SusieQQ

I'm tempted to say east-> west has a slight advantage in May, as the train is due to arrive in Jasper eastbound at 11am and is due to leave Jasper westbound at 3:30pm. (You have about an hour of Rockies viewing east of Jasper.) It should be light until 9 pm in late May; earlier in May might be less advantageous. We were well into BC before it got dark going westward mid-July.

Mind you, I may be biased because I travelled east--> west first and there was the excitement for me coming out of the Prairies and seeing the Cdn. Rockies and BC for the first time. I had a definite preference east to west, which held drama for me, partially because travelling west things become so different from what I usually see.

However if the train is delayed (which it wasn't much when I went), that might tilt the balance in favour of west to east. Also, I tend to sleep in a bit, so I only got maybe 4 hours Rockies viewing heading east vs. 8 hours going west; if you're an early riser, you might get more going east.

I realize I haven't really answered your question but truthfully it's a bit of a crap's shoot. Long and the short is honestly I don't think you'll be disappointed EITHER way you do it.

Cheers DAN

Thanks, Dan...I want to combine the train trip with a few days bear watching in B.C. so I need to work with scheduling issues.

Since you still seem to be reading these, I'll ask a general question.
Is this a 'straight shot' or is it possible to lay over at several spots, to sightsee, spend the nite, etc. (Never taken a long train trip so forgive my naivete.)

>>>>>>Is this a 'straight shot' or is it possible to lay over at several spots, to sightsee, spend the nite, etc.<<<<<<

If you depart from Toronto and travel from east to west, it is possible to disembark from the train at Sudbury Junction, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Kamloops, before the train ends its journey in Vancouver.

However, because the train travels only 3 times a week, a stop cannot be a 1 night stop. It has to be at least a 2 night stop.

Daryleann,

While I did it in a straight shot, I met some passengers who divided the trip into Toronto-Winnipeg and then Winnipeg-Vancouver, spending several nights in the 'Peg. Winnipeg is not a bad stopping point as it's about the halfway point. Some others divided the trip Toronto-Jasper, doing Jasper-Vancouver later in order to take time out to explore the Rockies.

As Judy said, though, if one divides up the trip, one has to spend a few nights in the stopping point of choice if one wishes to continue by train.

Cheers, DAN

ttt for some friends looking for CA train info....

DH and I have been thinking about cross country trip via VIA for a long time. We have taken the Empire Builder and the Zephyr and loved it. Some questions:
Amtrak sleepers feature seats facing each other during the day so both get window seats. Looks like in VIA 1 room bedrooms, there is a bench instead. Is this comfy? Do both people get a good view? Is there enough room in the observation cars to lounge there? For that matter, can you lounge? Amtrak observation cars are hard plastic; no complaints, but we did spend a lot of time in our private room in their very comfortable reclining seats.
Is the ovservation car available to all?
What about the upper, lower berth classes; how does that work? Where do you sit during the day?

Thanks to all for any help.

Special thanks to Dan for your trip report. Had kinda sqaushed the idea after I learned much of the most scenic part takes place at night, but you point out how late it stays light out in mid-summer.
BTW, We took the Rocky Mountaineer a few years back. Very pricey but very wonderful. Luckily, we had great weather.

Hi Susan--

"Is there enough room in the observation cars to lounge there? For that matter, can you lounge?"

At some points in the journey there were more people in the dome car than others, but I was always able to get a seat. The viewing was sometimes better up there since you're above the level of the train. Anyone with a room or a berth has access to the panoramic dome cars. It was sometimes good fun up there as it wasn't taking much to get people more social (especially with the food & drink in the teardrop lounge and bar below). I would lounge there sometimes for hours at a time, alternating between book, scenery and knitting . I found the freedom of motion was almost expected throughout the train.

"What about the upper, lower berth classes; how does that work? Where do you sit during the day?"

At night (you tell the attendant when you want the berth set up), the seats for the upper and lower berth passengers fold together to form the lower berth upon which is set a mattress. The upper berth pulls down from a compartment above the seat and is accessed by a ladder. You're separated from the train's corridor by a curtain. I found the lower berth quite comfortable and private.

If you enjoyed the Zephyr (which I did too), I expect you'll enjoy the Canadian too. This year I'm sorely tempted to try the Empire Builder; I'm debating between that or bicycling on Cape Breton Island. Can't decide!

Best wishes, DAN

Thanks Dan,
more questions. How does double berth daytime seating comepare to Economy bedroom on Amtrak? Seams to me they might be preferable to Via double bedroom because the double bedroom has 2 seats side by side w/ only 1 next to window, while double berth has 2 window seats facing each other. Do these seats recline? Thanks much. I am also posting these questions on a new post. Thanks

Berth Seatings: I believe they're all window seats facing one another.

Berth compared with Amtrak roomette: you're in the corridor during the day, so essentially zero privacy (although it's less crowded than in say Comfort Class). You'll need to use the bathroom/sink down the hall with a berth; sometimes the bathroom is in the room in the roomette on Amtrak (depending on the train). I'd imagine the seats do recline, but I'm not 100% sure because I tended to instead push the seats together and nap horizontally during the day (I sleep easily as long I'm horizontal). I'd sometimes nap while my friend went to the dome car and vice-versa.

Thank you, Dan!

I know it's probably poor form to add to one's own posts years later BUT since train enthusiasts wishing to cross Canada might be drawn to the title of this post, I wanted to make an addendum due to a recent train voyage from Montreal-Halifax.

VIA in the past few years (since the last time I did this trip...2003) has added something called Easterly Class on the Ocean train from Montreal-Halifax. From chocolates on your seats when you arrive to complimentary meals, juice and coffee à volonté to a complimentary cup of champagne/mimosa in the panoramic dome car, VIA has worked hard to make this leg of what would be a truly cross-continental voyage an experience up there with the Silver & Blue train Toronto-Vancouver. A Maritimer acted as learning coordinator in the dome car to tell interesting stories of each region as we passed through, including a wine-tasting of Nova Scotia wines as we entered that province. Other than the fact that VIA got rid of berths on the Ocean trains in the summer (double bedroom is the cheapest sleeper option), I'd highly recommend this 20 hour journey to those who enjoy train travel and want to experience Canadian trains truly *coast to coast*(did I mention that there's some beautiful parts?: Matapedia Valley, Baie des Chaleurs, Grand Lake). Anyhow, Easterly Class I found to be a class act...

Happy travels, DAN

I for one am really glad to hear more from you!

You are ALWAYS in good form, Dan, and I enjoy everything you write about train travel. Thanks!