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Train: Canadian
Train Type: First-Class
Introduction/History:
The Canadian is VIA Rail Canada’s flagship train. It runs between Toronto and Vancouver three times a week, traveling 4,500 miles.
Accommodations
IRT recommends Silver & Blue Class so you can have a private bedroom on board the overnight train and the many perks that come with it—from a special waiting room at the main stations, to priority boarding, “welcome aboard” reception, and all delicious meals included. The trip from Toronto to Jasper calls for three nights on board; all the way to Vancouver is four nights. Here are the sleeping accommodation choices:
Upper or Lower Berth: This is a chair that makes up into a bed that is 5 feet, 10 inches long by about three feet wide. It makes up into a chair by day, facing another chair. The upper bed gets a ladder for climbing up at night.
Single bedroom: This is a roomette designed for one person. The room is roughly 24 square feet. During the day, there is a comfortable seat, sink and toilet. At night, the seat folds into a bed that takes up just about all the room and covers the toilet. Public shower and toilet are down the hall. Many of IRT’s single travelers say this is much too small for them; they book single use of a double instead.
Double: A double bedroom is 35.25 square feet, not including the private ensuite toilet and sink. Each bedroom features two armchairs that collapse at night to make way for the two bunks (one upper/one lower), a small closet, fan, electrical outlet and mirror. A small table can be set up for you upon request. The shower is down the hall.
Triples: Note these are few and far between, and thus hard to get. They are about 70 square feet, and are the only accommodations on board where travelers can have two lower beds. The room is designed for three people, so it also has one twin bunk bed. Bedding turns into one sofa and two chairs during the day. You may ask the staff to bring you a small table if you choose during the day. It too has private sink and toilet; the shower is down the hall, except in the Park Car (see below).
A number of IRT travelers love to travel in one of the few bedrooms in the Park Car: there are one triple and three doubles. Book very early for one of these.
Dining
All meals are included when you book sleeping accommodations on board the Canadian. For dinner, there are three seatings, served with china, silver and linen and featuring Canadian wines.
Lounge Cars
Silver & Blue guests have exclusive use of the signature domed Park Car. It is indeed memorable to enjoy an after-dinner drink watching the stars.
Other
This extremely versatile train will even stop just about anywhere you want between Sudbury and Winnipeg, a great boon for adventure lovers. You can connect to other scenic rail adventures, such as to the Hudson Bay, which runs Winnipeg-Churchill, to see the polar bears, and to the Skeena to see the wild landscape of the northern British Columbia, Jasper-Prince Rupert on the coast, via Prince George. Take it in the winter for a “snow train” experience. Or, combine it with the Rocky Mountaineer for a deluxe journey across Canada.
Note there is no smoking on board. We highly recommend that you check most of your baggage. You can bring a maximum of 2 carry-on bags into your room, but we recommend limiting it to one.
Journeys Available on this Train
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