Last week I had a trip from Toronto-Montreal-Quebec City and return. All four segments were in Business Class (the new term for VIA 1) and on Renaissance trains. Unlike the other trains used on this run, LRCs, there is a lounge car for Business Class passengers. It's not that great a lounge, but there is a wide-screen TV for those interested (live hockey games were shown this winter) and you can get an extra drink there after lunch or dinner.

On one of my four segments the meal was only all right, but on the other three I found them to be very good. They were far better than what AC serves in J Class domestic. There are three choices of main course at each meal. I admit AC's plates and cutlery are full-sized; I wish VIA would provide this instead of the small versions. Unlike AC, VIA serves dessert and a chocolate afterwards. If you ride the Toronto-Montreal or Montreal-Toronto semi-express trains at 5:00 p.m., the appetisers are plated from the trolley and there is a choice of desserts.

VIA has the menus on-line and I always choose my meal in advance. They can be viewed here, but the meals (other than special orders for religious or dietary meals) cannot be ordered on-line, only by phone or in person. VIA's Website is very busy at the moment due to the 60% discount sale.

http://www.viarail.ca/en/useful-info.../onboard-menus