VIA Rail “The Canadian” | (Part 1/2: Toronto - Vancouver)
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- Опубликовано: 25 фев 2023
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PART 2 is NOW LIVE! • Canada's LONGEST rail ...
Here you go - here's Part 1 of 2 of my epic, FOUR DAY trip from Toronto to Vancouver on VIA Rail's Train 1, the Canadian. This is one of the world's greatest train journeys and is an essential bucket list item for any self-respecting rail enthusiast. Who knows how long the original Budd 1955 rail streamliner cars will continue in service? I am absolutely delighted I got to experience a train so classic it was listed as a historic experience back in my 1980s rail annuals I read as a young boy. There is SO MUCH MORE to come in Part 2, including the unbelievably perfect Rocky Mountain scenery as well as more details about the logistics of travelling on The Canadian.
The pandemic taught me to do things while you can - just like all the British Airways 747s disappearing overnight, the Canadian now - as of 2023 - has killjoy buffer cars behind its iconic bullet lounge. Boy, am I glad to have done this in the summer of '22 - memories to last a lifetime!
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Here you go - here's Part 1 of 2 of my epic, FOUR DAY trip from Toronto to Vancouver on VIA Rail's Train 1, the Canadian. This is one of the world's greatest train journeys and is an essential bucket list item for any self-respecting rail enthusiast. Who knows how long the original Budd 1955 rail streamliner cars will continue in service?
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When is Part 2 coming out?? desperately waiting to see those views from the train!
We did this trip in 2016 with a stopover in Jasper. Was a fabulous journey !
Bucket list item. Love, love, love trains and this one looks fabulous!
Have always wanted to do the Canadian, but good god if you think Amtrak rooms are expensive, just wait till you check Via prices. 🙃
I got across for about $C800 each on discounts offered. Sign up!
Check Rocky Mountaineer prices for a shorter trip. Premium/nice but super pricey
I got a cabin for 1 from Edmonton to Toronto for $980. I paid $360 for the return flight home in cattle class with no meals so the train is definitely better value for dollars spent.
I just did this trip at the end of August 2022, amazing experience, took #2 in that cheaper bed and couch deal. Still get all the food and drinks as other sleeper passengers
Hi Paul,
By far your best yet, however I am biased. I worked for VIA rail during a "gap" year at university in 1985/86. Based in Toronto I'd be an "extra" to cover on all VIA's routes, including as a waiter in the dining car between Toronto and Winnipeg. Back then VIA used CP rail's tracks that hugged the north shore of Lake Superior between Sudbury and Winnipeg. Breathtaking!
After my work stint was done at VIA, I dreamt of taking The Canadian all the way from Toronto to Vancouver as a guest some day. I did exactly that in autumn of 2002. The same roomette and route that you took, also as a solo traveller. I'm so happy there's still no wifi on board. Back then it really didn't exist but even still everyone kept their mobile phones off and just enjoyed the scenery and making new friends. I've travelled the world and so far taking The Canadian was the most relaxing and tranquil travel experience I've ever enjoyed. I'm thrilled you got to enjoy it as well, and as a Canadian I am humbled you selected it as your top travel experience of 2022.
I'm looking forward to part 2 of your journey, and to all your future vlogs. I hope to cross paths with you some day in some far off corner of our planet.
I have done it in July, 2017 from Toronto to Vancouver, and it was awesome!
I’m taking the Canadian from Edmonton to Vancouver in June for my birthday! Can’t wait to see the second part of this!
I commuted for years through Union Station and I never got tired of seeing the great hall.
This is something I would absolutely love to try out one day, as a Toronto native.
I did this trip as a commuter trip for the better part of four years and loved it every time I used it to get to work in Vancouver
Obviously, the opposing train was wondering if you had any Grey Poupon.
It was likely mail heading south from Northern Ontario
I just love these very long-distance trains of North-America! Can’t wait for part 2!
one of the best train rides, did this in january 2002, cold, but warm on the train, got to see snow and beautiful scenery, everyone should take this, via rail the food is excellent.
These Vids reignited my love of traveling to the west coast .I have driven and flown there many times but this trip looks spectacular so much so that I have booked this EXACT trip for April ! Thank You for giving me the travel bug once again !
I am 75 and will be taking this trip alone in November 2024. I am disabled so I opted for Prestige Class, I can't wait.
Wow! So close to home! My cottage is just north of parry sound. There used to be a lodge resort across the bay of my lake, and I remember sitting on my dock and watching visitors arrive in seaplanes not 200feet from me
Ah, memories... I did the trip in the other direction when I was young, only in economy, no sleeper. Those days are gone, but it really does show how huge Canada is and how sparsely populated it is. Days and days of nothing but nature, with the occasional small town or cow here or there. It seems even larger because the landscape changes only a few times: forests and lakes in Ontario, flat farmland in the prairies, then stunning mountains over the Rockies and into B.C. I also love how, well, Canadian the trip is -- from the beautiful train that is so very clean and well maintained but that just stops because, well, CN owns the tracks, what can you do about it, to the staff that are helpful and friendly but professional, lots of folksy rural Canadians saying eh? a lot, and delicious food.
I have done this trip 50x (25x each way) since 1964. It used to take only 72 hrs Montreal-Vancouver now takes 84 hrs or more depending on how many Freight trains it has to wait for on sidings. On one trip in the 1990s we were delayed 8 hrs in Northern Ontario because a forest fire was burning right beside the tracks. I also spent entire month of May 1987 traveling by rail in Australia & 2 wks in June 1990 traveling UK with a 1st class Brit Rail pass (had High tea on the Cornish Riviera going to Penzance). I even to train to Tilbury Dockside to get on the "Royal Princess cruise ship (the one christened by Princess Diana). I flew to London via PanAm (also long gone like Brit Rail). Cheers from Vancouver. Yes,I'm a "train-a-holic"
What a great video, and what an amazing looking experience! I love Vancouver, it's so beautiful here. Can't wait to see part two!
@Wingin' It! Paul Lucas I noticed on your meal ticket that you boarded the train June 22, 2022. I guess I missed you by 4 days as I took the exact same route starting from Toronto on June 26, 2022! I was originally in a Cabin for 2 in Sleeper Plus class and was able to do an onboard paid upgrade to Prestige Class on the Jasper to Vancouver portion of the journey. I liked it so much that I did this trip again at the end of November, this time eastbound from Vancouver to Toronto all in Prestige Class. The train is much shorter in the winter and you run into more train enthusiasts. The scenery during the winter is a whole lot different as you get to see snow covered trees, mountains and even the occasional snow storm.
I heard that there was a time in that fair land when the railroads did not run.
I can't help it... Everytime I see a Via Rail video Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" plays in my head.
Riding on Amtrak's City of New Orleans someone in the observation car was playing the iconic song, and yes I sang along.
Such a great ride. Looked extremely relaxing.
Paul, I've been watching your travel videos since you started producing them, and this one is outstanding! You're a real pro! Looking forward to part 2!
Hey Paul I am a locomotive engineer with Via Rail and wanted to let you know that thankfully it is only two buffer cars on those consists one at the front and one at the end. Also hopefully they will be removed soon. Great video and I hope you enjoyed the travelling with us.
Australian National Railways used to run same Budd cars from Sydney to Alice Springs back in late 90's!
This is very nice and comfortable train service.
Paul there used to be two different trains that did this . The original Canadian was operated by CP Rail and went thru Banff and Calgary on its way to Toronto. CN Rail used to have a similar train but it went Jasper and Edmonton. When Via Rail was formed. The Canadian was routed thru Jasper and Edmonton to Toronto.
If your interested you should look into doing circle tour on the Rocky Mountaineer. It’s a private company that has its own cars and locomotives. It only travels during the day.
Always a pleasure to travel with you. Looking forward to part 2 of this amazing trip! 👏👏👏
Great 1st part of your epic train journey across Canada. Looks amazing.
What a great trip. Finally you try this train. Taking this trip on a summer is perfect time.
Paul, did you not know, the best place to be in a thunderstorm is a metal box (it act's as a Faraday gage) you would all be perfectly safe INSIDE the box. Looking forward to part two.
In 1994 I took this train from Toronto to Edmonton and returned to Toronto from Jasper. I only had a coach seat and had some of the most uncomfortable sleeps of my life. But sleeping accommodation was just too expensive. I broke up the trip with visiting family in Alberta and staying two nights in Winnipeg on the return journey. It was one of the greatest travel experiences of my life. The shocking thing is how few other Canadians were on my train. I think we sometimes really do take what we have in our country for granted.
Or most Canadians don't have $2000 to burn on a train trip. If I'm spending 2 grand on a trip, it's going to be somewhere warm.
Did the reverse trip in June 2014, from Vancouver to Toronto. But I think that starting in the east is better as you get to the Rockies later in the journey and they are the real highlight. I stopped for 2 nights in Saskatoon at no extra cost, but the flexible timetable struck and my second train left over an hour early before I arrived at the station! A friend drove me for several hours to catch it up at a small station called Melville. The coach steward was expecting me and was very welcoming. A brilliant way to cross Canada, but make sure you log a phone number in case of timetable changes!
To be honest
I „watch“ this video to fall asleep since it’s online😊 before this was online, it was the 18 hours in singapore airlines that brought me to sleep. Pauls voice is relaxing for me 😊
Great video! I can’t wait for part 2! I’m glad you had an amazing trip in my beautiful country.
Amazing! That lightning at the end was epic!
Amazing video. I always look forward to your videos. Canada is so beautiful.😃
Amazing video Paul, always love my hits of Winnipeg. Glad it was an amazing trip, looking forward to more. noticed you used one of my clips of the Canadian at 0:25 and no credit for it?
Amazing! Can't wait for part 2!
If you are still in Canada or are coming back in the summer, check out the railway museum at Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta. If you love trains you will absolutely love it! My favourite time to visit is Railway Days. So many different cars brought back to glory in the museum, 2 operating steam trains, steam train crane car, snow plows, just to name a few. It's really something. Alberta Steam Railway in Stettler Alberta is pretty special too, with daily excursions, especially if they are operating their steam train.
I traveled from Vancouver to Montreal in 1969 when I was 7 years old aboard a Canadian Pacific train (pre Via Rail). What sticks out are the seemingly never-ending prairies, and the mountains....also, Jasper, Alberta where we stopped
Jasper on the CPR? I thought the CNR ran through Jasper and the CPR ran through Banff.
Awesome video! Looking very forward to Part 2…
Done this trip in November 2001 with a 3 or 4 day stop in Jasper..... would love to do it again some day.
This took me back. We did this about ten years ago, but as the Snow Train….
Amazing video as always.In the mid 1980's,my dad was in Canada during which a storm occurred and he said,he had never seen thunder and lightening like that too.Keep up the amazing work and I cannot wait for part 2.
I was checking today when your next video would be and bingo, you released another great vlog. Well done and thank you.
I HAVE taken this trip---Vancouver to Toronto, just before COVID hit! What a fantastic trip. I was in the same accommodations as you were. Food was fantastic; activities were great; scenery, of course, spectacular; and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating! Best train trip I have ever taken. And altho the only 'foreign' train I have ever been on was in Taiwan, I have traveled extensively with Amtrak---all of their long distance trains. Altho Amtrak long distance is also wonderful experiences, The Canadian is outstanding. Want to do it again!
Great video, Paul. Thanks for visiting my beautiful country! Will have to try this out some day.
When I road the ocean in the late 90s as a young teen it used these same cars. There was actually two styles of roomettes. The style in the video were it folded and the others were the bed pulled out flat. I preferred the second type as you could pull the bed out a bit and put your legs up. I think that. Bed always went backwards though.
Excellent video Paul, I can’t wait for part 2!😸
Canny so far Paul !!
The missus stopped reading her book to watch this !
I enjoy a good lightning storm, that was epic footage!!
I did it once each way . The first time was from Jasper AB to Toronto Ont. and the 2nd time was Toronto to Vancouver. Both in roomette like you was taking
Wow! What a great trip and scenery to look at.
Brilliant, looking forward to Part 2! 🙂
Excellent video Paul. It was interesting to see how you presented this and your commentary, as we were also on this trip, often sitting behind you in the dome car.
I have had the pleasure of doing three stages of this wonderful train - Toronto to Winnipeg, Jasper to Vancouver, and Toronto to Jasper. I hope to do the full trip within the next two years. My first trip, Toronto to Winnipeg, was in the late '50s when I was quite young. At that time, one section of the train started in Montreal and joined up with the Toronto section in Sudbury. The train was using the Canadian Pacific lines then, which took it closer to the shores of Lake Superior than the current route. My most recent trip, Toronto to Jasper, was just six years ago and I quite enjoyed the fact that very little had changed. The trip definitely gives you an appreciation for the vastness of my country. Thank you for taking this trip and doing this video. I've been waiting for it ever since I saw your video about the Ocean.
I did this exact trip back in 2019. So many memories!
It looks like you had a GREAT time, Paul!!
Loved this video,it is my dream to embark on one of these long,scenic trips and this video is making me more enthusiastic.
Two things to add to what everyone else has said:
- Despite the bilingual translation, the comparison between the Pullman-style berths on The Canadian and a typical European couchette is like the difference between sleeping at your parents' house over the holidays and staying in a youth hostel. Pullman berths have always been considered first-class accommodation ("Sleeper Plus" in VIA Rail parlance), the curtains are heavy and do offer meaningful privacy at night, and they feature real mattresses that are at least as comfortable as those in the bedrooms (and, having experienced all of them, waaay more comfortable than a European couchette). There's even some suggestion that the simplicity of the accommodation means that the lower berths are the widest non-Prestige beds on the train
- The curtain at 13:55 may seem redundant, given that the single bedrooms have a door, but the reason for its existence is pretty clever: there's quite a bit of extra material in the curtain, so if you need to use the toilet in the middle of the night, you can open the door and step into the hallway while still being shrouded by the curtain, which should give you enough space to retract (and then later re-extend) your bed
Been there, agree with you!
Wonderful video! Many thanks for the useful tips. I will be doing the same trip with my mum and sister in June. Looking forward to it! 🤗
I'm so very glad you are riding our Canadian! I grew up riding the train, my father worked for CN and we would ride from Edmonton to Vancouver every year. Back then, pre VIA, there were 2 transcontintal passenger trains, one with CN and the other CP. CP would go through Calgary and Banff; CN would go through Edmonton and Jasper. And they had right of way to the freight trains lol. It's wonderful. My favourite first class way to travel is in a sleeper lower berth (you called them couchette). Sleeper is the lowest rung of first class. Same perks as your roomette but no door, no toilet and sadly no power outlet. I can't wait for part 2 😁 My favourite part is being rocked to sleep while in bed and looking out the window, the bullet car and of course the dining car. Enjoy!
Roll on Part 2!! What an amazing adventure :)
This was my dream trip for years…finally did it in May 22. Just as incredible as you made it look here, and a fantastic opportunity to meet new people. Lots more frozen lakes though, so great to see how different it looks in summer! Thanks for capturing it so well:)
Late summer was simply: beautiful
I am one of your Canadian friends and I approve of this video!!! ❤
My wife and I did this trip a few years ago, great experience.
Love your train videos Paul!
Paul is back! With a train trip! Woohoo! 🥳🤠
My husband have done the journey twice - both times from Vancouver to Toronto. Very enjoyable experiences and we would agree with you that it's much better than Amtrak. Both times we did it we stopped in Jasper for 2 nights, and the second time we continued to Halifax.
Loved this video!! I get severe motion sickness so I don't think I'll ever be able to do a trip like this, but I feel like this is the next best thing to taking the train myself. Can't wait for part 2!
I also suffer from motion illness. However, I have traveled extensively by train. My Dr gave me the transdermal patches, plus I used the travel wrist bands and Dramamine, at night. However, that and the patches might be too much, as my Dr warned me. For me it wasn't, and even though sometimes felt a bit ill, found if ate something almost continually it didn't last long. So hope these suggestions might encourage you to try a train trip. I love the train.
Daaaaamn - you've been to Toronto and didn't say hello! :)
Thank you for the video - I'm still saving for a trip like this... Love it.
Wow this was really an awesome video. I live in the states and felt like you just took me on a vacation. Thank you. Nice work
This journey has been on my bucket list for years but is steadily slipping away. I'll ride vicariously through videos like this.
Almost half an hour of Paul on a Sunday?!, yes please!.😊
Superb video and scenes waiting for next videos
Great trip report Paul
Great video. Really appreciate the content
I worked on VIA back in 1980/81. Started as a dining car waiter, then Steward Waiter ( worked the bar and Dayliner cars ) then Porter. Having been trained on all three I then was able to work the Park Car ( Bullet Dome Car at the end of the train ) since you needed to be a porter and a bartender for that car. Interesting job, but no showers onboard then. Uniform was a pair of grey wool slacks, and a red polyester tunic. Hot to work in. French bathing in a sink, and lots of baby powder so you didn't stick to your clothes. Don't know how we did it. Worked Vancouver to Winnipeg and back. Also worked Jasper to Prince Rupert. VIA used both the CPR and CN lines back then. One encounter with a person from the UK always stuck in my memory. In those days there were no bars preventing passengers from standing with their head out of the opening when standing between cars. We had to tell people not only to not stick their head out, but to keep moving onto the next car, because in a derailment this part gets squished into the next car. Which I witnessed when I was in the Blue River derailment. Anyway, after I told the gentleman for his safety he had to move on, he said. " It's incredible ". I asked him what. ( I was 21 and not travelled much ). He said it had been hours and no towns, no structures, just trees.
My naive response was " Of course sir, we're in the woods". I really thought he was off. It wasn't until a few years later when I got to go to the UK the I realized that the idea of hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres of empty land was not the norm for most people.
I live in Toronto and pass through Union Station many times but never take the time to look around and see how beautiful the grand hall is as you pointed out in the video.
I did this trip back in the 70's, Eastbound Vancouver to Toronto. Beautiful scenery to be sure. Glad you enjoyed it Paul.
Looking forward to Part 2.
My wife and I did the Canadian in the other direction in 2019 - Vancouver to Winnipeg. It was a great experience and I think you have really captured not only the essentials but also wonderful camaraderie that the Canadian seems to engender. Also glad to see you stopped at the Common at the Forks - a favourite watering hole of mine!
Great vid as per...thanks so much for posting...love all ur posts, all facts included..spot in..waiting for ur next flight one ;)
Very interesting. Thanks, Paul.
Greatest train ride in the world. We took it from Toronto to Vancouver.
“As long as you can withstand American commentary”. As an American tired of the drama they try so hard to inject into sports I appreciate you Paul.
Looks fantastic
Finally. Was waiting for this trip report. I am thinking of doing the Vancouver to Toronto leg in late April
I would love to go on that train! Thank you for giving me a vicarious trip :)
I was waiting for this for months
I was informed by Twitter and this is indeed exciting 👏🏽
Wow! Sitting on the "dunny" while looking out the window! That's cool.
Beautiful Country
Thanks Mate
Paul, it was great to meet you on this ride across the country! I'm really enjoying your content. Safe travels to you!
Great video Paul. I took this trip from Vancouver to Toronto in July of 2022. We did not get off at Winnipeg as we were 3 hours late arriving and everything was closed. We did make up time between there and Toronto and were only 30 minutes late. The trip was great, excellent crew, food and fellow passengers. My single cabin worked just fine. One comment on the note about face masks. They were required when I traveled and were strictly enforced. My cabin steward said that there were a couple of people who were ordered off the train on a recent trip because they did not follow the mandate.
Only our dear leaders were exempt. Gotta love Justin not wearing a mask on a private train while his government enforced a public mask mandate.
Absolutely fabulous. Thank you.
I grew up in Toronto and could see Union Station from where I grew up....
The Canadian was reequipped with the heritage cars around 10 years ago
Union Station in Toronto is known as the Grand Central Terminal of the North
Best train ride in the world, great video
Thank you Alex!
I done this trip a few years ago with Great Rail Journeys. . Starting from Toronto 10 pm. I had a single couchette . We stopped at Winnipeg and stayed there all day. It was March and it was snowing while going through the Rockies. I have to say the food was excellent and never had to book any meals. I found it hard to sleep though with the train moving all night. My coach was at the back of the train near the dome car. I think the price was about £2,000 and that’s with staying in Toronto for 3 nights, train 4 nights and 2 nights in Vancouver. I found it strange every so often we had to change our watches because we were going back in time. Looking forward to your second video and arrival in Vancouver.
Hey Paul, great video as always... So looking forward to the next instalment... Regards from Spain, Reni 🍷🍷