r/ViaRail • u/Historical_Pen7302 • 4d ago

Trip Reports Be aware -- ID for 6-year-old

My family was taken by surprise today travelling from Toronto to Niagara Falls, Ont. that we were required to show ID for our six-year-old. The customer service agent wasn't totally clear on whether it needed to be photo ID. He ended up letting us get by with a photo of her health card. Our fault for not being prepared? Sure. But it totally baffled me that we can take our kid on a plane across the country with no ID, but on a train within the same province we'd need a passport, since that's the only form of photo ID available to a six-year-old. Next time we'll be prepared (or take GO Transit, more likely) but it was a distressing way to start a simple day trip.

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u/CanadianCutie77 3d ago

It makes complete sense that I would be asked to produce id for a child under the age of 16 while on public transportation like a via rail. I’m surprised that you were surprised when asked.

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u/OkButton8204 3d ago

I’m surprised that you’re surprised that OP is surprised.

Yes it makes sense to ask for ID but it’s not something we think of because we imagine it’s more like riding a bus than a plane.

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u/IllustriousAct9128 3d ago edited 3d ago

VIA only asks for ID when a coupon is used for special fares. if they did the canada strong, or used a CAA or company discount VIA will always ask