VIA RAIL CUTS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

VIA Rail has implemented a new carry-on baggage policy that cuts the allowable weight in half.  Passengers are be permitted to bring aboard a maximum of two articles weighing no more than 11.5 kg each in addition to one personal article such as a laptop bag or small backpack. Carry-on bags are also not allowed to be larger than 54.5 cm x 39.5 cm x 23 cm. Alternatively, passengers can bring one carry-on bag weighing no more than 18 kg. Bags between 18 kg and 23 kg will be subject to a $20 surcharge but VIA will not allow any luggage over 23 kg. Up until now, VIA passengers were allowed to bring two pieces of carry-on luggage up to 23 kg each and as big as 66 cm x 46 cm x 23 cm.

VIA spokesperson Mylène Bélanger says VIA has been educating passengers about the new policy for several weeks but expects there will be a period of adjustment. She says those who do not follow the new guidelines will be asked to redistribute the weight into other pieces of luggage or check it into the baggage car of their train or the next train offering checked-baggage service (Only 30 percent of trains on the Windsor-Quebec City corridor offer checked baggage service, according to Bélanger).

VIA Rail's new baggage policy brings it in line with those of the major Canadian airlines. For more information about these new baggage allowances and other baggage allowances visit:

http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info/baggage.