Get Surfshark VPN at surfshark.deals/winginit - Enter promo code WINGINIT to get 83% off + THREE EXTRA MONTHS for free! 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? Follow me on Twitter: @paul_winginit ¦ twitter.com/paul_winginit Follow me on Instagram: paul_winginit ¦ instagram.com/paul_winginit
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 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
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 😊
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.
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.
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.
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"
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 !
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!
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!
I did this trip in June 2024, but got off at Edmonton. I also had the single berth so your trip brings back great memories. After a 6 day tour in the Rockies, I caught the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver. Two quite different but very enjoyable experiences.
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.
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:)
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.
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
The fact that the train is made out of stainless steel is the very reason you shouldn't worry if it goes through the lightning storm. Love your videos. Keep it up!
I'm one of your Canadian fans, waiting for part 2! I have yet to take the Canadian, but it's on my list. I'm thinking it would be a great experience to take it in winter. BTW, the float plane at the 0:20 mark which you spotted is the De Havilland Beaver - the classic Canadian bush plane.
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.
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
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.
We did this trip in 2000 for our 10th wedding anniversary but it was only 3 nights then (called ‘Silver & Blue’ class ) & we actually separated it by getting off at Edmonton & then getting back on @ Jasper ( having driven round the Rockies in between). The 1st 2 nights we were in the ‘sleeper plus class’ with couch’s & carriage for 6 people & in a sleeper plus separate cabin for 2 on the 2 nd leg . We actually enjoyed the 1st sleeper carriage with couch’s better than the separate room , as you got more space & saw & spoke to more people. At the time there was no ‘prestige class’ & you could go to the end observation carriage anytime you wanted . We did keep active walking along the train quite a lot !!! Also, nice to see that there are activities to do , if you want , as there was nothing laid on for us at all. So it was nice to meet other people from many different countries.😊 Would love to do this trip again . Best direction to go is from Toronto to Vancouver as you gain more time , rather than opposite way 😊
@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.
My wife and I took the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver in 2017. We decided to splurge and purchased Prestige Class. We were glad we did as the room is extremely comfortable and at night, instead of having an upper and lower berth, we had a big single bed. The room has a shower en suite and it was a wonderful experience. Plenty of hot water and great water pressure. The food was wonderful. We have taken the Amtrak long-distance trains and the food was good on there, but it was truly gourmet on the Canadian. The only down side of the trip was that we arrived in Vancouver 14 hours late. But, being a true train fanatic, I thoroughly enjoyed the extra time onboard. Plus, we got to see the areas north of Vancouver and the scenery was sublime. Our trip was conducted Pre-Covid, so it was great not to have to wear a mask. All in all, a tremendous experience!
I did the trip last October and was delighted that the mask mandate had just ended. The thought of four days with one of those bloody things round my chops was less than appealing. Having seen Paul's video, however, there didn't seem to be much evidence of people obeying the rules anyway!
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.
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!
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.
Hi Paul, My wife and I have done every train in Canada (except Churchill). We have done Vancouver and Prince Rupert to Halifax, Vancouver to Jasper via Whistler and Quesnel, Kamloops to Calgary, Sarnia and Windsor to Quebec City via Kitchener and Aldershot, Toronto to Niagara Falls (and onto New York), Toronto to Moosonee, Montreal to Senneterre and Jonquiere, Sept Iles to Schefferville, West Coast Express, GO Transit network, and AMT Montreal network, Skagway to Carcross and loads of heritage lines. Plus the whole of Alaska Railroad, New York to St Albans, Vermont. All railways in Britain, Ireland, Portugal and Norway, plus most of Europe. Any questions, just ask. Always happy to help. Regards from London, England.
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.
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'm going to go look for part 2! I've always had "sleeper car train holiday" on my bucket list. My husband has a bit more specific bucket list wish of trans-Canadian sleeper car holiday. So, we are planning for his 2025 birthday (70th!) to include this experience from Vancouver to Toronto. He's never been to Toronto so we want to add a few days at the end before flying to Boston and then driving to Cape Cod to celebrate his birthday with one of his old high-school friends who has a summer home there. I've never been to Massachusetts so that is another bucket list item that I can check off! We'll just fly back home to WA state but I think that will just make for a more wonderful experience in the vein of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". We are thinking about just splurging and going the prestige route. You only turn 70 once and he deserves to have a holiday that makes him feel special.
Hey, Paul, love the videos. I did the Amtrak Southwest Chief in 2016, from LA to Chicago, then on to New York, and Loooooved it. North America is the best place for long distance training, and I’m from Australia, so that’s saying something.
We just did this trip in the opposite direction. It was a lot whiter view than you saw last June. And colder. It was -31C in Sioux Lookout when we stopped there. Can't wait to see the second half of your video.
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
Have done the trip three times (2 westward; 1 eastward) in 1965 and 1967. But in those days you chose between the southern route with the Canadian Pacific Railway ("The Canadian") via Calgary and Banff or the northern route via Edmonton and Jasper with the Canadian National Railway ("The Supercontinental"). VIA Rail didn't yet exist. And you could depart/arrive from/at either Toronto or Montreal. Then or now, probably the greatest long-distance rail service in the world! 👍🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Yes we did the same train trip and we meet the East bound one and they also stopped the very same as on your video. Was a fantastic journey got of at Jasper took Rocky Mountain to Vancouver
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.
The Bush plane staple of NW Ontario ( really Canada) the Beavers and Otters etc older planes but so reliable, heavy payload, and short takeoff and landings Very cool to fly in... That whole area looks like islands on a huge sea from the air. Canadian Shield country. Scraped by the glaciers left little topsoil and a whole lot of lakes(beautiful unfortunately full of mosquitoes black flies)
Thanks for sharing! It is one of your most informative and enjoyable videos to date! It is one of my dreams to take the Canadian the whole way (either east or west). I was privileged to have the opportunity to take the Canadian a few years ago from Vancouver to Jasper.
Absolutely stunning work Paul! At 21:57 the plane is a DHC-2 De Havilland Canada Beaver the awesome Canadian rugged bush plane! Also are those the same type of cars on The Canadian that were on The Ocean VIA Rail train you took a while back? I immediately saw similarities and those observation card look like the Assiniboine car that was on The Ocean!! Also just so you know the Grand Trunk railway company was purchased by Canadian Pacific and became part of it on 1977 I believe and at 19:14 that’s truly amazing to still see actual telegraph wires! Here in Michigan the only telegraph wires near a railway no longer exist as the railway is now a hiking 🥾 trail! Ugh 😣 I cannot wait to take a transcontinental train route and make a video about it! At 23:00 the longest or oldest (not quite sure what you meant) train I’ve ever been on is The Alaska Railroad, I went from Homer to Seward AK! The Alaska Railroad dates back to Dec of 1903, the same year one of my favorite things the airplane was invented! ✈️ I also have a TH-cam channel btw it’s Caleb’s Aviation and I’d really appreciate if you’d check it out and maybe leave a comment on a video. Also maybe consider subscribing because I just made a whole heap of new ones with more flight reviews coming very soon!!
The Ocean has a mix of sleeper cars. Most are 'modern', Renaissance cars which were originally built for European sleeper services through the Channel Tunnel. Those services never happened and ViaRail bought them for use on The Ocean. The cabins all have en-suite facilities. The consist also has some of the stainless steel sleeper cars and you can chose one of those if you prefer it when you book. The price was the same when I did the trip.
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?
I was in Southern Ontario for the first 2 weeks of June last year (so only a few days before this trip began) and the weather was similar. The evening before I left was still 36C at 7pm. I took the train from Windsor to Toronto to fly back to the UK, we ended up delayed by an hour as it was too hot for the train to travel at normal speeds. This looks like an amazing trip so far and I'm looking forward to the next part. I'm saving for the Indian Pacific right now for 2025, but I think this will be on the list to save up for afterwards, I'd love to see more of Canada.
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
Get Surfshark VPN at surfshark.deals/winginit - Enter promo code WINGINIT to get 83% off + THREE EXTRA MONTHS for free!
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?
Follow me on Twitter: @paul_winginit ¦ twitter.com/paul_winginit
Follow me on Instagram: paul_winginit ¦ instagram.com/paul_winginit
When is Part 2 coming out?? desperately waiting to see those views from the train!
Bucket list item. Love, love, love trains and this one looks fabulous!
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.
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.
We did this trip in 2016 with a stopover in Jasper. Was a fabulous journey !
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 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
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
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 😊
I commuted for years through Union Station and I never got tired of seeing the great hall.
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.
I have done it in July, 2017 from Toronto to Vancouver, and it was awesome!
This is something I would absolutely love to try out one day, as a Toronto native.
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.
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.
This journey has been on my bucket list for years but is steadily slipping away. I'll ride vicariously through videos like this.
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"
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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! 🤗
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 !
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!
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!
I did this trip in June 2024, but got off at Edmonton. I also had the single berth so your trip brings back great memories. After a 6 day tour in the Rockies, I caught the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver. Two quite different but very enjoyable experiences.
Wow! Sitting on the "dunny" while looking out the window! That's cool.
What a great trip. Finally you try this train. Taking this trip on a summer is perfect time.
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.
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
My daughter and her boyfriend took this trip last year. They really enjoyed it.
Almost half an hour of Paul on a Sunday?!, yes please!.😊
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.
Always a pleasure to travel with you. Looking forward to part 2 of this amazing trip! 👏👏👏
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
The fact that the train is made out of stainless steel is the very reason you shouldn't worry if it goes through the lightning storm. Love your videos. Keep it up!
I'm one of your Canadian fans, waiting for part 2! I have yet to take the Canadian, but it's on my list. I'm thinking it would be a great experience to take it in winter. BTW, the float plane at the 0:20 mark which you spotted is the De Havilland Beaver - the classic Canadian bush plane.
Canny so far Paul !!
The missus stopped reading her book to watch this !
I enjoy a good lightning storm, that was epic footage!!
I am one of your Canadian friends and I approve of this video!!! ❤
Such a great ride. Looked extremely relaxing.
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.
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!
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.
We did this trip in 2000 for our 10th wedding anniversary but it was only 3 nights then (called ‘Silver & Blue’ class ) & we actually separated it by getting off at Edmonton & then getting back on @ Jasper ( having driven round the Rockies in between). The 1st 2 nights we were in the ‘sleeper plus class’ with couch’s & carriage for 6 people & in a sleeper plus separate cabin for 2 on the 2 nd leg . We actually enjoyed the 1st sleeper carriage with couch’s better than the separate room , as you got more space & saw & spoke to more people. At the time there was no ‘prestige class’ & you could go to the end observation carriage anytime you wanted . We did keep active walking along the train quite a lot !!!
Also, nice to see that there are activities to do , if you want , as there was nothing laid on for us at all. So it was nice to meet other people from many different countries.😊 Would love to do this trip again . Best direction to go is from Toronto to Vancouver as you gain more time , rather than opposite way 😊
I was checking today when your next video would be and bingo, you released another great vlog. Well done and thank you.
@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.
My wife and I took the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver in 2017. We decided to splurge and purchased Prestige Class. We were glad we did as the room is extremely comfortable and at night, instead of having an upper and lower berth, we had a big single bed. The room has a shower en suite and it was a wonderful experience. Plenty of hot water and great water pressure. The food was wonderful. We have taken the Amtrak long-distance trains and the food was good on there, but it was truly gourmet on the Canadian. The only down side of the trip was that we arrived in Vancouver 14 hours late. But, being a true train fanatic, I thoroughly enjoyed the extra time onboard. Plus, we got to see the areas north of Vancouver and the scenery was sublime. Our trip was conducted Pre-Covid, so it was great not to have to wear a mask. All in all, a tremendous experience!
I did the trip last October and was delighted that the mask mandate had just ended. The thought of four days with one of those bloody things round my chops was less than appealing. Having seen Paul's video, however, there didn't seem to be much evidence of people obeying the rules anyway!
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.
Hello There, a great video and it looks like such a scenic and picturesque journey, thank you for sharing this, it's much appreciated. Cheers Peter :)
Loved this video,it is my dream to embark on one of these long,scenic trips and this video is making me more enthusiastic.
Great 1st part of your epic train journey across Canada. Looks amazing.
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!
I did this exact trip back in 2019. So many memories!
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.
Hi Paul, My wife and I have done every train in Canada (except Churchill). We have done Vancouver and Prince Rupert to Halifax, Vancouver to Jasper via Whistler and Quesnel, Kamloops to Calgary, Sarnia and Windsor to Quebec City via Kitchener and Aldershot, Toronto to Niagara Falls (and onto New York), Toronto to Moosonee, Montreal to Senneterre and Jonquiere, Sept Iles to Schefferville, West Coast Express, GO Transit network, and AMT Montreal network, Skagway to Carcross and loads of heritage lines. Plus the whole of Alaska Railroad, New York to St Albans, Vermont. All railways in Britain, Ireland, Portugal and Norway, plus most of Europe. Any questions, just ask. Always happy to help. Regards from London, England.
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.
My wife and I did this trip a few years ago, great experience.
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.
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.
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!
We will be on the train from Jasper to Toronto in October and are looking forward to it.thanks for the video.greetings from Berlin,Germany 🏞🚂💨💨
Paul is back! With a train trip! Woohoo! 🥳🤠
I'm going to go look for part 2!
I've always had "sleeper car train holiday" on my bucket list. My husband has a bit more specific bucket list wish of trans-Canadian sleeper car holiday. So, we are planning for his 2025 birthday (70th!) to include this experience from Vancouver to Toronto. He's never been to Toronto so we want to add a few days at the end before flying to Boston and then driving to Cape Cod to celebrate his birthday with one of his old high-school friends who has a summer home there. I've never been to Massachusetts so that is another bucket list item that I can check off! We'll just fly back home to WA state but I think that will just make for a more wonderful experience in the vein of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles".
We are thinking about just splurging and going the prestige route. You only turn 70 once and he deserves to have a holiday that makes him feel special.
Hey, Paul, love the videos. I did the Amtrak Southwest Chief in 2016, from LA to Chicago, then on to New York, and Loooooved it. North America is the best place for long distance training, and I’m from Australia, so that’s saying something.
6:45 that Amtrak shade 😂
Awesome video! Looking very forward to Part 2…
Roll on Part 2!! What an amazing adventure :)
Amazing video. I always look forward to your videos. Canada is so beautiful.😃
The Liverpool reference got me good. Dietmar Hamann, lays it off to Riiiiseeeeeeeee
Great video, Paul. Thanks for visiting my beautiful country! Will have to try this out some day.
We just did this trip in the opposite direction. It was a lot whiter view than you saw last June. And colder. It was -31C in Sioux Lookout when we stopped there. Can't wait to see the second half of your video.
Amazing! Can't wait for part 2!
This is very nice and comfortable train service.
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.
Have done the trip three times (2 westward; 1 eastward) in 1965 and 1967. But in those days you chose between the southern route with the Canadian Pacific Railway ("The Canadian") via Calgary and Banff or the northern route via Edmonton and Jasper with the Canadian National Railway ("The Supercontinental"). VIA Rail didn't yet exist. And you could depart/arrive from/at either Toronto or Montreal. Then or now, probably the greatest long-distance rail service in the world! 👍🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Yes we did the same train trip and we meet the East bound one and they also stopped the very same as on your video.
Was a fantastic journey got of at Jasper took Rocky Mountain to Vancouver
Great looking trip , my longest train Indian Pacific, going to do this when scheduling is not conflict, Via Rail 1 !
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.
Great vid as per...thanks so much for posting...love all ur posts, all facts included..spot in..waiting for ur next flight one ;)
The Bush plane staple of NW Ontario ( really Canada) the Beavers and Otters etc older planes but so reliable, heavy payload, and short takeoff and landings
Very cool to fly in...
That whole area looks like islands on a huge sea from the air.
Canadian Shield country. Scraped by the glaciers left little topsoil and a whole lot of lakes(beautiful unfortunately full of mosquitoes black flies)
Thanks for sharing! It is one of your most informative and enjoyable videos to date! It is one of my dreams to take the Canadian the whole way (either east or west). I was privileged to have the opportunity to take the Canadian a few years ago from Vancouver to Jasper.
Excellent video Paul, I can’t wait for part 2!😸
Absolutely stunning work Paul! At 21:57 the plane is a DHC-2 De Havilland Canada Beaver the awesome Canadian rugged bush plane! Also are those the same type of cars on The Canadian that were on The Ocean VIA Rail train you took a while back? I immediately saw similarities and those observation card look like the Assiniboine car that was on The Ocean!! Also just so you know the Grand Trunk railway company was purchased by Canadian Pacific and became part of it on 1977 I believe and at 19:14 that’s truly amazing to still see actual telegraph wires! Here in Michigan the only telegraph wires near a railway no longer exist as the railway is now a hiking 🥾 trail! Ugh 😣
I cannot wait to take a transcontinental train route and make a video about it! At 23:00 the longest or oldest (not quite sure what you meant) train I’ve ever been on is The Alaska Railroad, I went from Homer to Seward AK! The Alaska Railroad dates back to Dec of 1903, the same year one of my favorite things the airplane was invented! ✈️
I also have a TH-cam channel btw it’s Caleb’s Aviation and I’d really appreciate if you’d check it out and maybe leave a comment on a video. Also maybe consider subscribing because I just made a whole heap of new ones with more flight reviews coming very soon!!
The Ocean has a mix of sleeper cars. Most are 'modern', Renaissance cars which were originally built for European sleeper services through the Channel Tunnel. Those services never happened and ViaRail bought them for use on The Ocean. The cabins all have en-suite facilities. The consist also has some of the stainless steel sleeper cars and you can chose one of those if you prefer it when you book. The price was the same when I did the trip.
I took this train from Winnipeg to Vancouver. It's an amazing train.
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.
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?
Best train ride in the world, great video
Thank you Alex!
Australian National Railways used to run same Budd cars from Sydney to Alice Springs back in late 90's!
I was in Southern Ontario for the first 2 weeks of June last year (so only a few days before this trip began) and the weather was similar. The evening before I left was still 36C at 7pm. I took the train from Windsor to Toronto to fly back to the UK, we ended up delayed by an hour as it was too hot for the train to travel at normal speeds.
This looks like an amazing trip so far and I'm looking forward to the next part. I'm saving for the Indian Pacific right now for 2025, but I think this will be on the list to save up for afterwards, I'd love to see more of Canada.
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
This was Ana amazing video. It just gets prettier n prettier just wait
Absolutely fabulous. Thank you.
I've considered this trip for several years. Having watched your video I really want to do it now. Looking forward to Montreal thru BC.
Long time, no see ! Good to see you again. I have been on the Ghan in Australia which might be a bit longer, but not by much . Cheers
Beautiful concourse, reminds me of Grand Central in Manhattan!
Brilliant, looking forward to Part 2! 🙂
my favourite way to travel across Canada