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| Trains at Jasper - our Canadian #1 pauses at the right, while the equipment for the Skeena to Prince Rupert rests on the left. |
At the end of my last post, I noted that it had been just
over 7 years since my cross Canada trip, the coast-to-coast adventure that got
me aboard the legendary Canadian and launched this blog in the first place.
Ever since making that trip, I’ve been longing to get back
out and do it again. The Canadian is an incredible train, and even after riding
it once it felt like there was so much more to experience. What would it be
like in the summer, with a longer train, more daylight, and a full suite of
activities? How about under the new schedule, which changes what’s seen in
daylight? And what about the eastbound trip?
It has also become increasingly clear that the days of the Canadian’s
iconic (but ancient) Budd-built stainless steel equipment are starting to run
out, with plans now in motion that should see the entire fleet replaced within
the next decade. So it’s as good a time as any to get out and ride it again
while we can. But what, you might be asking, pushed this from “that would be
cool” to a booked itinerary?
Well, it started with my sister moving to Vancouver, and my
brother and I talking about making a trip to visit. Serious consideration of a
trip then ramped up when VIA introduced changes to the VIA Preference program.
Despite bracing for negative changes with the new program, I was pleasantly surprised
to find that the new redemption rates (now tied to fares, and therefore much
lower if booked in cheaper accommodations and further ahead) actually meant
that we could book this trip for a fraction of what it would have cost before.
So once we put all that together, it wasn’t long before I
was scouting out dates. Next thing you know, the trip was booked!
This cross-Canada trip would be a bit different from the
last go around. Unlike that trip, where I started on a train from Halifax and
went entirely by rail the whole way west, this time would begin with a flight
to get appropriately positioned for the rail journey. We would be staying
longer in Vancouver, and the other biggest (and most exciting) change with this
trip is that instead of flying back from there, we’d be boarding the Canadian
again to make the trip back east.
To help get a sense of where this will be going, here’s a
brief overview of the itinerary:
June 21 – Start in Halifax. Fly with Porter from YHZ to YOW
June 22 – The trains begin! VIA 47, Ottawa – Toronto
June 23 – We board the Canadian. VIA train #1, the westbound
Canadian, from Toronto to Vancouver
June 27 – Arrive in Vancouver, after 4 nights and the better part of 5 days on board
June 28 – Amtrak Cascades day trip to Seattle and return
July 1 – Depart Vancouver on VIA train #2, the eastbound
Canadian – on Canada Day!
July 5 – Arrive in Toronto
July 6 – Fly back to Halifax with Porter, YYZ-YHZ. Home
again!
Instead of making this a single overwhelming write-up, I’m
going to break this down into short segments much like my 2017 trip. Each post will cover either a day
or a distinct part of the trip that makes sense to lump together. My goal is to make this series easy to follow and navigate, without becoming
overwhelming for either the reader or the author!
The whole trip encompassed approximately two weeks, took us
across five provinces (and a state!) – not counting those I covered in the air
– and involved nearly 11 days on board intercity trains, plus subways, light
rail, commuter trains, planes, and even some ferries. Plus, some unexpected
familiar faces along the way!
So get ready for what is, by far, the most extensive train trip I’ve made to date. I look forward to reliving this as I write it up post by
post, and I hope you’ll enjoy following along!
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| Curving around lakes in Northern Ontario. Unmistakably The Canadian. |
Next Up – Part 1: from Halifax to Ottawa, Toronto, and
beyond!
