Both VIA and Amtrak offer a variety of discounts for all types of travellers including (but not limited to) the discounts indicated below:
VIA Rail Canada:
VIA offers discounted travel for students, children, seniors & groups, For more information see their web page at: https://www.viarail.ca/en/offers/deals-discounts
VIA now also offers 10% off best available fare on VIA Rail Canada trains across Canada to passengers who are members of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), for more information see NARP’s web page at:
http://www.narprail.org/site/assets/files/1019/july_2015_newsletter_final.pdf
VIA periodically offers Express Deals of up to 50% off or more on long-distance trips. For more information see their web page at:
https://www.viarail.ca/en/offers/sleeper-plus-class-deals/all
VIA also offers low-priced fares on intercity routes. For more information see their web page at:
https://www.viarail.ca/en/fares-and-packages/our-lowest-fares
VIA offers the Canrailpass for discounted economy travel across Canada. For more information see their web page at: https://web.archive.org/web/20130304094012/http://www.viarail.ca/en/fares-and-packages/rail-passes/canrailpass-system
For further information on these or other discounts offered by VIA, contact VIA at: http://www.viarail.ca
Amtrak:
Amtrak offers discounted travel for students, children, seniors, AAA members, military personnel, & groups. For more information see their web page at:
http://www.amtrak.com/discount-train-fares-for-kids-seniors-military-students-and-more
Amtrak also offers a 10% discount on most Amtrak rail fares to passengers who are members of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), for more information see NARP’s web page at:
http://www.amtrak.com/narp-members-discount
Amtrak also offers low-priced Smartfares on routes across the country. For more information see their web page at:
https://www.amtrak.com/savings-made-simple-amtrak-saver-fares
Amtrak offers the USA Rail Pass for discounted economy travel across the U.S. For more information see their web page at:
http://www.amtrak.com/take-the-trains-across-america-with-usa-rail-pass
For further information on these or other discounts offered by Amtrak, contact Amtrak at: http://www.amtrak.com
To give an idea of how affordable train travel can be, the following sample fares are provided below:
VIA Rail Canada:
As of November 2013, one can travel from Toronto, ON to Montreal, QC for $39.00 CDN with VIA’s escape fares.
As of March 2013, Canrailpasses offering discounted economy travel across Canada on VIA Rail start at $630.00 CDN.
As of March 2013, a VIA express deal would allow 2 people to travel from Toronto, ON to Vancouver, BC in berth sleeping accommodations with all meals included for $1341.99 CDN.
As of November, 2013, 2 people could travel on VIA round trip from Montreal, QC to Halifax, NS in bedroom accommodations for $1,046.28 CDN with the 50% discount in sleeper class.
Amtrak:
As of November 2013, one can travel from Syracuse, NY to Niagara Falls, NY for $21.00 US with Amtrak’s Smartfares.
As of March 2013, USA rail passes offering discounted economy travel across the U.S. on Amtrak start at $439.00 US.
As of March 2013, with the AAA discount 2 people could travel on Amtrak round trip from Buffalo, NY to Emeryville, CA (San Francisco Bay Area) for $1,828.80 US in roomette sleeping accommodations with all meals included.
As of November 2013, with the NARP discount 2 people could travel on Amtrak round trip from Buffalo, NY to Orlando, FL for $1,232.40 US in coach from Buffalo to New York then roomette sleeping accommodations with meals included for the overnight trip to Orlando.
More sample fares:
Some more sample fares for Amtrak can be found at the following link:
(source: timetables.org, copyright: Amtrak)
http://www.timetables.org/full.php?group=20080512&item=0119