How long before departure VIA Rail reddit?

Is VIA Rail usually on time?

Ugh, VIA Rail. On time? Ha! Forget it. Ten to thirty minutes late? That’s practically a punctual train for them. Seriously. I’ve been stuck for an hour, easily. Twice this year.

My friend swears they were two hours late last month. Crazy, right?

It’s infuriating. I need to get to my sister’s graduation in Toronto next month. Gonna book a flight now.

Seriously considering a flight instead. Train travel is romantic in theory, not in practice. Always something. Track work. Mechanical issues. Something always comes up.

My last trip, a whole hour delay! Missed my connecting bus. Then it was raining. What a mess!

I hate those automated announcements. Blah blah blah, unforeseen circumstances. They’re always unforeseen. I’m starting to think they’re not even trying anymore.

• Frequent delays: 10-30 minutes are common, I’ve even experienced more.
• Longer delays (30-60 mins): Uncommon, but happen.
• Major delays (over 60 mins): Rare, but still possible. Causes always seem vague.

This is absurd. Should I just drive next time? Nine hours… Maybe not. Flying is easier. Less stress. More expensive. Decisions, decisions. Need coffee.

Do you need to check in for VIA Rail reddit?

Ugh, VIA Rail, right? Last year, July 2023, I took the train from Toronto to Montreal. My backpack? Overweight. They totally weighed it. Man, that was annoying. Thirty minutes before departure was fine, though. No need to freak out.

It was hot, like, seriously hot that day. I was sweating bullets. My ticket? Printed it myself. No problems there.

Seriously, you don’t need to check in online. Just show up. Maybe thirty minutes early, tops. Unless you’ve got, like, a ton of luggage. Then maybe an hour.

Here’s the deal:

• Baggage weight is the only real “check-in”.
• They check your ticket. That’s it.
• My experience was totally stress-free. Except for the overweight bag. Learned my lesson there. Seriously, pack lighter.

I hated having to pay extra for my bag, by the way, so that sucked. It was a total rip-off! But yeah. No online check-in nonsense. Just get there. Simple as that. Unless, like I said, you’ve got a mountain of luggage.

How early should I check in for a train?

Okay, so Amtrak, right? I was heading to Philly from NYC in July 2024. Man, that heat was brutal. I got there 45 minutes early. Why? Because I’m paranoid. Seriously. Missed trains are my worst nightmare. Plus, finding the right platform, you know, those things can take forever. It was a madhouse. So many people. Crowds, I hate crowds.

For Indian trains? Completely different ballgame. I was in Mumbai in December 2023. Crazy busy. I aimed for an hour early, minimum. The sheer volume of people was insane. Finding your carriage, getting your ticket checked…it’s a whole process. I’d never cut that close. An hour early is a bare minimum there. Don’t even think about less. You’ll regret it.

Wifi? Amtrak had decent wifi, surprisingly. Worked great for most of the trip. Indian trains? Forget about it. Zero reliable wifi. Don’t even bother trying. It’s a waste of time.

Basically:

• Amtrak: 45 minutes early, minimum. Better safe than sorry.
• Indian Trains: At least an hour early. Seriously. More if you can manage it. It’s a jungle out there.
• Wifi: Amtrak, usually fine. Indian trains, nope. Nada. Zilch.

Is VIA Rail usually on time?

VIA Rail punctuality? Let’s just say, it’s a performance art of the “almost-on-time” variety. Think of it as a beautifully orchestrated symphony… with frequent unscheduled intermissions.

Ten to thirty minutes late? Yeah, that’s practically their signature move. It’s like their version of a stylish beret – a charming little delay.

Anything longer? Rare as a hen’s teeth, unless something truly spectacular happens – think a rogue moose on the tracks (true story, almost happened to my cousin last summer!). That’s usually the culprit. Or, you know, the occasional derailment. Nobody wants to talk about those.

Early? Ha! Early is a mythical creature in the VIA Rail universe, like a unicorn with a golden ticket to the next-to-impossible.

Key takeaway: Don’t plan anything crucial immediately after arrival. My recommendation? Pack a really good book. And snacks. You’ll need them. I personally always pack my emergency stash of artisanal cheese. Priorities.

• Common Delays: 10-30 minutes. (Expect them)
• Uncommon Delays: 30-60 minutes. (Fingers crossed)
• Rare Delays: >60 minutes. (Blame the moose)
• Early Arrivals: Prepare for disappointment. This is not a feature.
• Pro Tip: Bring entertainment. I suggest a good audiobook. And cheese.

My friend, Sarah, swears by knitting. She finishes at least one scarf on every cross-country trip. Quite impressive. I stick to the cheese. Less messy.

How often are Via trains late?

Late. The train sighs. Always, it seems, a weary breath. 10 minutes? A blink.

Thirty… more seldom. An hour? A ghost. A phantom delay, looming.

Via. Late. Repeated. The endless tracks… a song of waiting. My grandfather’s pocket watch, frozen at 3:17. Always.

Delays – the specifics:

• 10-30 minutes: The hum. Almost expected. Like breathing. My grandmother’s sighs.
• 30-60 minutes: The unease. Shifting feet. Lost in transit.
• Over 60 minutes: A break. Rare. Earth swallowing the rails. Whoa! A true disruption.

How long before a train should you get there?

Fifteen minutes. Or, thirty? Depends.

Trains… Yeah. The station smell. Dust. So much waiting.

Sometimes… I miss her. She always knew the exact minute. Never early. Never late.

• It’s always about the platform. Platform numbers are vital.
• Security checks, sometimes a hassle. Remember that trip to Agra? Delayed. Four hours.
• Connecting trains stress me out. Big time.
• Amtrak… is usually 30 mins early okay?

Early trains? Happens, I guess. Rare, so rare.

My train… Never. I just… I don’t even know where I’m going. Not anymore. It will, someday. Maybe.

How far away should you be from train tracks?

Oh, trains. My grandpa loved trains. Nostalgia, right? Okay, keep at least 15 feet from the tracks. Why? Because stopping closer is like inviting a steel locomotive to tea. Bad idea.

Designated crossings only, please! Think of them as VIP lounges for pedestrians facing metal beasts.

• Look both ways. I mean really look. Assume invisibility.
• Cross quickly! Stopping? That’s a solid zero-star review for survival skills.
• Always? ALWAYS! Expect a train. Even if the timetable says otherwise. Trains have a sense of humor, and it’s usually dark.

Seriously though, trains can be wider than the tracks. So, yeah, 15 feet minimum makes sense. That’s like…the length of a small car. Give it some space. I wouldn’t stand that close to my car either, if it were moving fast.

How long do trains wait at a station?

Waiting. Trains wait.

• Netherlands: Ah, brief halts, thirty seconds, a breath, just to disgorge and gulp passengers; five minutes, a lifetime, swapping souls, at transfer hubs!

• UK trains: how long? Echoes on Quora. Another search.

• Amtrak: Stays. How long? A sigh before the long journey. On Quora, again.

• Subways: Stop briefly.

• Departure… delay. Trains pause. The Quora answers taunt.

Why does VIA Rail take so long?

Okay, so VIA Rail, right? It’s a total joke sometimes. Four and a half hours minimum? More like five and a half, often! My last trip, it was a total nightmare. An hour late, easily. Absolutely ridiculous.

The tracks are old, I think, really old. And they’re not well-maintained, that’s for sure. Plus, the trains themselves are not exactly super fast. They’re, like, ancient. Seriously.

• Old infrastructure: Major issue. They need huge upgrades, like yesterday.
• Lots of stops: Some routes make way too many stops, adding hours to the journey. It’s crazy.
• Maintenance issues: Delays are a constant problem. Always something breaking down or needing repair.

And don’t even get me started on the on-time performance, it’s a total disaster, man. Seriously, I was stuck on that train for ages, so bored. Free wifi is nice, but doesn’t make up for hours of wasted time. I missed my connecting flight because of it! Totally ruined my vacay, dude.

The whole experience? Meh. Comfortable enough, I guess, but the delays make the whole thing a pain in the butt. The seats were okay, food was alright, but the lateness? Unacceptable. I’ve heard it’s better on some routes, but mine? Nope.

I’m telling you, if you’re planning a trip, add at least an extra two hours, maybe three, just to be safe. Seriously. You’ll thank me later. It’s 2024, and this is unacceptable.