Train from Montreal to Ottawa
Overview
The train from Montreal to Ottawa is the smart way to travel between the two cities: about 2 hours city centre to city centre, direct, with no change of train, no airport queues and no baggage weighing. Haqqi Tours offers Montreal to Ottawa train tickets in every class on VIA Rail Corridor - we verify availability and the cost for your dates, send the price through WhatsApp, and issue the e-ticket once you confirm. Read on for the cheapest train ticket tips, the timetable, the stations and how to book, or go straight to the form.
Highlights
- Train from Montreal to Ottawa in about 2 hours - direct, no change
- Operated by VIA Rail Corridor - Economy and Business
- Departs Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale), arrives Ottawa Station (VIA Rail)
- 5-6 a day - we find the departure that fits your day
- Cheapest train ticket from Montreal to Ottawa: we look up every fare type for your travel date
- Seats, children's tickets, luggage and group bookings handled by our staff
- Fill in the form - we message you in the WhatsApp chat with seats and the price, you confirm, the e-ticket is issued
- Haqqi Tours also provides transfers and tours at both ends of the Montreal to Ottawa route
Full Description
Train from Montreal to Ottawa at a glance
Everything passengers ask about the train from Montreal to Ottawa in one place. VIA Rail Corridor runs the route direct, with no change of train, with a journey time of about 2 hours over roughly 200 km, 5-6 a day. Trains leave from Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) and arrive at Ottawa Station (VIA Rail). Haqqi Tours arranges the ticket in the class you choose and confirms the exact departure, the seat and the cost by WhatsApp before any payment.
- Route: Montreal to Ottawa (about 200 km)
- Operator: VIA Rail Corridor
- Journey time: about 2 hours
- Connection: direct train
- Frequency: 5-6 a day
- Departure station: Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale)
- Arrival station: Ottawa Station (VIA Rail)
- Classes: Economy and Business
- Booking: form on this page, confirmation through WhatsApp, e-ticket by message
The train takes about two hours to Ottawa Station, east of downtown and linked to the city centre by the O-Train at Tremblay station; it is the most relaxed way to reach the capital for Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market.
Train, plane or bus from Montreal to Ottawa?
Train versus plane between Montreal and Ottawa comes down to time and hassle: the train leaves from and arrives in the heart of the city, with no baggage limits and no queues; the plane may be quicker in the air but rarely door to door. Buses exist and are cheap, but for comfort and reliability the train is the option Haqqi Tours recommends first.
Return train from Ottawa to Montreal
The Ottawa to Montreal train is the same service in reverse, about 2 hours, direct. Haqqi Tours can provide the return ticket in the same conversation; if you are not yet sure of the return date, we book the outbound now and the return when you know, with no penalty for deciding later.
How much does the train from Montreal to Ottawa cost?
Train ticket prices from Montreal to Ottawa move like flight fares: the earlier you book and the quieter the departure, the less you pay. The class you choose, whether you want a refundable ticket, a seat reservation or a return, and whether children are travelling all change the total. Rather than quote a figure that will be out of date tomorrow, Haqqi Tours checks the fare for the day you want to travel and sends it to you in the WhatsApp chat before you decide.
The figure we send covers the ticket, any compulsory seat reservation and our booking service; what you see on WhatsApp is what you pay. If a cheaper departure exists thirty minutes earlier or later, we tell you, because a Montreal to Ottawa train ticket that costs less at a slightly different time is generally worth it.
Cheapest train ticket from Montreal to Ottawa: how to pay less
A cheap train ticket from Montreal to Ottawa is not luck - it is booking the right seat on the right departure. Here is how we find it:
- For families and groups, ask about group fares - four or more travellers frequently unlock a lower rate
- Book early - fares on this route open weeks or months ahead and the lowest tiers sell first
- Travel mid-week and mid-day - Tuesday to Thursday departures after the morning rush are typically the cheapest
- Avoid the first and last trains of the day, which carry commuters and business passengers at higher fares
- Tell us if your dates are flexible - moving by a day, or by an hour, often halves the fare
- Ask about children's, youth and senior fares - most operators on this route discount them
When you send the form, mention if you are flexible. We compare the fares across the day and send the cheapest Montreal to Ottawa train ticket first, then the alternatives.
How to book train tickets from Montreal to Ottawa with Haqqi Tours
Booking a train from Montreal to Ottawa with us takes a few minutes and one conversation. Fill in the booking form on this page with your travel date, whether you want a one-way or a return, how many adults and children are travelling and the class you prefer. Our booking desk then messages you by WhatsApp to check your booking: we confirm the departures available on that day, the seats and the cost. You choose, we book, and the e-ticket arrives in the same chat, ready to show on your phone or print.
- Step 1 - fill out the form: date, one-way or return, adults and children, class
- Step 2 - we message you through WhatsApp with the available departures, the seats and the cost
- Step 3 - you confirm the departure you prefer and we arrange payment in the same chat
- Step 4 - we issue the e-ticket and send it to you; we stay in touch until you arrive in Ottawa
Haqqi Tours also provides what happens around the train: a private transfer to Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) with the bags, a driver waiting at Ottawa Station (VIA Rail), and tours in Ottawa once you are there. Mention it in the WhatsApp chat and it goes on the same confirmation.
Timetable of the Montreal to Ottawa train
5-6 a day - that is how often the train from Montreal to Ottawa runs with VIA Rail Corridor. The fastest services take about 2 hours; some departures are a little slower where they make extra stops. The first trains of the morning suit a full day in Ottawa; the late-afternoon departures are popular with travellers who want to sleep in their own bed and arrive in the evening.
We recommend booking a specific departure rather than an open ticket on this route: the fare is lower and the seat is guaranteed. If your day changes, we can usually move you to another train through the same WhatsApp chat.
Is there a direct train from Montreal to Ottawa?
Direct - and that is the main reason passengers choose the train over flying between Montreal and Ottawa. No connection, no second platform to find, and the journey time of about 2 hours is exactly what the timetable says. Haqqi Tours books the direct service by default.
Departure: Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale)
The train from Montreal to Ottawa leaves from Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale), in Montreal - montreal is Canada's French-speaking city, with Old Montreal, Mount Royal and a famous food and festival scene. Plan to be at the station about 20 to 30 minutes before departure: enough to find the platform on the boards, pass any ticket gate or security check the station uses, and board without hurrying. Getting there: Public buses, including an express line, and shared shuttles link the airport with downtown in roughly 45 to 60 minutes, which suits a light traveller staying near a metro station; a private car is simpler with luggage, children, a late arrival or a stay in the Plateau, Laval or the Laurentians.
- Cafés, kiosks and left-luggage are available at Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) for early arrivals
- Haqqi Tours provides a private transfer from your hotel in Montreal to the station on request
- Let us know which hall or level your train leaves from - big stations have more than one
- Arrive 20-30 minutes early; the platform is shown on the boards shortly before departure
Arrival: Ottawa Station (VIA Rail)
You step off at Ottawa Station (VIA Rail), right in the city. Metro, tram or bus and taxis leave from the station forecourt. If you would rather not think about it, we book a driver to meet you off the train and take you to the door of your accommodation.
Arriving late? We note your arrival time and, if you have booked a transfer, the driver tracks the train, so a delay costs you nothing.
Classes and what it is like on board the Montreal to Ottawa train
What is the train from Montreal to Ottawa like inside? Modern coaches with reserved seats, tables for two or four, racks for suitcases, sockets and normally Wi-Fi of varying quality. In Economy and Business the differences are space and quiet more than anything else. Over about 2 hours the extra comfort of the higher class is worth it for some travellers and not for others; we tell you the cost of both and let you choose.
- Quiet coaches and family areas on selected services - let us know when booking
- Bicycles, pushchairs and large luggage accepted within the rail company's rules, which we explain
- Pets are allowed on many services with a small ticket - let us know if one is travelling
- Reserved seats with tables, power sockets and luggage racks
Children, luggage and groups on the Montreal to Ottawa train
Travelling with children on the train from Montreal to Ottawa is easy: young children are frequently free or heavily discounted, seats can be booked together, and there is room to move about. Tell us the ages on the form and we apply the right fares. Luggage is not weighed or charged on this route; you bring what you can lift onto the rack. For groups, we book seats in the same coach and ask about group fares, which generally make the Montreal to Ottawa train the cheapest way to move several people between the two cities.
Things to do in Ottawa after the train
The reasons passengers take the train to Ottawa are the National Gallery of Canada, Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the ByWard Market. Ottawa is Canada's capital, with Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and a string of national museums.
If you want the day in Ottawa organised - a driver, a guide, timed entry tickets - we do that too. Mention it on WhatsApp.
Best time to take the train from Montreal to Ottawa
The train from Montreal to Ottawa runs all year. High season in Ottawa follows the school holidays and the big events. If you can travel outside those weeks, the same seat costs less and the train is quieter. Whatever the month, early booking is the single biggest saving.
Why book your Montreal to Ottawa train ticket with Haqqi Tours
What we offer on the train from Montreal to Ottawa: live fares checked for your travel date, every class and fare type explained without jargon, seats reserved together, children's and group fares applied, the e-ticket delivered by WhatsApp and a team that answers at any hour if the train is late or the plan changes. Send the form and let us take the train off your list.
On board
- Toilets in each coach and a café or bar coach on most services
- Reserved seat in Economy and Business - we choose the coach and seat where the operator allows
- No luggage weighing or fees - suitcases, pushchairs and skis within the rail company's rules
- Wi-Fi on many trains between Montreal and Ottawa; quiet coaches on request
- Power sockets and folding tables at most seats; luggage racks in every coach
Before you travel
- Left-luggage, cafés and kiosks at both stations for early arrivals or late departures
- Haqqi Tours arranges private transfers between your hotel and both stations
- Be at the station 20-30 minutes before departure; doors close shortly before the timetabled time
- Arrival at Ottawa Station (VIA Rail) - taxis, metro and our drivers at the exit
Good to know
- Keep passports or ID with the electronic ticket - some operators check both on board
- Send us two possible dates and we tell you which is cheaper
- Mid-week, mid-day departures are normally the cheapest and quietest
- Book the Montreal to Ottawa train early - the lowest fares sell first
- Add a transfer at Ottawa so a driver meets you off the train with the luggage
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Can I book the Montreal to Ottawa train for a group?
Of course. Give the number of travellers on the form; we reserve seats together and ask the rail company for a group fare where one exists, which frequently makes the train the cheapest way to move a group.
Can Haqqi Tours arrange a transfer to and from the stations?
Yes. We provide private transfers from your hotel to Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) and from Ottawa Station (VIA Rail) to your hotel, with room for the bags, on the same confirmation as the ticket.
How early should I be at Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale)?
Twenty to thirty minutes covers it at Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale); add slightly more if there is a ticket gate or a security check, which we mention when we send the ticket. Doors are closed a minute or two before departure.
Is it better to take the train or fly from Montreal to Ottawa?
Almost always the train on this route: about 2 hours from one city centre to the other, no airport transfers, no security queue and no baggage fees. We provide flights as well and will tell you honestly if flying suits your dates better.
Do I need to print the ticket?
No. The e-ticket on your phone - a PDF or a booking reference, depending on VIA Rail Corridor - is enough on the Montreal to Ottawa route. If a printed copy or the booking ID is ever required, we say so when we send it.
Can I change or cancel my train ticket?
That depends on the fare you chose: flexible tickets can be changed or refunded, the cheapest promotional fares generally cannot. We spell out the conditions before you confirm and handle any later change for you in the same chat.
What happens if I miss the train?
A fixed-departure ticket is only valid on the train you booked; a flexible one can be used on a later departure. We tell you which type you hold before payment, and if something goes wrong on the day our WhatsApp desk helps you sort it out.
What is the difference between the classes?
Mostly comfort and quiet. The higher class gives wider seats, more legroom and fewer passengers, sometimes a drink or at-seat service; the standard class is perfectly comfortable for the 2 hours journey. We send the cost of each so you can compare.
Can I choose my seat?
Where the rail company allows seat selection we choose for you - a table for a family, a window in the quiet coach for a solo traveller, seats together for a group. Tell us your preference in the WhatsApp chat.
Is there a luggage limit on the train?
No weighing and no fees on this route: you bring what you can carry and lift onto the racks. Pushchairs, skis and bicycles are accepted within the operator's rules, which we spell out if they apply to you.
Do children need a ticket on the Montreal to Ottawa train?
Children travel on their own fare band under VIA Rail Corridor's rules - free for the youngest on most services, discounted for older children. Put the ages on the form and we seat them beside you at the right fare.
Can I book a return train ticket from Ottawa to Montreal?
Yes. Choose "return" on the form and give both dates; we compare a return fare with two singles and book the cheaper one. If the return date is not fixed yet, we book it later with no penalty.
How often does the train from Montreal to Ottawa run?
The service runs 5-6 a day. Let us know whether you prefer morning, midday or evening and we send the departures for your date with the cost of each.
Where does the train arrive in Ottawa?
At Ottawa Station (VIA Rail), in the city. Taxis and local transport leave from the station, and Haqqi Tours can have a driver waiting at the exit.
Which station does the train from Montreal to Ottawa leave from?
The Montreal to Ottawa train departs from Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale). Platform numbers appear on the boards shortly before departure; we send the coach and seat with the ticket and can book a driver from your hotel to the station.
