VIA Rail Is Making Masks Mandatory & There Are Actually A Lot Of Trips You Can Take

All aboard, with a mask of course. The new VIA Rail masks policy makes them mandatory to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as things get back up and running. There are actually a lot of trains on the move that you can take a trip on now.

Starting on June 23, all VIA Rail passengers will have to wear a face mask when physical distancing can't be maintained. 

That includes on the trains and in stations.

With the new policy, you'll have to wear a mask if you can't keep a two-metre distance between you and others in the station and when boarding.

They will also be mandatory at all times during the trip except for when you're eating or drinking.

While everyone is asked to bring their own face covering if you don't have one when boarding, VIA Rail will have a small number of disposable ones available.

All employees with customer-facing jobs will also be mandated to wear masks.

Canada's national rail service sees this as a necessary step to keep everyone safe as the economy reopens and ridership increases.

The new policy is in line with guidelines from Transport Canada about masks on planes, trains and other forms of transportation.

Since restrictions are easing and some normal activities have been allowed to resume, VIA Rail has started to operate some of its routes again.

On June 3, service resumed in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba.

Routes including Quebec City-Montreal-Ottawa, Toronto- London-Windsor, Winnipeg-Churchill and Senneterre & Jonquière have trains running.

The Ocean route between Montreal and Halifax and The Canadian route between Toronto and Vancouver are cancelled until November 1.

Service on the Prince Rupert-Prince George-Jasper line is expected to resume sometime in July.

If you book a trip but want to cancel, VIA Rail has extended its cancellation policy to include all travel until November 1.

That allows you to cancel a trip online and get a full refund.

For air travel, Canada is introducing temperature checks for all passengers at airports.