Preferred Canadian Travel Direction

[uncleboots]

I’ve done Vancouver Toronto 4 times and Vancouver Banff once. Love West to East for Canadian Rail Trips.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

the bigger question is…. Why not just ride from Vancouver to Winnipeg and back?

 

[thully]

The scenery in Ontario is actually pretty interesting with all the lakes you see. I found Winnipeg-Edmonton to be more boring, in fact. Going in I was wondering if the 4 days would be too much, but I really didn’t - my only annoyance was the large amount of padding added to the schedule which caused us to sit in Edmonton for a few hours. So I’d go for the whole route unless you’re time/money constrained, in which case Vancouver-Jasper (or Vancouver-Edmonton) is the best part.

the bigger question is…. Why not just ride from Vancouver to Winnipeg and back?

 

[crescent-zephyr]

The scenery in Ontario is actually pretty interesting with all the lakes you see.

To be fair…. I rode in the winter when most of the rivers / lakes were frozen over so it was just lots and lots of snow for those first 2 days. It was novel for about an hour. perhaps I’ll try it again sometime in a warmer season.

 

[zephyr17]

I've ridden it enough both directions now that I am familiar with just about every aspect of it. And I like it all for different reasons.

I find the Canadian Shield in Northern Ontario with its granite outcroppings and lakes to be interesting and the stretch around Sioux Lookout especially scenic. I always wonder how they determined the alignment. I actually like it more in winter. If there has been fresh snow, the train kicking up the snow and filling the air with sparkles on a sunny day from the dome is very pretty and a unique experience.

I like sitting in the dome across the prairies and watching the signals and listening to the scanner. I also always enjoy dropping into the big coulee west of Rivers.

The Rockies are spectacular between Verdemont and Entrance (east of Jasper). I admit I have ridden it enough that I don't even try for a dome seat through there. I've seen it and will leave the dome seat to someone who hasn't.

For me, the big attraction is the train itself. And I love sitting in the dome at night watching the play of light down the stainless consist as the signals change.

For scenery, overall the CZ is better. But the train is itself is matchless.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

For me, the big attraction is the train itself. And I love sitting in the dome at night watching the play of light down the stainless consist as the signals change.

For scenery, overall the CZ is better. But the train is itself is matchless.

It’s not an overnight train so not a direct comparison but you should give Alaska Railroad a shot - best of both worlds as far as scenery and great consist - although it ranks the lowest of the 3 as far as food. (VIA, Amtrak and Alaska RR).

 

[zephyr17]

It’s not an overnight train so not a direct comparison but you should give Alaska Railroad a shot - best of both worlds as far as scenery and great consist - although it ranks the lowest of the 3 as far as food. (VIA, Amtrak and Alaska RR).

Went from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back in the 80s and loved the ex-UP ACF dome coaches. Went from Anchorage to Seward on a cruise connection train in the 2000s. Anchorage to Seward is the single most spectacular stretch of railroad I have ever ridden.

 

[Donald]

What does the Première consist at the rear look like, observation, Premiere bedroom car, diner?

 

[zephyr17]

The common consist order at the rear of the Canadian, front to back, is:
Diner
"Not in service" crew sleeper
Prestige Chateau sleeper(s) (one or two)
Prestige Park dome/observation
Buffer car.

Note the diner is shared by both Prestige and Sleeper Plus.