March 17, 2003 -- Kids can't drive, students may not have cars, and many seniors might prefer not to drive long distances. Those factors make Amtrak and VIA Rail good choices for families, college students and people of a certain age trying to get from Point A to Point B without breaking the bank. Riding the rails is an even better idea with the many discounts the US and Canadian national railways provide for kids, students, and seniors.
(Adults, don't feel left out. There are discount codes for you, too. See below for more.)
Canada's VIA Rail has the best deals for students and seniors. Kids between the ages of 12 and 17, or students over 17 holding the ISIC (International Student Identification Card) get 35% discounts on all VIA tickets, or 50% on six-packs of round-trips between school and home. ISIC cards cost C$16 for Canadians and $22 for US residents. Canadians can get them at any VIA Rail station or at offices of the Travel CUTS travel agency. Americans should go to STA Travel (800/781-4040; www.statravel.com) for theirs.
The deal for folks over age 60 is even sweeter. Buy one ticket at the standard senior fare (which is 10% below the standard adult fare), get a companion ticket free in economy class, or at a 75% discount in first class. There are no restrictions on the age of a companion, so c'mon, Canadian thirtysomethings, it's time to shanghai Mom and Dad into a trip. The easiest way to book this discounted fare is over the phone, at 888/VIA-RAIL. If you're US-based, book online in groups of two tickets -- one senior and one companion -- and the discount should be calculated in.
There's a similar deal for the littles. For every ticket for a passenger over age 18 you buy on VIA RAIL, you can get one ticket for a kid 11 or younger for free. This promotion only applies this summer -- for trains from May 29 to August 29 -- and you must buy your ticket five days in advance of travel. The train from Halifax to Sydney and the 5PM Montreal-Toronto trains are excluded. To book this discount, call 888/VIA-RAIL or see the somewhat complex online booking instructions at www.viarail.ca/planner/en_plan_truc_offr.html#kids.
Getting On Track For Less in the USA
Amtrak's discounts aren't quite as striking, but they're still helpful. Two kids under 16 can ride free on weekends on the California Capitol Corridor trains, when accompanied by an adult. Use discount code H258 while booking for trains through March 28, and discount code H405 for trains after April 3. Many holiday periods are blacked out from this promotion -- for the full list, see the fine print at www.amtrak.com/savings/kidsridefree.html.
Folks over 62, meanwhile, get 15% off most fares just by booking tickets at the senior fare. The senior discount combines with most of Amtrak's discount codes, so check out the discount code list and save even more.
The ISIC doesn't help Amtrak travelers, but the Student Advantage card (www.studentadvantage.com/enrollment?promoCode=AMT48L9001) does. Get a Student Advantage card for $20, and you get a slew of travel discounts with it. Student Advantage holders get 15% off Amtrak fares, 15% off Greyhound tickets and a $15 discount when booking airline tickets with Priceline. Take a few trips per year, say, between Boston and Baltimore, and the card will pay for itself.
