VIA Rail Canadian and the Canadians

[railiner]

Today's Amtrak roomettes are basically like double slumbercoach rooms although the latter had sinks & toilets and also higher ceilings than the Superliner roomettes (in other words the same space as the Viewliner roomettes).

I believe the Amtrak “Roomettes”, both Superliner and Viewliner, are slightly longer than the Double Slumbercoach rooms were…

 

[Willbridge]

I believe the Amtrak “Roomettes”, both Superliner and Viewliner, are slightly longer than the Double Slumbercoach rooms were…

The double Slumbercoach rooms had different dimensions. Double rooms A&B were 5' 7 3/4" and C through G were 7'.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

This proposal
Daily service IMO needs to return Toronto <> Vancouver! However with a wrinkle. Schedule 3 days a week for each on both the current CN route and the previous CP route .
Either not operate on the 7th day or alternate between the 2 routes every 4 months. It would up to the marketing gurus to determine which route which days. Those days might change with the seasons.

How about the two routes, north (Saskatoon - Edmonton - Jasper) & south (Regina - Calgary - Banff) simply alternate days? Thus, over a two-week period each would have service on every day of the week. But you still need rolling stock, just not as much as every day on each.

 

[Urban Sky]

How about the two routes, north (Saskatoon - Edmonton - Jasper) & south (Regina - Calgary - Banff) simply alternate days? Thus, over a two-week period each would have service on every day of the week. But you still need rolling stock, just not as much as every day on each.

Many Russian night trains operate by this method (i.e. even or uneven days). However, you need to skip departures on the 31st of January, March, May, July, August, October and December (as well as 29th of Februar, in leap years) and at subsequent stations there will be alterations in departure dates for the first few days of the following month.

However, this discussion is pointless as long as no new fleet has been funded and ordered to secure the status quo (let alone: to enable any future extensions) of VIA’s non-Corridor routes…

 

[Bob Dylan]

The double Slumbercoach rooms had different dimensions. Double rooms A&B were 5' 7 3/4" and C through G were 7'.

I remember them Well!

Still the Best Deal ever offered by Passenger Trains!!!

 

[trimetbusfan]

What’s the baggage situation on the Canadian? Going to be taking it for the first time in a cabin for 2.

I’ve heard many people checking their bag and bringing on a day bag. However, from what I can tell from videos online, this type of room has a baggage cubby above the bathroom. Is this space large enough to store two carry-on size suitcases and maybe a backpack? We don’t pack heavy.

 

[danasgoodstuff]

https://www.viarail.ca/en/plan/baggages/carry-baggage
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to have gotten more restricted. And weirdly is tighter for sleepers than coach. I get that the berths don't have much room, but the cabins should be able to take more carry on.

 

[jis]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Upon request from a member about a dozen post on the Jasper - Prince Rupert service has been moved to its own thread since it did not have much to do with the Canadian per se, The new thread is:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/via-jasper-prince-george-and-prince-rupert-service.86623/
Please use that thread to continue discussion of Jasper - Prince George - Prince Rupert service.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and participation.

 

[MARC Rider]

https://www.viarail.ca/en/plan/baggages/carry-baggage
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to have gotten more restricted. And weirdly is tighter for sleepers than coach. I get that the berths don't have much room, but the cabins should be able to take more carry on.

This is true. The rooms have less storage space for bags than coach.



This bag, plus a daypack, pretty much maxes out the carry on baggage allowance for the sleepers. This particular model folds up and packs in a nice storage case, so when didn't need it, it didn't take up too much space.




This is the cabin for one (roomette). The bag is sitting on top of the commode cover, but that's where the bed folds down. At night, it will need to go under the seat or bed.

Fortunately for me, I was upgraded to a cabin for two (bedroom).




Looks like a lot more room, no? but there's not place for the bags except the floor. You can't even stash them under the bed at night because the chairs fold up and are stashed under the bed at night. The little cubby over the restroom can barely hold a toiletry bag, certainly not a backpack or travel bag.

 

[railiner]

This is true. The rooms have less storage space for bags than coach.

View attachment 35082

This bag, plus a daypack, pretty much maxes out the carry on baggage allowance for the sleepers. This particular model folds up and packs in a nice storage case, so when didn't need it, it didn't take up too much space.

View attachment 35084

View attachment 35083
This is the cabin for one (roomette). The bag is sitting on top of the commode cover, but that's where the bed folds down. At night, it will need to go under the seat or bed.

Fortunately for me, I was upgraded to a cabin for two (bedroom).

View attachment 35081


Looks like a lot more room, no? but there's not place for the bags except the floor. You can't even stash them under the bed at night because the chairs fold up and are stashed under the bed at night. The little cubby over the restroom can barely hold a toiletry bag, certainly not a backpack or travel bag.

Thanks for that tip...I also have a bedroom for 2, but it's in Room F, which I'm told has a bit more floorspace, being a former "Compartment". I wonder if I could keep my two carryon sized rollaboards in there?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Thanks for that tip...I also have a bedroom for 2, but it's in Room F, which I'm told has a bit more floorspace, being a former "Compartment". I wonder if I could keep my two carryon sized rollaboards in there?

As has been said, VIA is very strickt with Luggage, but since you're in Bedroom F, you should be able to keep both bags in your room.

If VIA happens to say you have to check one of the bags when you check in @ the Station, just take what you need during the trip into your room!

 

[railiner]

As has been said, VIA is very strickt with Luggage, but since you're in Bedroom F, you should be able to keep both bags in your room.

If VIA happens to say you have to check one of the bags when you check in @ the Station, just take what you need during the trip into your room!

Considering we'll be aboard for 4 days and three nights, we'll need a bit more than just for an overnight...thanks...

 

[Bob Dylan]

Considering we'll be aboard for 4 days and three nights, we'll need a bit more than just for an overnight...thanks...

true, it's a Looooong Trip!

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Considering we'll be aboard for 4 days and three nights, we'll need a bit more than just for an overnight...thanks...

When the hubby and I were planning a round trip on Amtrak's California Zephyr earlier this year (more or less similar duration roundtrip as the Canadian one-way), we planned to bring just one duffel bag each (plus my purse and a zippered crochet project bag for me), pack enough underwear for the whole trip (plus 1 or 2 changes of casual clothes), and discard each day's underwear after use, so we wouldn't be bringing home a bunch of dirty laundry (and so our bags would be a lot lighter by the time we got home).

 

[Willbridge]

This is true. The rooms have less storage space for bags than coach.



This bag, plus a daypack, pretty much maxes out the carry on baggage allowance for the sleepers. This particular model folds up and packs in a nice storage case, so when didn't need it, it didn't take up too much space.




This is the cabin for one (roomette). The bag is sitting on top of the commode cover, but that's where the bed folds down. At night, it will need to go under the seat or bed.

Fortunately for me, I was upgraded to a cabin for two (bedroom).




Looks like a lot more room, no? but there's not place for the bags except the floor. You can't even stash them under the bed at night because the chairs fold up and are stashed under the bed at night. The little cubby over the restroom can barely hold a toiletry bag, certainly not a backpack or travel bag.

On our honeymoon in January 1972, CP Train 1 was late into Calgary, so we had a quick pizza for lunch near the station. The leftovers went into a box that fit precisely into the little cubby over the restroom. We concluded that it was further evidence of the high quality of Budd engineering.

 

[1976steve]

Thanks for that tip...I also have a bedroom for 2, but it's in Room F, which I'm told has a bit more floorspace, being a former "Compartment". I wonder if I could keep my two carryon sized rollaboards in there?

There is plenty of room in F for two carry ons and is what my wife and I used on December 6th departure in F. I personally think two carry ons in other cabins for 2 would be a bit tight.

 

[railiner]

On our honeymoon in January 1972, CP Train 1 was late into Calgary, so we had a quick pizza for lunch near the station. The leftovers went into a box that fit precisely into the little cubby over the restroom. We concluded that it was further evidence of the high quality of Budd engineering.

I too am a fan of the Budd Company, but in this case I am not sure they should get the credit for the interior design. I would think that either the CP specified the design, or perhaps the Pullman Company…

 

[Rasputin]

Could someone tell me if the Sleeper Plus Manor cars on the Canadian are usually oriented with the open sections toward the front of the train or toward the rear of the train? Is the orientation of the Manor cars on the Canadian fairly consistent or is it unpredictable? Thanks.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Could someone tell me if the Sleeper Plus Manor cars on the Canadian are usually oriented with the open sections toward the front of the train or toward the rear of the train? Is the orientation of the Manor cars on the Canadian fairly consistent or is it unpredictable? Thanks.

I think it’s usually oriented to where berths are towards the front of the car. I don’t follow this route close enough to know if it’s 100% always like that or not.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I think it’s usually oriented to where berths are towards the front of the car. I don’t follow this route close enough to know if it’s 100% always like that or not.

Every time I've been on the Canadian the Sections were towards the Engines.( last time was in 2020)

 

[OBS]

I think it’s usually oriented to where berths are towards the front of the car. I don’t follow this route close enough to know if it’s 100% always like that or not.

This has always been my experience as well...

 

[xzperu42]

Completed a round trip on the Canadian departure from Toronto on January 21, night in Vancouver and returning to Toronto on January 26th.

Very nice trip, but not sure I will do a round trip again with only one night in Vancouver. But I might

The Canadian arrived Vancouver 4 hours late and the return was 2 hours early into Toronto.

As best as I could tell the menu returning to Toronto was the same as the trip to Vancouver.

I had a room for 1 and it was very comfortable.

There was only 1 car of Prestige and it was full on the way to Vancouver. I spent considerable time in the Park Car and always felt welcome there (it is restricted to Prestige only in the peak season until 4pm). One service person seemed a bit overly zealous in pointing out the first 3 rows of the dome were for Prestige only, but other than that no issues.

For those considering a trip in the winter definitely try and go westbound as you lose an hour each already short day going eastbound. But I guess this is no secret as my eastbound trip had noticeably fewer passengers.

Overall a great trip.

 

[xzperu42]

Has VIA added a third Prestige car to The Canadian? Or is this just an unusual situation:

(Notice car 30, 31, and 32)

 

[zephyr17]

Has VIA added a third Prestige car to The Canadian? Or is this just an unusual situation:

(Notice car 30, 31, and 32)

View attachment 36627

Well, since there are only 8 Prestige Chateaus in existence and 4 consists are required to support the service, they cannot run three on all consists. They don't have enough cars. It has to be an unusual situation of some sort.

I bet that the Park will be off limits to Sleeper Plus entirely for that run, though (despite published hours, Sleeper Plus access can be cut off by the SM if they think it necessary to preserve the Prestige experience. With up to 38 Prestige passengers, they might think it necessary).

Useless trivia, the 8 Prestige Chateaus are:
88204 Chateau Cadillac
88206 Chateau Denonville
88207 Chateau Dollard
88210 Chateau Jolliet
88213 Chateau Lauzon
88217 Chateau Maisonneuve
88226 Chateau Salaberry
88227 Chateau Varennes

 

[Fenu S]

Jasper National Park as well as the town of Jasper have been ordered to evacuate to B.C. due to a wildfire nearby. Not sure exactly how big it's gotten yet, we will know by the morning. Presumably it's going to effect The Canadians.