Via Rail sells exactly 1,867 all-you-can-travel youth passes, calls it a day despite high demand

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      After only three days of sales, Via Rail’s Canada 150 Youth Pass is officially sold out.

      The $150 train pass, which offered Canadians between the ages of 12 and 25 unlimited travel throughout Canada for the month of July in celebration of the nation's sesquicentennial year, was released on Via Rail’s website on Monday (March 27).

      On Wednesday morning (March 29), the company “temporarily suspended” sales due to high traffic experienced on the website. The passes were made available again in the afternoon, but were sold out around midnight—after a mere 1,867 were claimed.

       

      Needless to say, people are not happy. And that doesn’t include the over-25ers who were already pissed that the deal didn’t include them.

       

      Some are calling out Via Rail for previously stating that the passes aren't available in "limited quantities" and then going back on its word.

       

      (For the record, Via Rail claims it decided to limit the passes due to high demand and a finite number of train seats.)

       

      Others are pointing out Via Rail's questionable marketing and math.

       

      One keen Twitter user posits the oddly specific 1,867 represents the year of Canadian Confederation.

       

      Via Rail has yet to confirm or deny the speculation. But one thing is for sure: ya dun goof'd, Via.

      Update: Despite tweeting that 1,867 passes were sold, a news release shared on Via Rail's website today (March 30) states that "more than 4,000" Canada 150 Youth Passes were sold in less than 36 hours.

      "Initially, VIA Rail had planned to sell 1867 passes to coincide with Canada’s birth year," the company wrote, "however, because of the great interest in the product, coupled with the unfortunate inconvenience caused by the crash and wait times, the sale of the Canada 150 passes was extended until 3 A.M this morning."

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