VIA Rail Canada


Introduction

Canrailpasses

Fares

Frequent Traveler Program Information

Seat Codes

Sleeper Service
- Extra Name Field
- Name Select
  Ticketing Options
- Ticket Time Limit

VIA Rail Example Booking
- Availability
- Pricing
- Sell
- Ticketing

VIA Rail Main Index

 

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Introduction

VIA Rail, the national railroad of Canada, is another rail associate in Worldspan®. With VIA Rail, accessing availability, booking and ticketing a Passenger Name Record (PNR) is the same as an airline. Use the airline code of 2R for VIA Rail when accessing availability or fares.

Many cities served by VIA Rail have no airport codes; therefore, their fares and availability cannot be displayed in Worldspan. Itineraries for these destinations need to be made directly with VIA RAIL and entered into the system for ticketing as MK.

Air segments can be booked in the same PNR, however, they must be ticketed separately. It is necessary to name select out ALL name field items that are associated with a booked sleeper class service, including any extra/seat name fields.

In response to a booking, VIA Rail updates the Worldspan PNR with an Other Service Information (OSI) providing VIA Rail record locator, seat, car, and reservation numbers. They send another OSI with the ticket option dates and formats for ticketing a VIA Rail file with Worldspan.

All standard airline displays are valid for VIA rail  (e.g.,   V*   or   V$/FARE RULES).

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VIA Rail Main Index

To access the main index for VIA Rail, use the following entry.

Entry:  GWTS VIARAIL   (spacing approximate)

CANADA*S PASSENGER TRAIN NETWORK
LE RESEAU FERROVIAIRE VOYAGEUR DE CANADA

INDEX FRANCAIS MD59

TRAVEL AGENT COMMISSION 11 P.C.
11 P.C. DE COMMISSION SUR LA VENTE DE BILLETS

** VIA RAIL IATA CITY/VILLES CODES >GWTSVIACITIES (

OVERVIEW >GWTSVIAOVERVIEW (
ACCOMODATION AND PASSENGER CODES >GWTSVIARSVN04 (
NEWS >GWTSVIANEWS (
VIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAVEL CREDITS >GWTSVIACREDITS ()

NOTE:  Tab to any of the entries shown to access more information about a particular VIA
              Rail topic.

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VIA Rail Example Booking

The following entry accesses VIA Rail availability from Montreal Downtown Central Railroad Station (YMY) to Ottawa, Ontario (YOW) for August 30. The code of 2R representing VIA Rail must be included in the entry.

Availability

Example - Display Availability Entry   

Entry:  A30AUGYMYYOW7A-2R   (spacing approximate)

30AUG-SA-7A YMYYOW(YMQYOW) ** ** END
1 2R 31 Y4 Q4 YMYXDS  655A  859A TRN FF3
2 2R 31 Y4 Q4 XAXXDS  712A  859A TRN FF2
3 2R 33 Y4 Q4 YMYXDS 1040A 1239P TRN FF4
4 2R 33 Y4 Q4 XAXXDS 1057A 1239P TRN FF3
5 2R 37 Y4 Q4 YMYXDS  545P  747P TRN FF2
6 2R 37 Y4 Q4 XAXXDS  602P  747P TRN FF1

The display above looks the same as flight availability. The equipment area of the display indicates TRN for train service.

VIA Rail train service connections are not displayed in Worldspan. Availability for all segments must be displayed and requested separately.

VIA Rail offers last seat availability on an NN or LL basis, even if the availability display shows zero.

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Sell

To sell two coach seats in Y class on the 2:40 PM train from the availability display, use the following entry.

Example - Sell Entry

Entry:   02Y5   (spacing approximate)

1 2R 35Y 30AUG WE YMYYOW SS2 240P 447P/O

NOTE:  PNRs should be created with active segments only if all itinerary segments can be
             sold through Worldspan. If not all segments can be sold through Worldspan, all
             segments should be entered as MK.

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Pricing

Normal pricing entries apply to VIA Rail.

Example - Price Request

Entry:   4P   (spacing approximate)

>4P(
PNR PRICED ON 11AUG FOR TKTG ON 11AUG
* PRICING RULES VALIDATING CARRIER DEFAULT 2R
** 30AUG DEPARTURE DATE/ 12AUG IS LAST DATE TO TICKET
* FARE MAY CHANGE UNLESS TICKETED TODAY *
1CAD/0.737735USD
SALE INDICATOR- SITI
BF CAD TX USD TX USD EV USD TOTAL USD
XG TAX XQ TAX
002- 36.00 1.89 1.88 27.00 30.77 Y
72.00 3.78 3.76 54.00 61.54 TTL USD

ADT YMQ2RYOW 36.00 CAD36.00END 2R

The avobe pricing display shows the total price converted to U.S. dollars. Worldspan automatically converts the fare to the currency of the country in which the workstation is located.

NOTES:

  1. Unlike Amtrak, VIA Rail uses three letter airport codes rather than unique rail city codes.

  2. Worldspan will autoprice VIA Rail's sleeper class based on a per person rate. Prices are calculated according to the number of beds available in the unit and the number of passengers occupying the unit.

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Fares

Fares are filed under the NL display. If fares are not filed, use World Ticket Image (WTI) Pricing procedures. All pricing entries may be used with VIA Rail. The following PTCs are accepted by VIA Rail for Agent Assisted Pricing.

  • ADT
  • SRC
  • CNN
  • YTH

Example - Fare display request with date and fare type

Entry:   4FYMYYOWNL21APRNL-2R   (spacing approximate)

A normal fare display entry accesses one-way fares between YMY and YOW. The code of 2R representing VIA Rail must be included in the entry. The fares listed are shown in Canadian dollars (CAD).

4FYMYYOWNL-2R NL FARES
YMQYOW-2R 21APR97 AC CP 7F
ADD APPLICABLE TAXES
LINE FARE RT FARE TRAVEL DATES TKT DTE RTG AP MIN/ BKG
NBR CODE OW CAD EFF DISC FST/LST NBR DT MAX CDE
1 Q5 22.00 6MAR7 - - 2 ## -/- Q
2 Y 37.00 6MAR7 - - 2 ## -/- Y
3 J 67.00 6MAR7 - - 2 - -/- JJN

NOTES:

  1. Divides/Reduces/Waitlisting are allowed on VIA Rail.

  2. The following ticket designators are valid - AD75 and HA100 (handicapped attendant) (e.g. 4P*FNL/AD75)

  3. All VIA Rail fares are filed with the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO) and can be displayed in Worldspan.

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Ticketing

Normal ticketing procedures apply. Refer to GWTSVIA TICKET in GRS for more information.

Entry Explanation
EZ#N1.2

Name Select

EZ#ITIT123456

Include IT Number

EZ#ITIT123456#ER-RAIL CONDITIONS

Endorsement/IT

EZ#IT785039@1234

With FQTV Number and CPN Number

Normal remark entries apply to VIA Rail.

Example - Remarks (Rail conditions apply train/seat information)

Entry:   5-ER RAIL CONDITIONS APPLY TRAIN 6501 SEAT 21C
           5IR-NOT VALID FOR AIR TRAVEL

Example - FQTV Number in tour box

Entry:   5-IT1234567   (or)   #IT1234567

NOTES:

  1. VIA Rail and other air segments can be included on one PNR however rail and air must be ticketed separately. VIA Rail currently does not have interline agreements with other airlines.

  2. VIA Rail does not permit issuance of open tickets.

  3. Tickets must have endorsements which state - rail conditions apply with the train and seat number.

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Seat Codes

The following SSR codes may be used to request seats on VIA Rail.

Example - Seat Request

Entry:   3SANSST 15A15B/

Code Explanation
NSSA

Non smoking - Aisle

NSST

Non smoking seat

NSSW

Non smoking - Window

SMST

Smoking seat

RQST

Specific seat request

Seat confirmation is offered for First Class (J) only and is confirmed in an OSI message.

In order for the seat numbers to print on the Itinerary/Invoice use a remarks for each segment  (e.g.,  5S1*IR-6501 SEAT 21).

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Frequent Traveler Program Information

The Frequent Traveler Number (FQTV) must be entered as an SSR.

Entry: 3SAN1FQTV2R7654321         7654321 = FQTV Number

The FQTV must also be entered in the 5-IT field, or the #IT field in the ticketing entry.

Entry: 5-IT7654321   or   #IT7654321


If a promotional coupon number is required, the coupon number is added after the FQTV number with this entry.

Entry: 5-IT7654321@4321   or   #IT7654321@4321

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Canrailpasses

Canrail passes are booked in availability as train 2R984 from XZR to XZP. Fares are displayed using the 4F entries (e.g., 4FXZRXZP).

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Sleeper Service

The number of names in the PNR must be equal to the minimum/maximum occupancy requirements of the booking class.

Booking Class Accommodation Type Sleeper Occupancy
Minimum / Maximum
A

Double Berth

3 / 6

F

Single Bedroom

1 / 2

P

Double Bedroom

2 / 4

R

Triple Bedroom

3 / 6

S

Upper Berth

1 / 2

W

Lower Berth

1 / 2

When booking a P class sleeper, a minimum of two passengers should be in the PNR. Two P class beds should be sold. If any segment does not meet the occupancy requirements, VIA Rail no actions the segment and sends an SSR advisement. P class does not display in availability and must be sold as a manual segment.

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Extra Name Field

If only one person occupies a bedroom where the minimum requirement is two passengers, an extra name field must be added. The PTC ACC is necessary for autopricing.

Example - Extra Name Field

Entry:   -MOOER/TOM.MR*ADT   or    -MOOER/XTRABED*ACC

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Ticket Time Limit

Upon end transaction, VIA Rail issues a ticket time limit and a request for ticket numbers.

Example - SSR (Ticket time limit/Request for ticket numbers)

          SSR TKTL 1P KK/YBZ 1700/06JUN
          SSR OTHS 1P PLEASE SEND OSI TKNO WHEN PASSENGER IS TKTD


Sleeper tickets should be issued prior to the ticketing time limit. Once tickets are issued, the ticket numbers must be sent to VIA Rail in the form of an OSI message.

Example - OSI (Ticket numbers)

                    3OSI 2R TKNO 8304480533736

If ticket numbers are not sent before the time limit, VIA Rail sends one last advisory message. After receiving this final message, you have up to 48 hours to send ticket numbers or the reservation is canceled.

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Name Select Ticketing Options

It is necessary to name select out ALL name field items associated with a booked sleeper class. This includes any extra/seat name field items.

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© 2002 Worldspan L.P.  All Rights Reserved.


Last Updated: January 19, 2005  ALN