Ottawa, ON to Quebec City, QC train

Trains from Ottawa to Quebec City

Quebec City, the provincial capital, is one of Canada's best-preserved historic French colonial cities, with the old town offering an atmospheric and attractive area to explore beneath the imposing backdrop of the Heights of Abraham. As the administrative center of Quebec, it also serves an important political function. There are good rail links with the national capital and business travelers, and city-break vacationers can book a direct train from Ottawa to Quebec City Gare du Palais with VIA rail, the national long-distance rail operator. Services from the capital to Quebec City run seven days a week, with a choice of morning and afternoon departures from Ottawa. Journey times to Quebec average around 6 hours. On some days there is an additional indirect train from Ottawa to Quebec City via Montreal, with a longer journey time. Weekend schedules to Quebec City from the capital are slightly reduced, but VIA Rail still provides a choice of direct connections from Ottawa.

Which train companies travel from Ottawa to Quebec City?

VIA Rail, the main rail operator in Canada, provides all the country's intercity services including all trains from Ottawa to Quebec City on the northern stretch of the Ontario-Quebec corridor. VIA Rail trains on this route offer passengers a choice of Economy and Business Class seats, with all train carriages equipped with electrical outlets, WiFi internet access, and onboard entertainment services. Light meals, snacks and drinks are available for purchase from a trolley service onboard the train from Ottawa to Quebec City, with complimentary meals and cocktails served to Business Class ticket-holders. Some VIA Rail intercity trains on this route also provide baggage check-in services for up to two large items per passenger and assistance with boarding and baggage for passengers with reduced mobility.

How long is the train ride from Ottawa to Quebec City?

The fastest train from Ottawa to Quebec City is the late afternoon departure from the capital, taking 5 hours and 39 minutes to complete the 196-mile (315 kilometer) route north-west to Quebec. Other direct trains take between 13 and 32 minutes longer to reach their destination, with the slowest direct service, the mid-morning train from Ottawa, taking 6 hours and 11 minutes to reach Gar du Palais. These journey times with VIA Rail all include a 20-30-minute stop in Montreal en route to Quebec City.

How many trains are there from Ottawa to Quebec City?

VIA Rail's weekday schedules provide four daily direct trains north-west from Ottawa to Quebec City Gare du Palais, with departures in early morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and late afternoon, the final train arriving in Quebec City just before 10:00 p.m. Saturday schedules provide two direct trains on this route, with departures in mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Sunday timetables have three direct trains from Ottawa, similar to the weekday schedule but without an early morning service. On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, there is one additional indirect train from Ottawa to Quebec City Sainte-Foy Station, departing in the late morning and requiring a change in Montreal.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Ottawa to Quebec City?

Departure station: Ottawa Station, situated on the east side of central Ottawa, is the main terminus in the capital for all VIA Rail intercity trains. Public transport links from the city center include OC Transpo light rail services on the O-Train Confederation Line to Tremblay station, next to the VIA Rail terminus, and frequent bus services from downtown on routes 61 and 62. Passenger facilities at the station include parking lots, vending machines, baggage storage services, a business lounge, free WiFi, ATMs, and restrooms. The station concourse has sandwich stalls, fast food franchises, snack bars, and coffee shops. Station shopping mall stores include a grocery mini-market, drug store, and news vendors.

Arrival station: Quebec City Gare du Palais is the main terminus for VIA Rail intercity trains - a striking green-roofed chateau-style building and national heritage site dating from 1915, located on the north-east side of the city center. Public transport connections downtown include city buses from the adjacent bus terminus and a shuttle connection to Gare Sainte-Foy, which is located south-west of the city center. Sainte-Foy is also served by city bus route 76. Facilities at the stations include car rental desks, baggage storage services, ATMs, restrooms, and a taxi stand. Food options include Quebecois restaurants, fast food franchises, coffee shops, and sandwich bars. Shopping mall outlets at Gare du Palais include news vendors, a convenience store, and gift store.