Travel and Transportation Within Canada

Welcome back to MyPhone2Go’s blog. If you’re just joining us, we’ve begun a series on travel in Canada. Last week we covered information useful to travelers about the country overall. It was determined that its vast size and incredible variety in climate, landscape, and culture are sure to satisfy the interests of any prospective voyageur. This week, we will cover in detail the topic of transportation in Canada. Trans-Canada travel, provincial travel, as well as travel within 4 major Canadian cities (Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal) will be discussed.

Trans-Canadian Travel (Travel between Provinces)

Those visiting various provinces within the nation have 4 options for travel: air, train, bus, or car.

The major airlines offering flights within Canada are AirCanada and WestJet. There are other airlines – both Canadian and International (particularly US) – that offer domestic flights but it is usually more economical to fly with these two companies. Many travelers might be surprised to discover the cost of flights within Canada. Though one is traveling within the same country, rates most certainly do not compare to that of traveling within Europe, for example. As can be expected, costs correlate with distance the flight is covering (e.g., an East to West Coast flight is more expensive than a flight between neighbouring provinces). One is also unlikely to find travel deals for flights within Canada. Last-minute deals are also not common. As is typical, flying midweek and avoiding long weekends/holiday seasons will help cut flight costs down. As a general point of reference, here is a sample of flight costs between major cities, as well as expected travel time:

Round-Trip Toronto to Montreal: $240. One-Way Travel Time:1h15

Round-Trip Toronto to Vancouver: $500. One-Way Travel Time: 5h

Round-Trip Vancouver to Edmonton: $275. One-Way Travel Time: 1h30

Round-Trip Vancouver to Halifax: $520. One-Way Travel Time: 8h

Another means of travel within Canada is by train. The only company offering trans-Canadian travel is Via Rail. As mentioned in our previous blog, Canada is the world’s second largest country. As such, any ground travel is a more time-consuming venture yet it is likely to be a much more visually stimulating experience. Below are a sample of rates and travel times one could expect, using the most economical fares available (i.e., economy seat versus bunk for overnight rides):

Round-Trip Toronto to Montreal: $110. One-Way Travel Time: 5+h

Round-Trip Toronto to Vancouver: $850. One-Way Travel Time: 3d, 10h

Round-Trip Vancouver to Edmonton: $320. One-Way Travel Time: 1d, 1h30

*One-Way Trip Vancouver to Halifax: $570. One-Way Travel Time: 4d, 17hr

One could also could take the trans-Canadian bus company Greyhound for their trip, though this is most definitely the least comfortable means of travel for long distances. As above, here is a sample of the most economic rates for travel by bus:

Round-Trip Toronto to Montreal: $80. One-Way Travel Time: 8h

Round-Trip Toronto to Vancouver: $325. One-Way Travel Time: 2d, 23h

Round-Trip Vancouver to Edmonton: $140. One-Way Travel Time: 22h

*One-Way Trip Vancouver to Halifax: $800. One-Way Travel Time: 4d, 8h

Lastly, a rental car may be of understated value for travel within Canada. See the next section for more details.

Quick note: Borders between provinces/territories are “open”. One does not need to present identification for travel within the nation.

Provincial (Multi-City) Travel

So you’ve got multi-city business within one province. Or, you’re a tourist who has decided one province is for you. So what transportation is ideal? Without a doubt, renting a car is your go-to option. The freedom to move about will be incomparable, even if you’re only planning to travel within a small section of the province. The reason for this is that, with the exception of the above-mentioned Greyhound Bus Company, and the Go Transit System servicing Southern Ontario, there are few public transportation systems that directly link cities – even if they are only 50km away! Bus stops to smaller cities and towns may be scarce, leaving taxis as the ultimate and very costly solution.

Comparatively, Canada has an extensive and well-maintain roadway system. Renting your own vehicle will eliminate the need to navigate bus schedules, will ensure you’re able to reach your desired destination even if that city has no bus stop, and will most definitely give you a more comfortable ride. We will not detail car rentals in Canada further in this blog but a quick search of your arrival airport will provide you with a list of the rental companies and service options available to you.

Municipal (Intra-City) Transportation

The one exception to the benefit of a car rental in Canada is perhaps the case of business/travel in one of Canada’s major cities: Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal. Each of these cities has a public transportation that blends a Metro (Subway) system and a City Bus System. This makes moving about to different locations relatively simple. Toronto in particular, which also has a streetcar system that works in conjunction with the metro and buses, is well-known for its comprehensiveness. In fact, driving and parking within these cities may be more cumbersome than public transport. Below are some points of interest regarding the intra-city public transit:

• Each city requires exact change for a single fare. In fact, ensuring you have cash to purchase any number of tickets/tokens is wise as some vendors may not take bank/credit cards.

• A single fare can be used for one consecutive trip, including transfers, and usually has an expiry time.

• In Vancouver, the transit system operates in “zones”. Fares are calculated based on how many zones you need to cross. Refer to the transit map for more info (http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Fare-Zone-Map.aspx)

• Each city offers packages of multiple rides, daily passes, and monthly passes. Toronto and Montreal also offer weekly passes.

• Each city offers discounts for youths and seniors. Some cities offer student rates with valid ID, and each city allows children to ride for free with a fare-paying adult (age range varies from city to city).

We recommend you do some research on the transit system within your city of travel to ensure that the locations you need to reach are serviced.

Summary

Canada, as big and beautiful as it is, has a public transportation system which falls short of those in the other developed nations off the world. With the exception of individuals who live in larger cities (where public transportation is usually more than sufficient), most Canadian households own a vehicle. Often moving between cities that are no more than an hour apart isn’t possible without access to a car or a very expensive taxi ride. So, with its extensive, and well-developed roadways, a vehicle is the ideal way to travel in Canada. For covering large distances, though, flights may be costly but are quickest. Using the train – or the cheaper bus alternative –is much slower, but gives travelers the unforgettable experience of observing the drastic changes in landscape from one province to the next.

Have your own recommendations? Have further questions? Leave a comment below.

Next week we will discuss telecommunications in Canada - how they work and what can you expect upon arrival.