Unfortunately, the system that VIA operates today, is a fraction of what used to exist. The western route between Winnipeg and Vancouver through Banff and Lake Louise (or the ex-CP route) is no longer traversed by the legendary "Canadian" passenger train. But you can take in part of this route on a tourist railroad - the Rocky Mountaineer.
Anyway.....
In addition what was mentioned above.....
Just talking in terms of VIA, there's a concentration of VIA service in the "corridor" route between Sarnia/Windsor-Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City. One could probably even include the train out to Niagara Falls in this corridor. Multiple frequencies and levels of services, largely for day time travel.
There's also a few day trains that go into the interior of Quebec from Montreal, operating three times per week.
Then there are overnight VIA routes head eastward from Montreal to the Maritimes of Quebec's Gaspe peninsula and also out to Halifax (Nova Scotia). They operater three times a week and six times a week respectively.
VIA used to operate a lot of local routes using "RDC" passenger cars in Nova Scotia to places northward to like Sydney in Cape Breton or southward to Yartmouth. There were even "RDC" passenger routes out West and other areas of Eastern Canada.
Then there are overnight routes from Toronto to Vancouver (transcontinental route). The "Canadian" is the premiere long distance transcontinentl across Canada. This train sort of brings back the nostalgia of rail travel offering coach (comfort class) and sleeping car service (Silver and Blue) with domes, diners, Park Car dome/lounge etc.
Other overnight routes - at Winnipeg (Manitoba) there is a route that goes northward to Churchill. At Jasper (Alberta) one can take the Skeena for a two day trip from Jasper to Prince George and then onto Prince Rupert (passengers overnight in local hotels in Prince George so as to not to miss the spectacular scenery along this route).
All the overnight routes, except the Jasper to Prince Rupert route offer sleeping cars, AND either year-round or seasonally - domes, diners, Park Car dome/lounge. The Jasper to Prince Rupert train even offers three levels of service during the peak season (June through September) - comfort class (coach), totem, or totem deluxe. All offer different seating or equipment to enjoy the scenery and food/beverage offerings.
VIA still operates in isolated regions where Canadians rely on the train service, be it from the "Canadian," to the overnight trains mentioned above, to the remaining two "RDC" trains that still operate: (1) between White River and Sudbury (Ontario) and (2) between Victoria and Courteny on Vancouver Island.
VIA often gets touted as catering to tourists from other countries, but that's largely during the summer season. TO some extent this is over exaggerated. I am from the United States, and I have ridden the "Canadian" during the summer and winter and have always met Canadians who are riding the name sake train to get from point A to point B. During peak travel, when the bulk of tourists are carried, the "Canadian's" train set can swell to 25+ cars. But during the winter, when you may find that more "local Canadians" are using this train, the consist may only be 10 cars. So VIA has the ability to add and subtract cars as demand warrants. Even in winter time when people flock to the Canadian Rockies for winter sporting, VIA may add an extra three sleepers on the "Canadian" between Jasper and Vancouver, for example.
The strictily tourist rail operator in Canada is the Rocky Mountaineer, which operates "seasonally" in Western Canada to showcase largely the Canadian Rockies and/or British Columbia interior. And VIA used to or still does operate on some of the Rocky Mountaineer routes. But again, its largely for tourists, with (1) an initial stop for boarding and (2) final stop for de-boarding at your overnight hotel or purely end of journey.
However, I have found that some local Canadians even use the shorter Rocky Mountaineer route between North Vancouver and Whistler (a 3 hour train ride) called "The Whistler Mountaineer." This route was home to BC Rail, which was a passenger rail route up until 2003 or so. Lots of intermediate stops, but not so since it was taken over by Rocky Mountaineer. The Whistler Mountaineer also operates seasonally, but I really wish they would operate this train year-round as getting between North Vancouver and Whistler by car, can often be very hazardous or no travel at all by car due to the road being closed.
Other than the Whistler Mountaineer, Most Rocky Mountaineer rail adventures operate two days aboard the train and lodging is off the train. So you have maximum daylight running. Whereas VIA offers the comfort of sleeping onboard the train as you travel along. When the winter Olympic games are slated for Whistler in 2010, I really hope they consider operating the Whistler Mountaineer regularly, as the road from North Vancouver to Whistler, even though it is being widened, is simply not going to be able to handle the traffic or good safety.
VIA Train Names:
- Canadian (Toronto-Vancouver) - full service transcontinental train
- Malahat (Victoria - Courtenay) - RDC train on Vancouver Island
- Ocean* (Montreal - Halifax) - full service train to the Maritimes (Eastern Canada)
- Chaleur* (Montreal - Gaspe) - full service train
- Hudson Bay* (Winnipeg - Churchill) - full service train to most northern part of Canada
- Lake Superior (Sudbury - White River) - RDC train in Ontario
- Abitibi (Montreal-Hervey-Senneterre) - coach train to interior of Quebec
- Saguenay (Montreal - Hervey- Jonquiere) - coach train to interior of Quebec
- Skeena* (Jasper-Prince George-Prince Rupert) - full service train / coach train
- Various Corridor Trains from Sarnia/Windsor - Toronto - Ottawa - Montreal - Quebec City offering coach and first class service
* - offers seasonal equipment or different classes of service during peak season.
VIA often refers to its coach or just regular passenger cars as "comfort class" and those trains that offer sleeping cars "comfort sleeper." Then there's even more specific classes of services like "Silver and Blue on the Canadian (sleeper class), or Easterly Class (sleeper class that offers a Maritime learning experience on the Ocean during peak season).
The signature car, in my opinion that VIA Rail operates is the Park Car dome/lounge. And this is always operated on the Canadian, Skeena, and then seasonally on the Ocean and Hudson Bay trains. Course if you have the money, they'll tack this car on any train for you if the price is right (as a private car!).
Definitely visit
www.viarail.ca for more information. Then come back to this forum with any additional questions or comments you might have.
The "Canadian," Skeena (Totem Deluxe in June), and Rocky Mountaineer travelling in Gold Lead Service (Frasier Discovery Route or the route from Vancouver to Banff) are highly recommended by me as a first time rider. Then explore the Maritimes or Eastern Canada on the Ocean when Easterly Class is offered.
Good Luck!
