Considering that Gare Centrale is Montréal's main downtown train station, they should do something to make it less depressing like improved lighting and spotlights on the wonderful period Charles Comfort murals that pay homage to the history of rail transportation in Canada! While there is Les Halles with many places to eat, etc., the dark, cavernous feel overall appears that they were inspired by New York's 1968 (not today's) Penn Station! Hey, VIA Rail Canada or whoever runs this place, don't you want people to take trains?! read more

See all

Pretty decent train station. There's plentiful seating, lots of food options, and it's relatively clean and spacious. It's easy to navigate and centrally located in downtown Montreal. It's not the most modern, but it is kept in good condition. read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

Our tour group was staying at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel and walked down to the train station to await our train to Quebec City. There were plenty of dining options around and in the nearby food courts and underground passages. It was near Christmas and some costumed dancers were entertaining the passengers and giving out candy. We appreciated some of the classic-looking decor and what looked like a display with lyrics of the Canadian National Anthem. Overall, a good travel experience for us. read more

It's ok. No union station. The facilities are ok but navigating is ok at best. The via business lounge is just too small. There's never enough space and they are willing to carry only Coke & diet, but not zero. Boo. read more

Gare Centrale - Business lounge cooler. - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Incredibly easy to navigate train station! Find your gate (with your train #). Show your ticket. Find your car on the train. Find your seat. This is under construction so there's not a lot of things open. There was one coffee shop and a McDonald's open at 8am on a Sunday. Is that normal... or normal for construction? Bring your own coffee:) All workers here spoke perfect English:) read more

See all

Big station with nice layout and friendly staff for VIA. Connected well to the Underground City and Metro as well as a couple hotels including ours, The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. read more

Hmm this update is for the business class lounge. This space is in dire need of an upgrade. Old furniture just 2 washrooms and overcrowded seating. I was expecting a nicer area this being via real HQ even Toronto location looks better imo. Food and drink option being the same I think this location is even worth skipping altogether. 2 star for the lounge read more

Out of all the train stations I have been to, I like this one the most. Prime location and since Montreal is an underground city, you are connected to the food courts, many washrooms, shopping malls, metro station and hotels. As well some train tracks are for regular local public transportation. If you cannot find a seat while waiting for your train, the food court is 10 steps away and you can sit there. The station is well spaced out and clean. As well I do appreciate the temperature inside. They do not have the air conditioning blasting. There are many exits as well, depending on where you need to go. read more

See all

This is a train station located in downtown Montreal. It is one of the main transportation station for VIA rail. I came here to board the train from Montreal to Toronto. There are a good selections of restaurants/food options at the station. The station itself is quite clean with plenty of seating. Signage was clear. The building itself is quite big. There is a drop off area / pick up area on the main floor/ entrance. Only one issue here is the accessibility to get to the train departure/arrival area located on the floor below (basement). For every two train tracks there is one escalator associated to it but it is for limited use only and it is not wide enough for say bigger wheelchairs or big luggage. Most people had to take the stairs. Maybe there is an elevator somewhere but I am just not sure where it is. read more

See all

Surprisingly good train station. It's not overpacked like Penn Station and seems to have good fast food options like Subway and McDonalds. They also had some cool kiosks selling fresh and healthy meals like grilled chicken. Only one of the markets was open when we were there (it was Sunday) so not great shopping options but it was clean and well labeled. Amtrak could learn a thing or five about train station design and helpfulness. The Via Rail business class lounge is nice. Again way better than anything I've seen from Amtrak. Coffee and soft drink choices and a clean bathroom, plus several publications in English and French. We did have a really stern woman in there who policed the place. My kids had their legs over a chair (no shoes on it, just resting legs) and she snapped at them. It was remarkably hostile for such a minor offense. Perhaps the business lounge doesn't get a lot of kids. Or maybe they just want to discourage them. read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I was quite impressed with this train station. It's centrally located in downtown Montreal (10 mins drive from Old Montreal) and is very spacious with several restaurants and shops. My only complaint is the location of the bathrooms and the very small signage. The men's and women's bathrooms are on opposite sides of the building and I could barely see the signs. read more

This is a pretty easy station to navigate. It connects directly to the Bonaventure subway station and is part of the underground network in Montreal. Compared to Penn Station in NYC, this is very nice as it is very clean and has lots of amenities. It's not quite as nice as Grand Central because it isn't as grand, but there is a lot of interesting architectural detail if you look for it. I've walked through here dozens of times but have only taken a train once. Boarding was orderly and civilized with friendly people directing you where to go. I liked it! read more

See all

I just love the location of Gare Centrale! Nothing beat able to walk to my hotel which is less than 10 minute away after getting off the train. If not, the Metro is readily available if you need to travel to other area in the city. The waiting area has high ceilings and various Art Deco details makes waiting for my train a pleasant experience. There are also a few food and retail options right in the hall area. I can't wait to take VIA Rail back to this station for another weekend in Montreal soon! read more

See all

I love the Montreal Central Train Station. The station itself is big and nice looking. It has a Staples (aka Bureau en Gros) in case you need stationary, phone charger, cables, etc. It has a Bentley, in case you need new luggage. It has a convenience store and even a dollar store. It also has a McDonalds. It's attached to Les Halles de la Gare, which has so many food court options (although many don't open on the weekends). You can also access many of the major shopping malls from Central Station underground (excellent for those cold winter days). You can access Place Ville Marie, Eaton Centre, Complexe des Ailes, Promenades Cathedrale, Place Montreal Trust, and Les Cours Mont Royal. Yeah, lots of shopping! If you're staying at the Queen Elizabeth, you can get there from the train station without having to go outside. The Panorama Lounge (for VIA 1 customers) is great. It's fairly large and comfortable. The magazines are cool. They have non-alcoholic drinks. And sometimes they even have cookies! :) In addition to VIA Rail, this is also a train station for the commuter trains (AMT). I love taking the train and I love the Montreal train station. read more

Pretty much empty, most stores closed. Locked down for 28 days to bend the curve. read more

See all

VIA Rail from Montreal to Ottawa on Business Class was an exceptional experience. We discovered many places to purchase breakfast pastries, sandwiches and coffee. There are also many tables and chairs where you can eat and wait for your train. After asking questions to the VIA workers at our gate, we discovered we were entitled to hang out in the VIA Lounge (too bad we did t know earlier as we could have had our coffee there). When it was boarding time, we were escorted to the escalators (non-business class had to walk down stairs with their luggage) that took us to the platform. Once we began the ride in our reserved seats, we were given warm towels, fed lunch (similar to an airline meal), served beverages (including wine), served chocolates....what a way to travel! I love train travel! read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

OK. Small train station for a big city. Long lines on concourse waiting to go down for the train. Most people had to take stairs and a lady staff walked along the queue to determine who's eligible for escalator. Apparently our heavy carryons were not bulky enough for the eligibility. What? And, there's one escalator that reverses directions depending on arrival or departure. Yes, big city small station. No luggage storage because of bomb incident in 1984, but all you need is a screening machine to make sure the suitcases are safe to store. The male staff was adamant about no storage and sounded pessimistic. However a lady appeared from nowhere and suggested us to store luggage at queen elizabeth bell desk. It worked!!!! Thank you! Go up escalator opposite to the checked baggage area, turn left into the hotel. Bell desk across reception. (Rotterdam had a bomb explosion a few years ago. That didn't stop them for offering lockers for the convenience of tourists.) The only good side was the panini place at the corner. They make really good club panini. Hot and delicious! read more

First time taking the train on my own! High Five to me for being an adult! Not gonnna lie, I was a bit nervous. But everything is so clearly indicated that I didn't worry for long. I think it's very clean and well suited to handle people waiting for a train, passing by the underground tunnel, and eating. My train was at 6am so the only thing open was the Mcdonald's but it's great that they have something open 24/7! I will definitely be taking the train again on my next adventure! read more

If you're catching a train out of Montreal, congratulations, you've found the station! Easy to navigate, clean and with lots of great pre-travel restaurants, this is one of the nicer train stations I've been through. Getting there from the Bonaventure metro is a bit of a hassle, but just follow the signs and you'll be fine. read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

Very conveniently located in the Downtown of Montreal, the train station is easy to locate. My 2nd visit to the station for Amtrak departure while my 1st was with VIA Rail Canada. I liked the roomy hall where there are plenty of bakeries like Premiere Moison, coffee kiosks like Tim Horton's, sandwich chain like subway, fast food outlet like McDonald and a food hall. No one goes hungry prior to their train rides. The staff at Amtrak/VIA Rail Canada customer service counter has been very helpful and approachable when I asked if my print out boarding pass is good to go since its a reserved seat but free seating. The service is unhurried and pleasant. The hall is very clean and well organized with huge LCD screen right smack in the middle of the hall displaying the train information bright and clear. Plenty of seats around. I prefer the train platform at Gare Centrale Station. I have been having trouble carrying my luggage up the short staircase to the train but this is the only one I have seen so far that has a level ground that connects to the train (there's no step between the platform & the train entrance) . If u have a wheeled luggage, life is so much easier where u just pull it all the way to the cabin, no carrying is needed for ladies (the staff seldom help, gee) I love such a structure! I have used at least 4 different VIA Rail Canada stations and this is the most hassle free and carry-on friendly station. Perfect! read more

See all

The main train station in Montreal. I was here when I took the train to Quebec City. It was very clean (much cleaner than our NYC Penn Station and well organized. It is not a newer, shiny state of the art train station but is well maintained and full of decent number of shops. read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

I like to thank VIA rail for a great service yet Again on my way back.I missed my train Due to freeway traffic and the ticketing lady Was nice enough to reissue me a new pass For no charge . read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

There is something so nostalgic about taking the train, especially in Canada where so much of our history is bound up with the expansion of railway ties and the possibilities these tracks opened up across our huge spaces. In Montreal the Gare Central is a gorgeous, cavernous, partially underground space that is surprising to the first time visitor. You can access it from the Banque Nationale entrance on Rene-Levesque but this is not clearly indicated until you are already through the front door. Taxis come in through the entrance on De La Gauchetiere, and pedestrians can come in that way as well but it's a bit chaotic with all the cars and cabs. Once inside, the space is so lofty and enormous it's hard to imagine how it all fits under the stately old Queen Elizabeth hotel and bank tower. There is a fairly large food court that connects to the other underground malls and includes a nice mix of smaller cafes and larger chains (the obligatory Tim Hortons, and the slightly unexpected Bureau En Gros.) The large central area where passengers line up to board their trains is all brass and marble and neo-classical art like a good train station should be, and feels like a healthy mix of old timey travel and modern convenience. The real standout of the whole experience is the train staff. Everyone from the people at the ticket counters to the porters and conductors are friendly, bilingual, professional, chivalrous and dapper in their trim hats and flapping trench coats. The food on the train is maybe one small notch above most plane food, but the seats and aisles are much more spacious and the view of rolling farmlands, lakes and small towns is good for the heart, I'm sure of it. read more

As a frequent user of this train station back in '06 when I was living in QC I visited this station at least eight times that year. As a rushed traveller, I never took in the train stations' beauty. On on a recent visit to the 514, I spent sometime here. Gare Central is the Cadillac of train stations in Canada. This place is gorgeous. It's expansive and airy and a truly beautiful building. Take a moment from your commute to x place and take in how pretty the space is. Beyond that there are tons of places to eat - Montreal does food courts well and Gare Central is no exception - poutine, lots of ethnic options, Mickey D's and a few healthy choices as the station is connected to the underground. There are quite a few shops as well to keep you busy if you have some time to kill - notably a giant Bureau en Gros (Staples), SAQ (liquor store), Carleton Cards, Bentley and even a dollar store. Seating isn't great if you have a some time to kill so I recommend getting a beverage and a snack at Second Cup. Lots of place to sit, people watch and a killer vantage point of the train schedule. All aboard please. read more

The train can be a great way to travel and it certainly beats the bus by a long shot. When arriving or departing Montreal by train you will find yourself at Gare Centrale. The station is located right downtown and is part of the underground network. The closest metro station is Bonaventure and you can access it without ever stepping outside (which is definitely nice in winter) but it can be a little confusing so be on the lookout for the signs that point you in the right direction! The station itself feels large but it is easy to navigate. It also is quite clean and up to date unlike some train stations I have seen elsewhere which could have done with a facelift. There is a pretty sizeable food court with a variety of food options so you can grab a bite before heading on your journey. There is even a Bureau En Gros which is kind of random given that it is a train station but hey if you should need office supplies for your trip you know that you're covered! read more

On my way from Montreal to Halifax business class. I have to say the accommodations have been fantastic. The staff is super friendly. The food was included, and found it to be quite good. I''l say it's a step up from air plain food and one step down from a good resto in Montreal. I did enjoy that the dinner menu had wine pairing with your selection. The coffee was quiet good but personally I found it a bit weak. The rooms were well thought out. Don't expect queen size beds :) it's perfect for one person. The showers are impressive for a train. I did find pressing the shower button every 20seconds a little tiring but just time yourself, you don't want to be left with soap in your eyes. **They did not provide conditioner** For those that require bring your own. **There is no wifi in the rooms **The lounge with wifi HAS NO ELECTRICITY so charge your laptop, the loung is only 2 years old and they don't want it to be a hangout.. its just not practical. **Be careful when walking down the train it's narrow and the window frame can get you in the shoulder.. I'd recommend the train.. read more

Gare Centrale - Train Stations Near Me - Montreal, Quebec

See all

My experience at this station was neither here nor there. It's easier on the eyes than Penn Station's Amtrak platform, for sure. Here's my primary complaint: There are no signs on the street helping you find it!! Gare Centrale is under 2 blocks from either of two Metro stations. Not once from walking out the Square-Victoria Metro station were there any signs for which direction the building was in. We just exited the Metro and stumbled around... there are few people on the street to ask so early on a Sunday. Only when the building was directly behind (no big entrance, but a subtly marked door...) did I have any idea it was there. Montreal - put up some signs for this major transit hub, please! Your visitors will appreciate it. read more

I kind of wish Toronto's Union station was more similar to Gare Centrale in Montreal. Likes: -A lot more food vendors than Toronto's Union station. It had a nice, large food court with at least 20 stalls and seating aplenty. -It has real stores in it, like Staples and the Quebec version of Mac's convenience store (though the name escapes me right now). -when you come in from the entrance, it's very easy to see where the Via boarding lines are whereas at Union, you have to work your way through some confusing path as if you are in an airport. Dislike: -Minor for me, but could be significant for everyone else. When boarding the train, it is all steps and no ramps which could cause issues with heavy luggage. Overall, a very clean decent central station (hence the name I guess). :-) read more

The Gare Centrale is a nice train station. It has a great location for many hotels and restaurants in Montreal. It is also conveniently linked to the metro and bus system of the city. There is a blessed lack of general chaos here. The space doesn't feel suffocatingly crowded, and there are enough places to get a meal or coffee while waiting for your train. read more

Once again, a train station that makes New York Penn Station look like the disaster that it is... Gare Centrale is clean, easy to navigate and has ample parking. There are also a good amount of food stores and restaurants to choose from. This is key for travelers with layovers or unexpected train delays. Also worth noting, every sign and announcement in the train station is in French. Just something to keep in mind if you're from the U.S. The other great thing about the train is its central location in the city. You can walk here from various areas or arrive by taxi or public transportation. Not a whole lot to say here. This is just a great example of a train station that successfully does its job. Creates an easy environment for travelers to navigate, is clean, has good food options and creates an overall enjoyable experience for the upcoming trip that travelers are about to undertake. read more

Conveniently located, not far from old town or the base of the mountain or the main streets. But when arriving after 9 pm there were no other food options than McDonalds and Subway. read more

The main train station for Montreal trains going to surrounding cities and towns. We were here for a 6:30pm VIA train back to Toronto and everything in the station was pretty much closing or closed with the exception of McDonalds and Tim Hortons when we arrived there at 6pm. Needless to say, we were very disappointed and given the wide array of possible food options - a Richtree/Marche type restaurant, numerous bakeries, Mack, Italian restaurant, etc. The VIA portion of the station was easy to navigate and their service counter and staff was very helpful regarding platform changes. Station-wise, relatively easy to navigate with lots of maps and signage and there are plenty of benches/chairs if you're waiting for your train. read more

One of the best train stations I have ever been to. From the moment you step off the train, you feel welcomed by the Montreal workers. You then take an escalator up to the main level, and you are welcomed by a little old man with a french accent who says "welcome to Montreal". It really made our day, after spending 10 hours on a train. The station is a major hub not only to mass transit, but to other parts of Montreal's amazing underground city. Directly upstairs is the Fairmont Queens Elizabeth Hotel. I stayed at that hotel, so all I had to do was take an escalator upstairs from the train station and I was in the hotel's lobby. read more

I've been here a handful of times - once when I had a train ride from NYC and when I took a side trip up to Quebec City. Since I'm from a city that prides itself on using cars, it's refreshing and a bit nostalgic when I get to travel by trains and go to train stations. This train station is definitely much prettier than some of the stations I've visited along the east coast, and I like the availability of shopping options- including a drugstore, many food places (yay! Tony Horton's), and shops. I typically don't wait here very long, and the Via Rail service is pretty easy to use. If Montreal is part of your future travel plans, I'd try to get some rail travel in and use Via Rail. read more

Clean, will organized, in the middle of the city, secure, everything you need to have is Handy. The crew members are so friendly... Everything was ok read more

This is a nice train station, it is big and pretty airy in the main area has plenty of room for line-ups. There are a bunch of little restaurant stalls, a number of shops, an office supply, and it connects to the metro under-ground. They seem to be usually on time and the staff are okay at communicating any problems. Something I think is pretty awesome: the bathrooms are clean! It seems amazing considering the number of people that come and go on a daily basis. I wish there was wi-fi throughout the station and not just a small area...it can be inconvenient if you only have a few moments to spare but need to connect. read more

Taking the train is much more relaxing than travelling by plane these days. The train station itself has many nice shops nearby where you can pick up a quick bite and there is a lot of shopping conveniently located nearby. Add that to the central location and it's a convenient great travel option. read more

Hooray for Canada having some decent rail transit between Canadian cities. I really enjoyed taking this transportation. The cabins were clean and the wifi worked well. The staff were very pleasant and the train was right on time. Boarding was very easy and the station had quite a few coffee shops around to grab a quick breakfast before boarding. Overall I was very impressed with the easy navigation and great service from Via Rail. I wish more of Canada had quick trains between large Canadian cities! read more

I'm currently writing this review from the train itself..we've just gone through Belleville, ON station en route to Toronto from Montreal. This is my second time taking VIA roundtrip and really experiencing Canadian rail travel (with the exception of VIA's long distance trains to Vancouver and Halifax, haha)..I have to say that I am never not rather impressed by the comfort, level of service, and organization of this company as opposed to Amtrak which though I still love it, has a lot of improving to do and could take a few lessons from VIA Rail Canada. We're speeding at say maybe 95 mph down the "Corridor" towards Canada's largest city and I'm quite enjoying myself. The conductor/travel rep has been incredibly cheery and polite and has made the trip that much nicer, I've enjoyed a cup of tea and have decent room for my legs and computer bag. I didn't scramble for a place to put my little suitcase upon boarding in Montreal as the areas at the end of the coaches for baggage are quite a bit larger than those on Amtrak. The WiFi on board these trains is actual reliable and consistent unlike the rather pathetic form of it that they have on Amtrak. I believe that the router is actually ON BOARD the train on VIA like it is also ON BOARD the buses like Greyhound and Bolt Bus (USA only) unlike Amtrak which relies on service towers proximate to the tracks (how proximate, we don't know) which don't guarantee connectivity that would allow you to get work done or whatnot. Even if there isn't a router in each car on this train, it is still worlds better than Amtrak's and even those on the buses. Boarding staff in Montreal were very pleasant and helpful. They didn't have the "this is my job and get lost" attitudes that I am so used to..VIA rail cars are very clean which is something you don't always get with Amtrak. Mind you, this review is not meant to dis Amtrak, it's just that I am from the US and am a student in Montreal right now and Amtrak's Adirondack service from New York to Montreal is what I have to draw upon. Rail travel seems to be more of a priority in Canada than in the US. This won't be my last trip on VIA for sure. I love trains and taking the train and this is partially why. read more

I really like this train station. We took the train from Quebec city, stopped by Montreal, Ottawa, and then ended in Toronto. So I've seen 4 train stations in Eastern Canada, and this is one of the best ones. The location is great, and the station is very clean. It is only couple blocks away from Rue Catherine, a street full of shopping stores. Everything is well labeled so it is easy to get around and find the train. The trains are always on time so make sure you give yourself enough time to get to the train station. read more