Via Rail: youth passes sold out after high demand interrupts sales

TORONTO — Via Rail said early Thursday that all available $150 youth passes for unlimited travel across Canada in July had been sold out after the sales were derailed on Wednesday due to high demand on its website.

The Canada 150 Youth Pass — intended to coincide with celebrations marking the country’s sesquicentennial — went on sale Tuesday. The company said, however, that sales were temporarily suspended “due to high demand” and technical difficulties with its online booking engine.

But Via Rail pushed out a tweet at about 3:30 a.m. ET Thursday morning saying all available of the passes had been sold.

“Bon voyage! All the Canada 150 Youth Passes have been sold. 1,867 young travellers will discover Canada this summer,” read the tweet.

An earlier tweet said sales were being capped at 1,867 — which corresponds to Canada’s confederation — “otherwise there won’t be enough seats for all come July.”

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The pass is for young people between the ages of 12 and 25. But students who are 26 and older with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) could also purchase it.

In the promotion announced in February, pass holders can travel coast to coast in economy class but must book using the Escape fare category, which is subject to seat availability.

The Canadian Press