My wife and I are thinking of taking a rail tour. Has anyone done this? We are looking to tour western Canada.
This is probably the wrong forum, but I thought I would start here.
Doug
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consider http://www.rockymountaineer.com/en_CA/
can be boarded from Vancouver (airport access or Amtrak)
Hi Doug,
The Rocky Mountaineer:
http://www.rockymountaineer.co...CFUrWKgodEj1rpA&
is a special train that goes through the Rockies, there are a number of tours so check the website. This train goes on the original CPR line through the spiral tunnels and Rogers pass. I think the trips start in Calgary and Vancouver. You can also take the regularly scheduled VIA train from anywhere in Canada to Vancouver; the through train starts in Toronto or Vancouver but you can pick it up anywhere; the Calgary-Vancouver route is the most scenic but VIA Rail doesn't follow the original CPR route, only the Rocky Mountaineer. Depends on how much time (& money) you have. I took the Vancouver-Calgary train many years ago when Canadian Pacific was still running passenger service, quite spectacular. Google VIA Rail as well.
hope this helps,
Mike
Google Canada Rail Tours to get all kinds of leads. I haven't done this, but have talked to folks who have. They all thought highly of it. It's one of the things on my bucket list. Calgary to Vancouver.
These can be very expensive, like minimum 5-6 grand for two, and depending on the train, route, no. of days, and class, it can go significantly higher. Plus, of course, you have to get there to catch the train, and then get home again.
Doug, if you are thinking of VIA Rail's "Canadian", Toronto to Vancouver, I can only say that the two trips I've been on with my wife have been great! We got off in Jasper both times, so I don't know what it's like all the way into Vancouver. Spent most of my time in the dome cars, except for mealtimes. Two nights on the train is fun, and the meals were also great. We went once in early spring (9 cars, 2 engines), and over Thanksgiving (23 cars, 3 engines). Sitting in the dome at night in snowy countryside, watching the headlight rounding curves and snow kicked up by the cars - outstanding. And the Rockies, wow! We would get off in Jasper for a couple of days sightseeing (Athabasca Falls, Columbia Glacier, Jasper Lodge), then catch the return to Toronto. Our trips were in 2004 & 2006, and VIA has changed the schedules a bit, and I think some of the accomodations, too, but it should still be fun.
Gary F.
Echo here. The greatest. greatly enjoyed the trips. Look into it, planning the trip will get the most out of it.
ralph
For booking any rail trip in Canada and the best place for information on train travel in Canada call the tours department at the West Coast Railway Association. The largest Railway museum in Western Canada, any profits from the tours department goes into the museum. And when in town it is near Vancouver visit the museum home of the Royal Hudson Steam engine! They also run some special tours as well!
From best for scenery and service to price this is my recomendations for Canadian Rail travel ridden it all many times, guided rail tours, and chased trains a lot for photos!;
#1 Canadian Pacific Steam train! They run the steam train on various tours each year. The new schedule for 2012 comes out in May, visit the website for more information;
http://www.cpr.ca/en/in-your-c...s/Pages/default.aspx
They have had trips where you buy sections of the trip they run on the CP line from Vancouver to Calgary on the main line but also trips south to the Crowsnest pass and to Lethbridge then back to Calgary both routes through the Rockies are very scenic. There is basic coach class comfortable wide seats run in daylight you stay at local hotels booked on your own.
There have been full tours with all the hotels and food but not for a couple of years.
They also run other trips sometimes in other parts of Canada and around Alberta mostly flat here. Watch for trips in May. Cheap tickets for a day behind steam!
#2 Rocky Mountaineer has 4 main routes and run all by daylight 3 are long 2 day trips other is a day trip as follows;
#1 if in Vancouver ride the trip from Vancouver to Whistler and return spend a day in Whistler to experience the best! Can overnight and take train back next day. Between June 14 and Aug 25 I think it is ride the Goldleaf Dome car, they pick you up on bus at your hotel take you to the train station in North Vancouver and you ride the BC Rail line up to Whistler very scenic trip. At Whistler you can take mountain top gondola ride or the peak to peak really high gondola between the 2 mountains.
http://www.rockymountaineer.co...ler_route/sea_to_sky
#2 Next must ride on Rocky most scenic route is from Vancouver to Banff and Calgary on CP tracks!
http://www.rockymountaineer.co..._passage_to_the_west
You must do the Goldleaf Service it is the best great meals and you are higher in the dome so can see much better over the trees then if you ride in coach class!
They also have the lower level Silverleaf coach with bigger windows and Redleaf basic coach class. But if you are coming to do the trip take the Goldleaf best!
Very scenic Route through the Fraser and Thompson Canyon from Vancouver and then 2nd day through several mountain ranges past lakes and rushing rivers.
Get off in Banff and spend a day or 2 in the Rockies check out the Lake Louise station restaurant!! in the old CP train station.
You can take a day tour by bus up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper.
through the heart of the Rockies!
From Jasper you can catch the VIA Canadian train west overnight to Vancouver or east to Winnipeg or Toronto with connections to us.
Or 2 different Rocky Mountaineer routes one runs back to Kamloops along the Thompson River on the CN TRacks then you follow your route back to Vancouver same way you came up to Banff the other that is more interesting runs to Prince George on CN tracks then BC Rail tracks to Quesnel overnight and Whistler next day following along the Fraser River. very scenic Redleaf coach is OK here as you still have good view trees not as tall/big, more of an open route. Then you can spend a day or 2 in Whistler and take train back to VAncouver!
I do not recommend the VIA train between Vancouver and Jasper as it does the most scenic part at night! But you can get the VIA Canadian east to Winnipeg and Toronto from Jasper! They have a seat sale on right now discounts to up to 50% book by April 17!!!
If going across Canada the sleeper class is excellent bedrooms are great for a couple with very good meals and dome cars are great on this train. May though Oct is most expensive season.
Another route from Jasper that is really nice is to take the VIA Skeena Train
http://www.viarail.ca/en/train...jasper-prince-rupert
This runs to the coast overnight in Prince George cheaper then Rocky covers same route on CN line to Prince George then next day to Prince Rupert. From here you can get Alaska ferrys north to Skagway and ride the White Pass railway, several trips; Steam trip or the Lake Bennett trips are excellent!
http://www.wpyr.com/frasermeadows.html
Also from Prince Rupert you can take the Ferry back to Vancouver Island then bus or car rental to Victoria! www.bcferries.com
It is an all day ferry you can get a cabin on board and great buffet meals very scenic trip.
Note to Connect to Vancouver, cheapest to take flights or Amtrak train to Seattle and there are 2 daily round trip trains from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. Same station VIA leaves from and near Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver Station!
There you have a few routes to look at depending on how rich you are and how much time you have!
This is out of date but has some pics and info on the routes;
And this map shows most of the routes in British Columbia;
Thanks for your input!
Doug
http://www.royalcanadianpacific.com/
This one I forgot!
If you want the very very very best in train travel and all the highlights along the way this is luxury just look at the photos!
The Rockies experience is the best combination of Scenery all through the Rockies.
Of the other trips for a round trip I would choose the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff, Icefields Parkway bus tour to Jasper then VIA Skeena to Prince Rupert and BC Ferry to Vancouver Island, bus tour to Victoria. There is a boat from Victoria to Seattle;
