


The same itinerary would cost easily over $1,500 if done by plane or even car! While the prices may not sound incredibly cheap, consider this: On this trip, I visited Vancouver, Jasper, Toronto, Kingston, Montréal, Québec City, Moncton, and Halifax. That said, the prices for the rail pass has also gone up in 2018. The trip costs more with stops, so I just upgraded to a rail pass. The cheapest ticket I found from Vancouver to Halifax was $558 during the same summer. I paid $699 for a rail pass, but you can do it for much less.

From the moment the train leaves the city center behind, to the many hours gliding through gentle prairie fields, rugged lake country, and picturesque towns. The Trans-Canada railway has been a once-in-a-lifetime smorgasbord of scenery. No other mode of transportation allows you to experience the country so intimately. The journey involves zero stops at the gas pump and you don’t need to go through airport security. Traveling by train is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to see the most stunning sights in Canada. In just 5 days, I’ve seen both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean without taking a flight. I've crossed eight Canadian provinces and passed through some of North America's most vibrant cities. So that's the end of an epic 3,946-mile trip - considered by many as one of the world's greatest train journeys. The station sits in the center of Toronto in the shadow of the famous CN Tower - CN standing for Canadian National Railways, of course! The next morning, The Canadian pulls into Toronto's Union Station. That evening, we were treated to an incredibly sublime sunset. you'd start to wonder if people who fly across the country and never take the train are crazy. Together with a freshly-cooked medium-rare burger and beer. Over breakfast, we invented salt-and-pepper checkers. Or you can have a stress-free journey, leisurely watching the countryside slip by as you enjoy the comfort and ease onboard.Įntertainment on the train is only limited by your imagination. The train often collaborates with young musicians and local artists who entertain passengers with live music in the lounge car. In truth, the train is a uniquely social experience. Multiple days on a train sounds dreadfully boring. We're now in the lush forests of Ontario, surrounded by its thousands of trees and lakes. The next morning, I woke up next to a lake. Unfortunately, catastrophic flooding damaged the tracks when I was on this trip. There’s no better place in the world to see them. In October or November, you can transfer trains at Winnepeg to Churchill – the land where the polar bears live. I settled back into the reality of economy class. The restaurant car has full-service dining and all meals are included.ĬMeanwhile.
#TRAIN ACROSS CANADA FREE#
You also can visit the Park car, The Canadian's signature car, to socialize and enjoy free wine tastings, coffee, and live music. And also a much nicer bedroom with a private toilet and shower. In Prestige class, you get a much nicer Panorama dome car. Of course, there are upper classes of travel available including sleeper cabins. You'll be spending most of the time in the beautiful Skyline dome car anyway. You can often find 4 adjacent seats and convert them into your own double bed. I'm doing the entire journey on the cheapest ticket: Economy class.Ĭ Surprisingly, economy class is pretty comfortable. Freshly cooked meals can be ordered at the onboard cafe and restaurant.Īs you can probably guess by now. I figured it was a good time for breakfast. In 2008, the train timetable was changed to show more of the Rockies in daylight. The next morning, I woke up to spectacular sunrise shining into the observation car.Īs the train climbed into the mountains, it soon becomes clear why the train only departed late at night.
#TRAIN ACROSS CANADA FULL#
Under the massive panoramic windows, I fell asleep under a sky full of stars. The train departs from Vancouver at night, so travelers have to wait until the next morning to enjoy the scenery.
