After 2weeks in the Maritimes in Sept/early Oct we plan to visit Montreal for 4 days before our return flight to the U.K. We think the Ocean Sleeper which leaves Halifax at 12.35 and arrives in Montreal 8ish the following morning might be a good way to travel. Will we miss much impressive scenery overnight and is it a good idea in principle ? Thank you for your help.

HI LloydJ,

I've taken this train before and it probably will be dark before you reach la Baie des Chaleurs at that time of year. However, the Nova Scotia and near-Moncton portion of the journey is pleasant. If you're the type of person who enjoys train travel (and not the type who thinks, I could do this faster in a car) and can sleep well on the train (get a berth or room), you might find it very enjoyable There's even good food in the dining car and in my experience with most Maritimer dining companions, very pleasant company!.

I say "Go for it!" Happy travels whatever you decide.

DAN

Hi Dan,
Thanks for your encouraging message. It sounds just the ticket. Do you happen to know whether it gets booked up early at that time of year or could we wait a while before making our reservation? Thanks again.
LloydJ

Hi LloydJ,

For late September/early October, I would suspect you could most likely wait a bit before buying your tickets, maybe even until early September.

Bon voyage! DAN

Hi Dan,
Thanks again for your help.
LloydJ

LloydJ, when you've come back from your trip, can you post a trip report? I'm interested in doing this trip as well and would love to hear about your adventures first hand.

Enjoy-la!

This is another of the ViaRail routes that use the restored stainless steel rail cars, including the tear-drop lounge cars at the back of the train.

It's been a number of years since I made the trip (Clinton was running for his first term) but I have fond memories of it.

Like several other ViaRail routes, there is an elegance and level of service on The Ocean that is missing on AMTRAK. Unfortunately, as another poster pointed out, much of the trip is during the night.

Food service in the dining car was very good and I enjoyed my conversations with other passengers. The ambience of the etched glass accents and the wonderful rail cars was especially appreciated.

I like the Wild Rose tea available in Canada and, as far as I know, not available in the US. The lounge car had a samovar of hot water available at all times with Wild Rose and other teas available on a complimentary basis.

I traveled both directions with a sleeping compartment. I remember we were traveling on the day that daylight savings time ended and the train stopped for an hour in the middle of the woods to allow the clock to catch up with the schedule.

It's a very nice trip. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

dwoodonn,
I think you mean Red Rose tea. The commercials always say, "only in Canada? Pity."

LloydJ,
I have done the trip, as a student, without a sleeper. It would be a great trip with a sleeper! You still get quite a few hours of daylight to see something, and as people have mentioned, the idea of a night train and eating in the dining car is quite fun and romantic.

Of course, if you want more time in Montreal, there are quick, easy, affordable flights to Montreal from Halifax.

I did mean Red Rose, Saltymuffin, Thanks for catching my slip of the memory.

Thank you, Dwoddon and Saltymuffin, for the information. We are very much looking forward to the rail journey.Klam Chowder,I'll let you know how things go. I posted here y'day but it seems to have got lost.
LloydJ

I agree with all the comments in response to your query. We have just got back from a 2-week holiday in NS, having this time taken the train Ottawa - Montreal - Halifax return with a cabin on the Alantic on outward and inward journeys.

Some additional info would be to go to the Via Rail website and search the special offers, also log on to have regular issues of Via Rail news sent to your email address. We were able to get a special of 2 travelling for the price of 1 with one of the pair to be a senior of 60+; it saved us a lot.

You get to see more interesting scenery Mtl to Hlfx because you wake up at dawn still in Quebec province and can view the descent down to the Baie de Chaleur and then the trip along the coastline of New Brunswick. Going Hlfx to Montreal Thursday 6 July it was getting dark by the time we reached the NB coastline and was about 10pm by Campbelltown - in September you won't get to see this. I found the NS section of countryside very boring.

Lovely food in the restaurant car, enjoyable chats with neighbouring diners along with the stewards. On return we brought our own food and wine to picnic in our cabin: there is a large supermarket right behind the Halifax station and adjoining it is the provincial liquor store for the wine or beer (You can drink your own alcohol in your cabin but not in the public access areas).

My advice is to go for the train; Hlfx airport is 40 odd kms out of the city, Montreal's Dorval isn't the most user-friendly. If you face a return flight to UK then relax and take the train before you go through the nightmare of airports and planes.

Have a great time in NS, we certainly enjoyed revisiting it and enjoyed the people, hospitality and off-the-beaten-track spots we discovered in our hire-car.

There's a detailed article about the Ocean in the July 06 issue of "Train" magazine. [The August issue is out, so you may have trouble finding the July one now, unfortunately.]

Its main focus is the equipment change and arrangements since the introduction of the new cars that were originally designed for the Eurostar sleepers. But still, good read for anybody interested in this trip.

Rkkwan: Does your post mean they are no longer using the stainless steel Bud rail cars? If so, it's an end of an era, at least on that route.

Correct. Except they do retain an old "Park"-series observation lounge car at the rear of the train. Since the weights are so different, they need to put a "buffer" car between the end of the
Renaissance set and the Park car. Passengers will walk through that to get to the lounge.

The lounge is only available to those paying for the higher Easterly service and not those paying for the cheaper Comfort class. The accomodations are the same, just the food and the use of the lounge, according to the article. In the lounge, they also have workers who are like tour guides that teach you stuff.

Eastery and the Park lounge is only available in the summer.

I'd look into booking now - trains seem to be popular now and are often full.

I agree with SallyCanuck. If you know the definite dates you are travelling, book now. Do not wait until early September as you may be disappointed if you cannot get the accommodation or rate that fits your budget. It may be popular time of year for those who want to see some fall colours.

Many thanks to all who posted after 07/02/06 including 2430 Delta. I've booked us on to Renaissance Class and we look forward to another enjoyable rail journey in Canada.
LloydJ

Renaissance is the name of the new trainsets. The classes they offer are the Comfort Class seats, the regular sleepers, and the Easterly sleepers. Only the Easterly passengers can use the Park lounge car.