Why exploring Canada by rail is just the ticket
Often travelling where roads can’t reach, rail trips through Canada’s vast landscapes are sure to create unforgettable moments for clients, says Debbie Ward.
With breathtaking mountain and prairie scenery to pass through, and huge areas to cover, it’s no wonder that travelling by rail in Canada is popular. As First Class Holidays product manager Brian Hawe puts it: “There’s only one way to truly see and experience the vastness of Canada and that’s by train, as the tracks take you to places that roads don’t go.”
Train journeys in Canada can also be attractive to clients seeking to lower their carbon footprint.
But while the Rocky Mountaineer is famous, thanks in part to its glass-domed viewing carriages, other train routes remain lesser known. Agents also might not be aware of the creative ways that operators can create back-to-back journeys or sell train trips as add-ons to other Canada highlights.
Here we round up some of the myriad rail options available in the destination.
For culture and coast
Several famous cities and the coast can be explored on Premier Holidays’ Eastern Canada by Rail journey, explains product manager Tim Greathead.
“On this journey clients get to experience cosmopolitan Toronto, with its iconic sights such as the CN Tower. Montreal is a feast for arts lovers, with its galleries, museums and jazz cafes. Quebec City is the only walled city in North America and has a fascinating old town. Arriving into Halifax, the fresh sea air will then fill clients’ lungs. They can explore its seafaring history, fantastic art studios and restaurants and take a day trip out to Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg or Mahone Bay.”
BOOK IT: Premier’s 10-night Eastern Canada by Rail trip costs from £1,399pp including flights and city accommodation, based on travel 25 April-6 May 2022.
For the grand tour
For an epic journey from Toronto to Vancouver, great for train buffs, combine Via Rail’s cross-country train The Canadian with the Rocky Mountaineer, as packaged by First Class Holidays’ Trans Canadian Rail Adventure.
Hawe says: “This holiday not only combines some of Canada’s best-loved cities and the fantastic Rockies, but also showcases the heart of the country in a way that only rail travel can, as The Canadian takes you across the lake lands of Ontario to the country’s breadbasket, before ascending the foothills of the Rockies to Jasper.”
BOOK IT: The 14-day Trans Canadian Rail Adventure, from £4,449pp, includes flights, hotel and train accommodation and side trips to Niagara Falls, Lake Louise and Banff. First Class Holidays also sells multiple separate train legs.
For rail and cruise
Great Rail Journeys recommends a visual feast combining two special modes of transport.
“Our Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise is not your conventional cruise holiday,” says tour manager Beverley Goring. “The dual trip combination allows you to soak up two iconic destinations and two modes of travelling, without undergoing the hassle and expense of crossing the Atlantic twice. I would highly recommend this for those seeking adventure, new cultures and views that take your breath away.”
BOOK IT: The 15-day package covers the Rocky Mountaineer between Jasper and Vancouver, seven nights onboard Holland America’s MS Zuiderdam, tours of Banff, Lake Louise and Vancouver, all flights and meals from £4,495pp. Great Rail Journeys’ other options include a Coast-to-Coast tour from Vancouver to Halifax.
For polar bears
The Via Rail branch from Winnipeg to Churchill – Canada’s polar bear capital – is rarely featured in touring packages, but Frontier Travel offers this, with the train arriving at a heritage station on Hudson Bay.
“The train journey to Churchill is unrivalled for the northern landscapes and possibilities to the see the northern lights, and it’s the only dry land connection to Churchill and the other small communities along the way,” says Julie Thompson, Frontier’s product and marketing manager.
“It gives a different view of Canada and its people, visiting an area that’s less travelled, particularly by train.” Most 2022 dates are waitlisted but 2023 is already on sale.
BOOK IT: A seven-night package starts from £6,250pp and includes dogsledding, two days’ polar bear viewing in Churchill and a flight back to Winnipeg. Includes accommodation and meals but excludes international flights.
For budget explorers
Perfect for those on a budget, or wanting freedom to really explore, the CanRail pass – sold by Gold Medal – allows unlimited travel on the Via Rail network, linking the Atlantic, Pacific and Hudson Bay.
Andrew Sullivan, destination manager for the Americas at Gold Medal, says: “Unlike the Rocky Mountaineer, Via Rail isn’t exclusively aimed at tourists, so it’s a great way to meet locals.”
He recommends upgrading to Sleeper Plus, which is discounted with the pass. “The accommodation and service offered is comfortable, with en-suite cabins that have seats by day and convert to two-berth sleepers by night. You also have all your meals served in the restaurant car and access to the observation-dome-lounge, which has live entertainment – it’s a great place to socialise with other travellers,” he adds.
BOOK IT: The CanRail Pass is valid for 12 days over a 30-day period. Off-peak, the regular Comfort Class adult pass is from £541pp, or from £487pp for under-25s. Peak prices are from £865 for adults and £778 for under-25s.
For a bucket-list trip
A good sell for special occasions, Canadian Affair has packaged the famous Calgary Stampede with the Rocky Mountaineer and an Alaska cruise. “All of these experiences are a holiday in themselves for anyone that enjoys outdoor adventure,” says product manager Stuart Rogers.
“From late June to early July each year, the Stampede lights up Calgary by showcasing the excitement and entertainment of cowboy culture through its rodeo and further attractions known as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
BOOK IT: Canadian Affair’s Cow Town to Gold Town package includes two days at Calgary Stampede with show tickets, two days onboard the Rocky Mountaineer (Banff to Vancouver) and a full-board Alaska cruise from £3,959pp including accommodation and international flights. The operator also sells campervan exploration of Vancouver Island with Via Rail’s The Canadian journey.
Useful info for selling rail trips
Rocky Mountaineer has two classes and three main Canada routes: Vancouver-Banff/Lake Louise, Vancouver-Jasper and Vancouver-Jasper via Whistler.
Meanwhile, state-owned Via Rail’s four class services reach Toronto and Halifax in the east, Vancouver and Prince Rupert in the west and Hudson Bay in the north. Since the 2014 introduction of its Prestige Class, which offers clients a dedicated concierge and spacious cabin with extra-large windows, it has been an easier sell.
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