VIA Rail’s Off-Peak Fares Bring Off-the-Chart Savings until Spring

See Canada for Up to 38% Less in Sleeper Class Accommodations

MONTREAL - As Canada’s landscape changes with the arrival of winter and temperatures drop, so do fares on two of VIA Rail Canada’s featured tourism trains - the popular western Canadian and Maritime Ocean services. Valid from late fall until late spring, VIA’s off-peak fares provide savings up to 38% from regular peak adult tickets.

Travelling on the Canadian, explore metropolitan Vancouver, whose unique climate keeps it temperate year-round. Play in the winter wonderland of the Canadian Rockies in Jasper National Park, and take in a show in Toronto, which boasts the third-largest English-speaking theater district in the world. Further east, explore the upscale shopping and eclectic dining of Montréal before boarding the Ocean train to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, where winter means rustic lodges and hearty, down-home Atlantic cuisine. Not a snowbird? Ring in spring in the Maritimes; off-peak fares aboard the Ocean last straight through mid-June!

Both trains provide premier sleeper class accommodations (called Silver & Blue Class aboard the Canadian) with cozy, comfortable sleeping compartments complete with duvet bedding, regional Canadian cuisine served in an elegant dining car. Customers travelling on the Canadian also enjoy exclusive access to a domed-observation car located at the end of the train featuring 360º panoramic viewing of the impressive passing landscape.

Following are sample off-peak prices for two of the most popular journeys on the Canadian in Silver & Blue Class. Off-peak fares are available on this service from October 22 through May 31, 2008, inclusive:

· A double bedroom for the entire three-night journey in either direction between Vancouver and Toronto - with one permitted multi-night stopover (i.e. Jasper) - is available for CAD $1,234 per person plus tax, when purchased at least five days in advance. This represents a saving of 37% for regular fares. The price includes all meals during the rail journey.

· A double bedroom for the overnight journey in either direction between Vancouver and the breathtaking resort town of Jasper is available for CAD $552 per person plus tax, when purchased at least five days in advance. This represents a saving of 37% for regular fares. The price includes all meals during the trip.

Following is a sample off-peak fare for Sleeper Class aboard the Maritime Ocean train. Off-peak fares are available on this service from September 4th - December 19th and January 7th through June 12th , 2008, inclusive.

· A double bedroom for the overnight journey in either direction between Montreal and the charming harbor city of Halifax is available for CAD $221, when purchased at least five days in advance. This represents a saving of 38% from regular fares. Please note that the price of meals is not included in this price.

Travellers planning a multi-destination or extended stay to Canada can take advantage of either of VIA’s value-added rail passes. The CorridorPass offers 10 days of travel in the Ontario-Québec Corridor, available in VIA 1 or Comfort Class. Adult fares are CAD $714 for VIA 1 and CAD $299 for Comfort class. VIA’s CanrailPass offers 12 days of travel in Comfort class over a 30-day period. The pass is good for travel anywhere within the VIA Rail nation-wide system. Off-peak adult fares for the CanrailPass extending through to May 31, 2008, are $523CAD.

VIA’s “Flexi Fares” and senior companion fares provide a perfect opportunity for sharing the magic of winter travel. Depending on availability, passengers may choose from Regular Fares, with no service charges for changes or cancellations, Discount Fares, offering discounts with some flexibility or Supersaver Fares, representing great value for travellers who do not foresee the need to make changes to their tickets. VIA’s senior companion fares allow passengers age 60 and over travelling in Comfort class to bring a companion, of any age, along for free. For sleeper class, a senior’s travel companion receives a 75% discount off the regular adult fare. (Space is limited and some conditions do apply). Visit www.viarail.ca/senior for more information.

Present fares displayed are subject to change without notice. Conditions and restrictions may apply and for some promotional fares, space is subject to availability. Visit viarail.ca for more information.

Customers can visit VIA’s secure Web site at viarail.ca to book a trip anywhere in the VIA system or to book a complete trip with one-stop shopping for trains, cars, hotels and activities. Passengers also can book their tickets by calling 1888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245), TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired), or through their travel agent.

As Canada’s national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada’s mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally responsible and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada’s business corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. VIA Rail serves more than 450 communities with a network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains. Demand continues to grow as more Canadians turn to train travel as a safe and convenient travel choice.