TAKING THE TRAIN IN CANADA - All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide - page 231

Special Needs
There are provisions on all VIA Rail trains to accommodate pas-
sengers in wheelchairs or who may have some other special needs.
VIA Rail's only requirement—and it's a reasonable one—is that a
passenger who will need special care during the journey (feeding,
bathing, medication, or anything else) must travel with an escort
to perform these services. The good news is that VIA will permit
the escort to travel at no charge—an enlightened policy, don't
you agree?
What About Pets?
VIA is a bit more flexible than Amtrak, but only seeing-eye and
other service dogs are permitted to actually ride with their own-
ers. Other pets, limited to “cats, dogs, and small rodents,” must
ride in the baggage car and, of course, in an appropriate carrier.
Be aware that you, not the VIA people, are responsible for look-
ing after them. When that means a trip to the baggage car, a VIA
employee will have to accompany you. You must inform VIA
at least 24 hours in advance if a pet will be traveling with you,
and you must be at the station with Fido at least an hour before
departure.
Compliments and Complaints
If you run into problems and can't get things straightened out
on the spot, by all means pursue the matter later with an e-mail
or a letter. Be brief, be unemotional, and be polite. E-mail
[e-mail] or write to Customer Relations,
VIA Rail Canada Inc., P.O. Box 8116, Station A, Montreal, Que-
bec H3C 3N3. In a real emergency, you can call 1-800-681-2561
from either the United States or Canada. And if you get some