Rocky Mountaineer railroad
Jul 19th, 2010, 12:21 PM
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Rocky Mountaineer railroad
I’m researching potential train trips for my retired parents who have indicated an interest in seeing trees and beautiful scenery via train, without having to sleep on the train overnight. I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few options and The Rocky Mountaineer trip between Vancouver and Banff (or Calgary) seems like a good possibility. I have some questions for anyone who may have taken this trip:
1) Does it matter which direction you travel, eastbound or westbound? Going eastbound seems like it might be nicer/more dramatic since the train climbs in elevation as you enter the Rocky Mountains and Banff NP area. Would it be anti-climactic going in the reverse direction since you’d see Banff NP on day 1?
2) Does it matter which side of the train you’re sitting on to see the best scenery?
3) For GoldLeaf service, do you get assigned seats? If so, are they the same ones on both days?
4) For GoldLeaf service, is there a lot of glare from the glass dome? I’m worried about problems with photography.
This trip would probably be taken in early September, if that makes any difference.
Thanks.
1) Does it matter which direction you travel, eastbound or westbound? Going eastbound seems like it might be nicer/more dramatic since the train climbs in elevation as you enter the Rocky Mountains and Banff NP area. Would it be anti-climactic going in the reverse direction since you’d see Banff NP on day 1?
2) Does it matter which side of the train you’re sitting on to see the best scenery?
3) For GoldLeaf service, do you get assigned seats? If so, are they the same ones on both days?
4) For GoldLeaf service, is there a lot of glare from the glass dome? I’m worried about problems with photography.
This trip would probably be taken in early September, if that makes any difference.
Thanks.
Jul 20th, 2010, 04:47 AM
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I took Gold service a few years ago - it was very comfortable - we had the same seats each day; I don't remember glare from the dome but didn't take pictures from it either. You could go to the back and stand at the door to take photos. Both sides have great scenery.
It was very comfortable with lots of commentary and history; the food was good with warm cookies for snacks.
It was very comfortable with lots of commentary and history; the food was good with warm cookies for snacks.
Jul 21st, 2010, 05:23 AM
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I am also thinking of taking this trip from Vancouver to Jasper in the fall. However, the reviews I have read on Trip Advisor are mixed. I am really interested in reading other reports and comments from folks who have taken this trip. Thank you.
Jul 21st, 2010, 07:10 AM
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I've read some (not all) of those reviews on trip advisor - we never had a problem with smelly toilets but at least two of them mention it so, hopefully, it's something that's been taken care of by now. If you're thinking of booking, I'd ask the Rocky Mountaineer staff about that issue...and recommend they take a look at trip advisor if they haven't seen them.
One person said this: "The product does not match the hype, and the West Coast line in Scotland is more spectacular by far......and 1000's less expensive"...having travelled in Scotland on trains, I find this laughable...Scotland is lovely but it ain't the Rockies.
I travelled Gold service (Vancouver to Banff) with a cousin from the UK and we both enjoyed the trip A LOT. Cousin wanted Gold, I would have settled for Red - it's the same scenery and that was the point of her trip.
The hotel in Kamloops wasn't a Fairmont but no one claimed it was going to be - my cousin had a swim while I went for a walk in the town. We had dinner at the hotel - I don't remember it being awful so it must have been okay - I'm not a foodie - and we'd been fed so well on the train that neither of us were all that hungry.
There was an extra where you could go to a local theatre for dinner and a play - most did go - one American woman described it to me as amateur but she couldn't help but like it because the actors tried so hard. I don't know if that's still offered.
As for the trains being held up for freight trains - they explain clearly at the beginning that freight has priority, Rocky Mountaineer is using their tracks, and that there may be hold-ups - we had a couple of delays but not for long. Of course, it would be rotten sitting there for hours but if a train is broken down in front of you, that's not Rocky Mountaineer's fault; the same thing happens on the subway here in Toronto - the train in front breaks down, there's nowhere else to go - s..t happens.
One woman, with a long list of complaints, said she was starving...I can't think why...we were fed often and well - besides the meals in the dining car, we had warm cookies twice a day...others mention other snacks. We could have drinks anytime we wanted.
The same person said the scenery flashed past and it gave her a headache - she is a headache, IMHO - anyway, utter nonsense that you don't get to enjoy the scenery because of speed - it's just always all around you.
It IS a long day but the seats are so comfortable that it's easy to doze in them and both of us did.
As a Canadian, I was a minority on the train - most were American or British and I heard no complaints about the service or trip with our travel companions.
Driving yourself along much (not all) of this route is possible, I suppose, you can stop when you want but you wouldn't likely get such good meals on the highway nor the commentary and history that you do on the train.
One person said this: "The product does not match the hype, and the West Coast line in Scotland is more spectacular by far......and 1000's less expensive"...having travelled in Scotland on trains, I find this laughable...Scotland is lovely but it ain't the Rockies.
I travelled Gold service (Vancouver to Banff) with a cousin from the UK and we both enjoyed the trip A LOT. Cousin wanted Gold, I would have settled for Red - it's the same scenery and that was the point of her trip.
The hotel in Kamloops wasn't a Fairmont but no one claimed it was going to be - my cousin had a swim while I went for a walk in the town. We had dinner at the hotel - I don't remember it being awful so it must have been okay - I'm not a foodie - and we'd been fed so well on the train that neither of us were all that hungry.
There was an extra where you could go to a local theatre for dinner and a play - most did go - one American woman described it to me as amateur but she couldn't help but like it because the actors tried so hard. I don't know if that's still offered.
As for the trains being held up for freight trains - they explain clearly at the beginning that freight has priority, Rocky Mountaineer is using their tracks, and that there may be hold-ups - we had a couple of delays but not for long. Of course, it would be rotten sitting there for hours but if a train is broken down in front of you, that's not Rocky Mountaineer's fault; the same thing happens on the subway here in Toronto - the train in front breaks down, there's nowhere else to go - s..t happens.
One woman, with a long list of complaints, said she was starving...I can't think why...we were fed often and well - besides the meals in the dining car, we had warm cookies twice a day...others mention other snacks. We could have drinks anytime we wanted.
The same person said the scenery flashed past and it gave her a headache - she is a headache, IMHO - anyway, utter nonsense that you don't get to enjoy the scenery because of speed - it's just always all around you.
It IS a long day but the seats are so comfortable that it's easy to doze in them and both of us did.
As a Canadian, I was a minority on the train - most were American or British and I heard no complaints about the service or trip with our travel companions.
Driving yourself along much (not all) of this route is possible, I suppose, you can stop when you want but you wouldn't likely get such good meals on the highway nor the commentary and history that you do on the train.
Jul 21st, 2010, 09:21 AM
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Morninglory, thanks for your excellent post. We want to do this trip sometime in the future, and it's very helpful to read some details. As for that "headache", nothing would have been good enough for her 
Jan 5th, 2012, 07:27 AM
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Hi I will answer your questions then tell you of my experience
Q1 better to go from Vancouver to Banaff otherwise the last thing you see getting back into Vancourver is dead elm Trees.
Q2, No you can see clearly both sides in Gold Leaf in red leaf plenty to see both sides and if the on board crew knew the route they could tell you what was coming so you could go to viewing platform
Q3 you get assigned seats in red silver and Gold leaf and keep those seats for both days.
Q4 wouldn't have said glare was a problem.
I did this trip last year mid september and it wasn't worth the money not while the lockout is still on going.We didn't know about it Until we got to the staion and had to cross the pickets who had been locked out . We were absolutely mortified to cross the line, as the trip was part of our overall package holiday and we had no other method of travel and did not know what else we could do. The so called new attendants didn't have a clue about the trip. So don't go on this until the Management give the workers there jobs back and with the pay rise they deserve. If you think about it you will realise this company are ripping you off, they are still charging the same costs as though they have experiecenced on board workers on board. god forbid if they had a emergency these new crews wouldn't be able to cope not in the same way has the staff with 22 years service behind them. This company dosen't know what loyalty is so as a passenger don't give them any use the other rail company http://www.viarail.ca/en I will be be using them when I return shame they don't do the same journey. Also the new crews don't do anything about the state of the washrooms during the journey, they serve food and ask if everything ok. But unless you know what it should be like you won't get it the full guided tour not with the new crews they read it from books and didn't know when interesting points were coming up.
Q1 better to go from Vancouver to Banaff otherwise the last thing you see getting back into Vancourver is dead elm Trees.
Q2, No you can see clearly both sides in Gold Leaf in red leaf plenty to see both sides and if the on board crew knew the route they could tell you what was coming so you could go to viewing platform
Q3 you get assigned seats in red silver and Gold leaf and keep those seats for both days.
Q4 wouldn't have said glare was a problem.
I did this trip last year mid september and it wasn't worth the money not while the lockout is still on going.We didn't know about it Until we got to the staion and had to cross the pickets who had been locked out . We were absolutely mortified to cross the line, as the trip was part of our overall package holiday and we had no other method of travel and did not know what else we could do. The so called new attendants didn't have a clue about the trip. So don't go on this until the Management give the workers there jobs back and with the pay rise they deserve. If you think about it you will realise this company are ripping you off, they are still charging the same costs as though they have experiecenced on board workers on board. god forbid if they had a emergency these new crews wouldn't be able to cope not in the same way has the staff with 22 years service behind them. This company dosen't know what loyalty is so as a passenger don't give them any use the other rail company http://www.viarail.ca/en I will be be using them when I return shame they don't do the same journey. Also the new crews don't do anything about the state of the washrooms during the journey, they serve food and ask if everything ok. But unless you know what it should be like you won't get it the full guided tour not with the new crews they read it from books and didn't know when interesting points were coming up.
Apr 16th, 2013, 05:28 AM
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In the website of www.incento.nl you can find the complete range of Rocky Mountaineer train trips, offered by Incento- a official representative of Via Rail for the Netherlands.
