The Canadian

[Llanigraham]

Booked on The Canadian at the end of next May, travelling Toronto WEST to Vancouver, with a 2 person cabin booked for the wife and I.

Any one done this trip and willing to pass on any tips? I have already been told that the food is really good!

Also as a signalman over here I'd be interested to see some of the route from the front, so wondered whether anyone had a name in ViaRail to ask if it is possible.

 

[30907]

My daughter has just done the trip westbound, I'll ask when she gets home next week. PM me so I don't forget.
serious late running gets you free champers apparently!

 

[martinsh]

Booked on The Canadian at the end of next May, travelling Toronto east to Vancouver

Any one ...willing to pass on any tips?

Buy a compass / atlas - it's west from Toronto to Vancouver !

 

[Llanigraham]

Buy a compass / atlas - it's west from Toronto to Vancouver !

Oops!
Corrected that now.

 

[mac]

Did it nine years ago and what a trip, you leave Toronto and start going though lakes and forest have your evening meal go to bed get up in the morning and you are still in the same forest, that's when you see how big a country it is.
Food is very good much better then America

On the day you start going though the rocky mountains make sure you get up early and get in the observation coach that way you see both sides and in may there will still be snow.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Booked on The Canadian at the end of next May, travelling Toronto WEST to Vancouver, with a 2 person cabin booked for the wife and I.

Any one done this trip and willing to pass on any tips? I have already been told that the food is really good!

Also as a signalman over here I'd be interested to see some of the route from the front, so wondered whether anyone had a name in ViaRail to ask if it is possible.

I've done it, it's excellent. Though a completely different railway culture than the UK - I think at one point we were over 5 hours late, and we had to wait ages to get into Vancouver because of something to do with a bridge being open (I think).

If you want a view forward there are double deck observation cars where you can sit and see all around.

Neil

 

[Llanigraham]

Thanks to those that replied.

Tickets are now booked with an "all inclusive" package booked through Barrhead Travel in Glasgow, from Toronto to Vancouver. Twin bunked cabin that converts each day, all meals included, local wine or beer drinks with meals,and free all day tea and coffee, plus use of all the First Class facilities on the train and an exclusive Club Car.

Now trying to work out how to get 110v chargers for the laptop and camera battery charger, or whether the train might have 12v sockets like a car.

 

[ainsworth74]

Might be worth checking to see if they're already compatible. For example my laptop charger is happy with any input between 100v and 240v so the only thing I need when I go abroad is an adaptor for the plug so I can plug into the local sockets rather than a whole additional charger.

 

[Llanigraham]

Might be worth checking to see if they're already compatible. For example my laptop charger is happy with any input between 100v and 240v so the only thing I need when I go abroad is an adaptor for the plug so I can plug into the local sockets rather than a whole additional charger.

Cheers.
Looks like the computer one is, as it says 100 - 240v Input, which means I can also charge my phone and my Kindle. My battery charger isn't so just need to buy a USB battery charger.
Thankfully I've got an international adapter.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Now trying to work out how to get 110v chargers for the laptop and camera battery charger, or whether the train might have 12v sockets like a car.

It doesn't. However check the specification printed on your chargers - almost all modern ones will quite happily work on 110V. All of mine do.

Don't expect to be using your phone or tablet online much, though - the train does not have wifi (it goes through too remote a place to provide it) and you will very rarely get a mobile signal.

Neil

 

[Llanigraham]

Thanks Neil. I'll check the other chargers.

I had realised that we wouldn't get internet on the train, but having the laptop would give me a chance to download photos off the camera, and possibly edit them, plus I could get a lot more music on there than one my small mp3 player.

We are staying with relatives and touring for the rest of our 3 weeks so will be able to get internet access the rest of the time. The phone will get taken as that has GPS and maps on it.

I'm going to write to ViaRail to see if they will issue a cab pass to railwaymen from the UK, even if only for a short period. Would be good to see it from the front.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Did it nine years ago and what a trip, you leave Toronto and start going though lakes and forest have your evening meal go to bed get up in the morning and you are still in the same forest, that's when you see how big a country it is.
Food is very good much better then America

On the day you start going though the rocky mountains make sure you get up early and get in the observation coach that way you see both sides and in may there will still be snow.

Sounds like it will be a wonderful trip, I have been through part of the Rockies to Jasper by train and also from Jasper - Northwestwards to the coast on the Skeena train. I did it in what they called Totem Class, which in the summer months included meals and drinks including wine and beer. I was able to go upto a dome car where you can see the line straight ahead. It was excellent.

I'd like to do the Canadian and also the routes that go eastbound from Toronto towards Halifax etc. The only thing that puts me off it partly that it may be very expensive, but also the long flight, especially to or from London / Vancouver.

I Like Canada, the Canadian people are very nice too.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed. No free alcohol any more unfortunately (but you do get tea/coffee if you're in the sleeper class).

Neil

 

[duncanp]

Although there is no free alcohol, you can purchase it in the lounge car, and in the dining car at meal times. They don't allow you to bring your own alcohol on board.

I did the trip from Vancouver to Toronto last year, and there was also an entertainment car, with live music in the evenings.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Although there is no free alcohol, you can purchase it in the lounge car, and in the dining car at meal times. They don't allow you to bring your own alcohol on board.

That might well technically be the case, but I don't see how it would be enforced given that they don't search bags and it'd just be in your compartment (assuming you are travelling Sleeper Plus class).

Edit: Actually you are allowed in your own sleeper compartment.
"Personal alcoholic drinks, i.e. ones that you did not buy on the train, may be consumed only in sleeping car cabins. Provincial laws forbid passengers from consuming personal alcoholic drinks elsewhere on the train."

http://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/onboard-train/policies (and scroll down past the bit that implies an outright ban)

Neil