train route through rockies..Jasper vs Banff
 

We are planning to take the Rocky Mountaineer from either Calgary or Banff to Vancouver in May 2010. Any comments on pros and cons of each route.

Thanks!

Sorry ..meant to say either Jasper or Banff

We did Vancouver to Banff but I think either route would be worth it.

Personally, I'd say the scenery on the Banff-Vancouver route was better than on Jasper-Vancouver, but of course from Kamloops to Vancouver (day 2) it's the same route anyway.

The big issue is that Banff-Vancouver is the historically significant first Transcontinental route across Canada opened 1885, Canadian Pacific Railway complete with passing the famous Golden Spike site, whereas Jasper to Vancouver is the later (post-1900 as I recall) less significant rival route, run by the Canadian National Railway. If history matters to you at all, take the Banff route.

See www.seat61.com/RockyMountaineer.htm for a run-down with photos of both routes.

I've done both routes. I suspect you'll end up seeing more since the Mountaineer trips run only in daylight as I recall.

Calgary can be an interesting place to see, depending on your interests (as opposed to say, Jasper) and Lake Louise is stunning although I am assuming you are not going to be stopping there long enough to view it...or are you?