Aelric Novandar VIA Rail offers eligible members of the Canadian military community a 25% discount on the best available fares. The offer is available to qualifying Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, National Defence civilian personnel, veterans, and their immediate family members.
The discount applies throughout the year on VIA Rail trains and in most service classes, including Economy, Business, and sleeper services. Prestige Class is excluded. Eligible passengers can use code 12070 when booking online or mention it to a VIA Rail agent at a station.
Information About the VIA Rail Military Discount
- Discount: 25% off the best available fares, per VIA’s offer page.
- Open to: CF One members, National Defence civilian personnel, veterans, and immediate families.
- Start: VIA announced it in November 2010 as a year-round offer.
- Where to book: Tickets for a military discount via rail trip are sold on viarail.ca, by phone at 1 888 842-7245, and at station counters.
The discount is subject to the conditions of the underlying fare and cannot be combined with Express Deals. Passengers should confirm current terms on viarail.ca before booking.
Who Is Eligible for the VIA Rail Military Discount?
VIA’s offer page names these groups:
- CF One members
- National Defence civilian personnel
- Veterans
- Immediate families
Under VIA’s 2010 announcement, up to five additional family members could receive the discount when travelling with the qualifying member or veteran, on the same trains, dates, and classes of service. The current offer page does not repeat this rule, so passengers should confirm it with VIA.
How to Apply the Military Discount on VIA Rail
VIA Rail provides an online booking process and allows passengers to request the discount at station ticket offices.
- Read VIA’s Canadian military discount page on viarail.ca to confirm eligibility.
- Gather one qualifying document and one photo ID. VIA’s 2010 notice said proper identification is required.
- For an online booking, search the trip on viarail.ca, select the discount type for the offer, and enter code 12070 in the discount code field. The fare adjusts automatically if the trip meets the fare plan’s conditions.
- For a phone or station booking, ask for the military discount before the agent books the trip. The C&E Association’s summary of the offer gives this rule.
- Check that the 25% reduction appears in the fare summary before paying.
- Carry the same ID on the day of travel.
Documents Listed by Canadian Forces Sites
The C&E Association lists these documents as qualifying proof, plus one more photo ID:
- CAF Identification Card (NDI 20)
- Record of Service Card (NDI 75)
- Veterans Affairs Canada Benefit Card
- Discharge Certificate or Statement of Service from any CAF branch
- Certificate of Service (CF 54 or CF 75)
- Valid DND Temporary ID card (NDI 10)
- CF One card
The civilian employees show their DND ID card and CF One card. Neither these documents nor the Canadian military via rail discount code appear on VIA’s offer page, so passengers should check with VIA before travel.
VIA Rail Military Discount Code
The C&E Association, which cites VIA’s offer, gives the military discount code via rail as 12070. A Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services page for a 2025 summer promotion used 12070 as well.
For online bookings, the code should be added automatically. If it is missing, passengers can select the discount-code field and enter 12070 manually.
For station bookings, passengers should mention the code to the ticket agent and present their identification.
The code is associated with VIA Rail’s standing 25% military discount. It should not be confused with temporary promotional codes or other military travel offers.
Restrictions and Limitations of the VIA Rail Military Discount
Although the 25% military discount is available throughout the year, some conditions apply.
- VIA’s page says the discount applies to the best available fares. The C&E Association’s summary specifies adult, senior, student, youth, and child fares.
- Only the listed groups qualify; passengers must be 18 or older, and ID is required.
- Family members must travel with the qualifying member on the same trains, dates, and classes of service, per VIA’s 2010 rule.
- Exchange and refund conditions depend on the fare type. A member’s ticket is refunded or exchanged only if the companion tickets issued with it are processed at the same time.
- Terms can change, including those for a military discount via rail fare. Passengers should read the offer on viarail.ca before booking.
The Canadian military discount via rail is a standing 25% reduction on the best available fare for CF One members, National Defence civilian personnel, veterans, and immediate families. Passengers can enter code 12070 when booking online or ask a VIA Rail agent to apply the discount at a station or by phone. They should carry the required identification and confirm the fare conditions before paying.
Frequently Asked Question
Yes, VIA takes 25% off the best available fare for CF One members, National Defence civilian personnel, veterans, and their immediate families. VIA has offered it since 2010.
The code listed for the discount is 12070. It comes from the C&E Association’s summary of VIA’s offer, and an earlier version of VIA’s page told bookers to select “Corporate Rate” and enter it. The current page may not list it, so passengers whose code is rejected should ask a VIA agent to apply the discount.
Immediate families are covered. Under VIA’s 2010 terms, up to five additional family members could travel with a qualifying member or veteran on the same trains, dates, and classes of service. Passengers should confirm with VIA that this rule still applies.
Canadian Forces sites name one qualifying document, such as a CAF ID card, Record of Service Card, Veterans Affairs Canada Benefit Card, or CF One card, plus a photo ID. Passengers must be 18 or older. The same ID should be carried on the day of travel.
No, the offer cannot be combined with Express Deals. For any other offer, passengers should confirm with VIA at booking.
Tickets are sold on viarail.ca, by phone at 1 888 842-7245, and at station counters. For phone and station bookings, passengers should ask for the military discount before the agent books the trip.
Yes, VIA announced it in 2010 as a standing, year-round offer, and the sources reviewed list no end date. Terms can change, so passengers should check viarail.ca before booking.
At launch, VIA said the offer covered all classes of service, including Economy, Business, and sleeper, and the C&E Association’s summary says all classes and all trains. It applies to the best available fare and cannot be combined with Express Deals.
