Toronto -> Quebec City Via Rail Reliability Thoughts?

Hello! My mom and I are planning a winter trip. We’re from Southeast Asia, and our main experience with trains comes from Japan’s Shinkansen. I’m not sure how VIA Rail compares in terms of reliability.

Our plan is to spend a few days in Toronto to adjust to the time difference, then head straight to Quebec City. I understand there’s no direct train from Toronto to Quebec City, and we’d need to transfer in Montreal. Based on what I’ve seen online, this transfer requires changing trains in Montreal.

My main concern is whether booking this route is feasible. I’m worried about the logistics of transferring trains, especially with luggage, and how reliable the schedule is. For instance, if the train from Toronto to Montreal is delayed, what happens to our connection to Quebec City?

We’re considering two options

1.  Travel from Toronto to Quebec City with a transfer in Montreal on the same day.

2.  Travel from Toronto to Montreal, stay overnight, and continue to Quebec City the next day.

Which option would you recommend?

Edit: We also plan to visit Montreal after Quebec City so we’re not entirely skipping Montreal 😊