VIA bike-on-board service is back on selected trains between Ottawa and Quebec City, giving passengers a restored option for combining rail travel with cycling after a suspension dating to 2022.

VIA bike-on-board service resumes on four trains
Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

From Wednesday, May 27, VIA Rail Canada again opened bike space reservations on four specific services. The company described the restart as a progressive rollout, intended to keep the passenger experience smooth from the first day. The fee for each bicycle reservation is $25 per direction.

VIA bike-on-board service starts with four trains

The rollout covers trains 26 and 38 from Ottawa to Quebec City, and trains 33 and 35 in the opposite direction. VIA Rail Canada said it will monitor how bicycles on board trains affect operational performance and ridership.

Philippe Normand, VIA’s vice president of marketing and communications, tied the decision to growing interest in travel within Canada. He also pointed to demand for active, sustainable travel, as more people look for different ways to experience the country.

Bike space reservations remain limited for now

Passengers can reserve bicycle space through the VIA Rail Canada website. VIA said the results from this first stage will help shape how the service develops later.

Ontario by Bike says bike service on the Windsor-Quebec route ended when baggage cars were removed as part of VIA’s corridor fleet replacement process. The return had initially been expected in spring 2025, but VIA said the timeline was pushed back because operational constraints required the continued use of trains without bicycle racks.