I would appreciate some recommendations on the rail trips through Canada. Would like to spend a week traveling with stop over at places along the way. I know nothing about Canada. Could you please help? Jamcat

There are five trips I especially enjoy. <BR>1. The Canadian between Edmonton and Jasper (VIA Rail's cross country train connecting Toronto and Vancouver). The approach into Jasper is magnificent and saw lots of wildlife along the tracks. <BR>2. The Rocky Mountaineer between Jasper or Calgary and Vancouver. This is a private excursion train which I prefer to the Canadian along this route because it travels only in daylight. It operates between Jasper or Calgary on day 1, stops overnight in Kamploops, then continues to Vancouver the next day. The Canadian operates through the night so you miss much of the scenery. <BR>3. The Ocean between Montreal and Halifax. <BR>4. VIA Rail between Jasper and Prince Rupert (I cannot recall the name of this train). This also operates only in daylight, stopping overnight in Prince George, BC. and probably has the most magnificent scenery of any of these routes. Riding mostly in the dome car, we saw at least 25 bears along the route on this two day trip. <BR>5. BC Rail between Vancouver and Prince George. <BR>The three VIA Rail trips are all operated with restored stainless steel rail cars and are a return to the days of luxury rail travel, especially if you spring for sleeping car accomodations on the routes that have them. The BC Rail trip is one of the few left in the world operating with self-powered passenger cars (engine and passenger car in one unit). This trip is more for simple transportation or for railroad buffs who want the experience of the Bud self-powered cars. From a scenery or wildlife standpoint, it does not begin to compare to any of the others I mentioned.<BR>One I have not been able to take so far but really want to is the Polar Bear Express, VIA Rail's trip into Churchill.

Sad to say, BC Rail ended all passenger trains including ones like the Starlight Express, this past Fall. All the other mentioned though I totally endorse.

I have but a couple of additions to make to dwooddon's info. One it the URL for VIA Rail: http://www.viarail.ca<BR><BR>The other is small corection. The Polar Bear Express is operated by Ontario Northland and runs from Cochrane to Moosonee at the south end of James Bay. One of these days I will try it.<BR>http://www.ontc.on.ca/english/04pass/04rail.html

I'm sorry to hear about the demise of the BC Rail Trip. The correction on the Polar Bear Express is well taken. The trip I referred to is called The Hudson Bay and operates between Winnipeg and Churchill. The name of the trip between Jasper and Prince Rupert is The Skeena after the river of the same name which the right-of-way parallels for much of the trip.

I would strongly endorse trips aboard VIA Rail whose service, food, amenities and scenery far exceed what's found aboard US Amtrak trains. Sadly, I've only experienced the transcontinental Canadian and went as far east as Ottawa. Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you &quot;via&quot; all the way to Halifax or St. Johns?

Yes, Chouchou, you can &quot;VIA&quot; to Halifax; I plan on doing it this coming Victoria Day from Montreal. There's the Bras d'Or to Sydney, NS as well, but alas, railing it to St. John's, NF, is not possible--the body of water separating Cape Breton and NF is quite large and no train built crossing the strait between Newfoundland and Labrador(nor is there a train to Saint John, NB, although the Ocean does pass through Moncton, NB).

I might add, since you have a week only and since you say you know nothing of Canada... Maybe visiting the big eastern cities might be more something that would appeal to you? Spend some time in Toronto, catch the train to Montreal, spending a day or two in that city (possibly stopping in historic Kingston on the way)...and then continue to Ottawa, and finish your circuit Ottawa to Toronto. You could also opt to take the train to Quebec City. These distances are relatively short as far as Canadian distances go and the trip is not as pretty as some of the others mentioned, but this would allow you to spend time in some of Canada's urban jewels. <BR><BR>Anyhow, just a thought.

Thanks for your input. I must say I have been into Victoria (ferried over from Seattle)which was beautiful. I really wanted to go to see the less populated areas &amp; see some of the mountains, lakes &amp; such. These ideas sound great and I'll will now search of the websites. Thanks. Jamcat

Have heard good things about the Rocky Mountaineer from people who travelled on this train. Definitely worth considering as it will tour the kind of areas you are interested in and they offer good service, accommodations, food, etc.