The Quebec-Windsor Corridor between Quebec City and Windsor, Ontario, is VIA Rail's busiest service area, carrying the majority of passengers on routes between Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Kingston. The Montreal to Toronto journey takes approximately 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes depending on the service. VIA Rail operates up to 11 daily departures in each direction between Montreal and Toronto on weekdays. Trains on the corridor use a mix of newer LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) and Renaissance equipment.
Long-distance VIA Rail trains cross the full width of Canada. The Canadian (Train 1 and 2) runs from Toronto Union Station to Vancouver Pacific Central Station in 4 days and 3 nights via Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops, covering 4,466 kilometres through the Canadian Shield, the prairies, and the Rocky Mountains. The Ocean train connects Montreal to Halifax in 22 hours via Moncton and Truro. The Corridor trains connect Quebec City to Windsor via Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, and Toronto.
Regional commuter rail systems operate independently of VIA Rail. GO Transit (Metrolinx) is the largest commuter network, serving the Greater Toronto Area with 7 rail corridors from Union Station to Hamilton, Barrie, Oshawa, and Burlington, with electrification of the highest frequency corridors underway. Exo operates commuter trains in the Greater Montreal area. West Coast Express connects Vancouver to Mission City in the Fraser Valley. The Canada Line and Expo Line in Metro Vancouver are rapid transit rather than heavy rail.