Newbie here. Considering a trip on the Canada Via Rail from Toronto to Vancovuer. Any inside tips from anyone who has rode it such as the best time of year or which direction? Thanks!
huskyman Newbie here. Considering a trip on the Canada Via Rail from Toronto to Vancovuer. Any inside tips from anyone who has rode it such as the best time of year or which direction? Thanks!
Fred Frailey's blog has an article entitled The Canadian is a Farce or words to that effect. It is worth reading. It is not very encouraging for someone planning to ride it, so I would seek out other views as well.
Sam1 Fred Frailey's blog has an article entitled The Canadian is a Farce or words to that effect. It is worth reading. It is not very encouraging for someone planning to ride it, so I would seek out other views as well.
I recall back in my career when a Officers Inspection trip got similar handling over a particular territory account severe line congestion on a Friday.....Come Monday a new operating plan was placed in effect.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Best time of year from a price standpoint is now.. best time of year from an enjoyment standpoint is summer. I've done this trip numerous times some years ago when I was poor, and all I could afford was what they at the time called dayniter (basically coach with a bit more legroom). If I were to go today I'd book a private roomette for sure... I'm no longer so tolerant of others, and believe me, on a trip like this you need to be tolerant of people who don't wash. Also, as I recall, dining accomodations were a tad cramped... it makes a difference in the morning when you may want that buffer zone between yourself and your fellow sweaty traveller.. Maybe times have changed... overall I've always enjoyed my trips.
I rode this train in Januar, and had a great time. Via's discount fare for a room for two ended up cheaper than the original fare quoted for a room for 1! Either way, I found myself in the Park Car most of the day anyway.
VIA allows one stopover at no extra charge; I stopped in Jasper for three days. Great place to relax.
Yes, expect delays. if you are returning by air, don't try and make a same day connection, you will only stress yourself out.
You will read online some varying comments about the train. I guess it depends how persnickety you are; one lady posted how horrified she was that the creme brûlée was served without having a caramelized crust. I mean really? The fellow passengers and crew on my trip were great. I heard no complaints about anything.
This train is a time capsule. I'm 52 years old, and never had the chance to ride the great streamliners like 20th Century LTD, Super Chief, etc. The Canadian is the last of its kind buy a ticket and it's yours to enjoy!
I have ridden Amtrak many routes, and it does not compare. Even when Amtrak was using Budd cars like what the Canadian uses, they were old, tired, and grimy. Our train sparkled inside and out.
It was a great train when we rode it. All Budd, had a bedroom in the park car. Great service and food. Like the comment before a real time step back in time.
Thanks for the info. Here's another question-does Amtrak uses Superliners to the east coast e.g. Cleveland to N.Y. etc or are they used only Chicago and west?
huskyman Thanks for the info. Here's another question-does Amtrak uses Superliners to the east coast e.g. Cleveland to N.Y. etc or are they used only Chicago and west?
Amtrak uses Superliners on the Capitol Ltd between Chicago and Washington and on the Auto-Train. Clearance limitations preclude their use on other eastern routes.
Superliners are also used on the City of New Orleans.Its schedule and that of the Texas Eagle are such that the equipment that comes into Chicago on #22 goes out on #59, and the equipment that comes in on #58 goes out on #21--usually.
Johnny
I'm assuming that consist is when VIA was considering buying Superliners.
Yes, this was during the test period. They were looking at replacing essentially their entire fleet at that time with a combination of LRC's on short routes and corridors (they were to be used on prairie routes as well as down east) and F40's/Superliners on long-distance trains. This would have led to the demise of all the classic Budd equipment. For better or worse VIA's limited budget (and subsequent cuts) did not allow for all these purchases so only the F40's and a smaller number of LRC's were bought, and the ex-CP Budds live on today.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I too am planning a trip on VIA Rail's Canadian in May, roundtrip from Toronto. I had first planned this for 2010 but waited until the refurbishing of the sleeper equipment was completed. I checked back last fall and found they have added a new "Prestige Sleeper Class". For a trip this long you will want one of the sleeper classes with the Prestige class being the top class. Passenger train travel is not about getting somewhere it is about the journey itself. With Prestige class you have your own cabin with a steward, double bed, flatscreen TV, refrigerator, and a larger window. All food and drinks (including alcholic drinks and wine) are included.
As a youngster I traveled by rail many times before Amtrak. I will never forget meeting Larry Fine (of the 3 Stooges) on the City of Los Angeles in 1968 in one of the Dome cars having breakfast. I have traveled several times on Amtrak and was disappointed by 1) surly employees, 2) food on styrofoam plates with plastic glasses, plastic utensils and paper placemats, 3) dirty windows, sleepers that needed maintenance, on two on my trips the beds squeaked terribly and when I asked what could be done I was basically told on both occasions to "live with it".
The biggest attraction for me is NO WI FI (except in some of the stations along the way). I picked early spring this trip because the chances of good weather in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island will be best during the time in May when we will be there. Summer of course will be the most heavily traveled time and advance reservations (especially for sleepers) is a must. Fall would be a good time and so would winter. If this trip is as good as I hope it will be I will be planning return trips during the fall and another during the winter.
As to the direction of the trip I will be able to tell you more first hand in 2-1/2 months but I have heard the trip from west to east is the best. Traveling in the summer has the added advantage of more daylight and thus more to see. I am also told that the windows on the train cars are washed at each station. That would be a BIG plus over Amtrak where the windows look like they have not been cleaned in years.
Andrew, I would agree with you completely. I LOVED the trip we took last December. The equipment was well maintained, the food was excellent and the staff was wonderful. Because I'm a rail fan (why else would I take the train), the delays were fine. I watched more intermodal traffic than I have in some time. Spent lots of time in the Park car, but the cabin for two was comfortable and a great place to sleep. While CN is having track issues, the trip might not be as wonderful, but once that is cleared up, you just can't beat it.
Well we had planned a trip in May but after several conversations with VIA Rail reservations we pushed the trip back two month to July. They were "confident" that everything would be running normally but things could slip back. Since out trip was for the second week and forth week in May we had to change so that we could change the rest of our reservations on the trip.
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