Anyone with any experience traveling across Canada via train?

[Frwinkley]

I also posted this on the Canadian board.

The Canadian Rockies were one of our most favorite trips ever. We are now considering exploring more of Canada (or even the same parts) via rail.

Anyone with any experience?

 

[ronandannette]

Train travel is not super-common for Canadians because we don't have a well-developed system and routes are quite limited. It's more of a planned tourist thing or a once-in-a-lifetime journey. It's also not an economical choice for conveyance but the exchange rates are advantageous for you. I personally don't know anyone who's done it but here's a good place to start:
https://canadiantrainvacations.com/

If you have the time, this route might be what you're looking for:
https://canadiantrainvacations.com/trips/train-across-canada
Or if you really want to do it right...
https://canadiantrainvacations.com/trips/coast-to-coast-by-rail

 

[maddiel]

I'd have to agree with ronandannette that train travel in Canada is not great. I'm in the Maritimes and on this end of the country it is very limited. I often took the train as a teenager/university student but although I looked into it, it was never a viable option for travel home when my daughter was more recently a student in Ontario.

On this end of the country, the train tracks go through a lot of forest and you miss most of the amazing coastal scenery. Taking the train through the Rockies has always been a bucket list item for me though.

 

[irlandaise]

"canadiantrainvacations" appears to be an independent site. I recommend going directly to the official VIA Rail website:

https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains

VIA is essentially the official railroad of Canada (it's a crown corporation). You can take it clear across the country plus up and down (from sea to sea to sea, as they say [Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic]).

I once took VIA Rail from Prince Rupert, BC to Jasper, AB, and then back to BC to Vancouver. I had my own room and the trip was very nice.

 

[SteveMouse]

I've taken Via between Vancouver and Jasper. It's a lovely run. I've taken Amtrak from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale, the long way 'round and a few years later picked up LA to San Fran (to Seattle) a first/second time.

I would gladly to it again!