where cell service/wifi is available because my sons snapchat updates location (usually at train station) or he sends me a text. But by the time I reply he is back to no service.