wilees

The VIA train journey across Canada is often asked about on this board but there is only a few trip reports (albeit two fabulous reports), so I thought I would do a quick report back.

I have posted some photos of our trip here:

http://peterandlouisephotos.blogspir...rip_sept_2007/

My husband and I (30's and NZders) took the VIA train from Toronto to Jasper. It was two nights and we chose to sleep in berths.

Personally, I think the berths are the best option - the beds were really comfortable - much wider than sleeper trains in Europe.
Once the curtain was closed you have your own little room. I pulled open my window and watched the stars (the upper bearth cannot do this). I suspect the berths have bigger beds than the roomettes.

In the train no rooms have their own shower - there is a shower per carriage. So I do not really see the benefit of the roomettes apart from a little bit more privacy.

It was very comfortable - but it was still difficult to sleep with the noise and movement.

The food and service was great.

On the first morning on the train we were awoken to see snow everywhere!! The train crew were not pleased to see their winter arriving early.
Every day we were given 3 meals in the dining car. We did not lose any weight on the train. Once we finally left Ontario we made it to the Prairies - which was a nice change from trees. We stopped in Winnipeg and had just enough time to stretch our legs outside the station. The second night was clear so there were stars to be seen then the third day - The Rockies where 75% of the people on the train got off. A good chunk of people were tour parties - a lot British.
So we arrived in Jasper on a gloriously fine day only 2 hours late (quite good for a 3 day trip) mainly because freight trains have the right of way.
We were, however, glad to be sleeping in a bed that does not move.

So it was a great experience - I really feel like I have seen Canada (I know what most of it looks like!!) which you do not get from an aeroplane.

wilees

damn - The <b>Canadian</b> Train Trip. My typo will be forever immoralised on the board as you can't edit your post!!!

traveller69

OK if you are getting technical did you mean immortalised???

kodi

Thanks for sharing your experience, and your photos.
It sounds like you had a good time, even though it's a long time on the train.
But it did allow you to see so much of Canada. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

wilees

yeah I did mean immortalised but I thought if I posted yet another typo post I would make another mistake then be stuck in a neverending circle forever.

And I was kinda hoping people wouldn't notice - cos I didn't when I previewed it!

April

I actually didn't notice the typo. Thanks for the report.

LJ

Your photos are wonderful and make me proud of how beautifully my beloved Canada (or Canda-we knew what you meant!) shows off for travelers. Thank you so much for your pics and the sense of humour you have shown-I love that you are now immoralized here. I hope to visit your country someday, especially to see the roses as for a rose fancier such as me, NZ is considered paradise.

wilees

Thanks for the comments. I spent 2 months travelling around North America and while it was all great I did enjoy Canada the best. I suspect it is because there are parts that are very similar to New Zealand and at the time I had not been home in 3 years.

Canada felt less hectic and safer. I have been travelling the world for 3 years and I felt more unsafe in some USA cities that anywhere else I have been. (However, I still really enjoyed the US as well.)

Thanks to everyone on the board for their help (I am a post lurker). I shall endeavor to write a brief trip report of some of my other travels soon.

Daniel_Williams

Wilees,

I did this trip back in 2005 (except Toronto-Vancouver... that last part is pretty terrific too)and some of the pictures you took were remarkably similar to the ones I took (especially the one of the train with the CN tower and a Toronto GO commuter train in the background). To this day, one of trips I've taken that I treasure most.

Thanks for telling your tale.

DAN

wilees

I know that you took this trip Dan - as I copied your great trip report when I was doing my planning so I could look it up when I had a question!! Thanks!