How to Book Train Travel from New Brunswick to Quebec

Westbound travelers headed from the small Maritime province of New Brunswick are often surprised at the sheer size of Quebec. Follow these steps to start planning your trip aboard VIA Rail's Ocean train so you can marvel at perhaps the most scenic train route in all of Canada.

Things You'll Need

• Credit card
• Internet access
• Passport or photo I.D.
• Citizenship documents

Instructions

Depart from New Brunswick to Quebec

1. Book your tickets on the Via Rail Canada Web site (see Resources below.) You can also book reservations by calling 888-VIA-RAIL.

2. Prepare for an overnight stay. The trip takes approximately 21 hours.

3. Pick a language. New Brunswick is the only one of Canada's provinces that's officially bilingual. Both French and English are recognized as official languages. You'll find that people living here commonly understand both.

4. Save some cash. The most economical seats aboard the Ocean are found in the comfort class.

5. Travel in style. The comfort sleeper class offers private accommodations while the easterly class comes with a Maritime learning experience, 3-course meals and exclusive car access.

Arrive in Quebec

1. Decide where to book your arrival. The Ocean's first stop in Quebec is in Matapedia. The last is in Montreal.

2. Brush up on your French. Quebec is the sole Canadian province that recognizes only French as its official language.

3. Consider expanding your travels in Montreal. It is Quebec's largest city and VIA Rail's headquarters. Travelers can continue on other train routes within Quebec. You can even take lines that run to New York City.

Tips & Warnings

• The Ocean covers New Brunswick from Moncton in the east to Campbellton in the west with additional stations in between.

• The Ocean operates 6 days a week in both directions. It does not run on Tuesdays.

• People in Quebec are used to English-speaking travelers who cannot speak fluent French. Therefore, many people in Quebec can communicate in English even though it's not the official language.

• The easterly class is not always available. It can only be reserved from May to October.

• The dining car tables are reserved during off-peak season for comfort sleeper class passengers; but this changes during peak season. At that time, priority goes to the easterly class.

• Late spring to early fall comprises the peak season. Fares are much higher and trains are often crowded with tourists.

• There are many options in Montreal for train travel to the United States. If you plan to board a train to the United States, be sure to have your passport handy.