11 Things You NEED To Know Before Riding the Via Rail Canadian 2024
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- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
- Gail and I have travelled on the Via Rail Canadian line many times. The Canadian runs between Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. Most of our trips, spanning the last ten years, have been from our home town of Winnipeg, Manitoba (more-or-less the midpoint of The Canadian's run) to Vancouver. As part of our "North America by Train" series of videos, we have finally completed the entire Canadian run with a trip from Toronto back to our Winnipeg home.
We've accumulated a lot of travel insights in taking The Canadian. The purpose of this video is to pass on some of that practical knowledge to you. We want to make your first trip on The Canadian as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. So let's get going with a few practical tips on taking the Via Rail Canadian for your next transcontinental journey.
Via Rail: www.viarail.ca/en
Amtrak: www.amtrak.com/home.html
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Great advise. I rode The Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver last November, great scenery and weather (sunny the entire trip) and the food was spectacular (I was in a Cabin for 2). I'm planning another trip for Spring 2025.
Thanks. Enjoy your upcoming trip on the Canadian!
Thanks for the helpful hints. Clear, concise and useful. All Aboard!
Thanks again! Your comments are always encouraging.
My Wife and I are scheduled to go on this trip at the end of July this year (Toronto to Vancouver) and have been looking forward to this trip of a lifetime. I have watched countless YT videos about this trip and what to expect but your tips in this video have been the best so far. I was not expecting the advice about tipping so I will now be sure to bring some cash for this purpose. All the other tips are excellent especially about the size of luggage to bring on board and the fact that you will not have access to any other baggage checked into the bagage car until you get to your destination. The thing I am looking forward to the most is the food which everyone has raved about and of course the spectacular scenery as we cross the country..
Thanks for your kind words. Glad to be of help. You will certainly enjoy the food. It’s top notch.
I'm so sorry 😢 but the Jasper Park wildfire disaster means that trains cannot reach across the country at least for this month.
Thank you so much. We're looking to book our 50th wedding anniversary trip for next May very soon. This has been so very helpful. I didn't think about the money exchange idea. And didn't realize that giving US dollars was not a good idea, I'll have time to work this out for sure!! Your videos are helpful and informative. ❤❤
Thanks! Have a great anniversary trip!
I am taking he Ocean in September and have a single-room in the old heritage cars. Lots of great advice, especially about the tipping. I have tipped on Amtrak before, but it is really hit or miss with the friendliness of the staff. Looking forward to a long trip on VIA Rail.
Thanks! Your trip sounds like fun. We haven’t taken the Ocean. Some time soon we hope.
Thank you so much for these tips. Having watched hours and hours of YT videos about
VIA and more specifically the Canadian, you are the first to mention tipping. May I ask how frequently you tipped the staff? Did you leave a Twoonie at each meal? I will have two cabin attendants (TOR - WPG and WPG - VCR). What are your suggestions in this regard? I’m already booked for April 2025 from TOR to VCR in a cabin for one. My fingers are crossed that if a sale should come up that maybe I could upgrade to a cabin for two.🤞🏻Loved your coverage of your “circular” trip earlier this year.
Glad it was helpful! The staff in the dining car is the same for all three meals so you could just leave one tip at your last meal. I think $5 is fair but it is at your own discretion. It’s likely best to tip each of the two cabin crews. If you booked a full non-discounted fare, you can cancel at no charge and rebook if a sale comes round. We’ve done it. Regardless, have a great trip!
I’ve done it 148 times in sleeper. Park car access is restricted to prestige guests in peak season April - October on departure days from Vancouver and Toronto and all day every day until 4pm on days not originating in Vancouver or Toronto. Sleeper car passengers can access the park car 4pm - 11pm on these days. Your luggage you bring into your sleeping accommodation can be stowed under your seat. In a lower berth under the bed and in your cabin under the lower bunk. Cabin for 1 under the bench chair your roller luggage will fit
Good points. We have only traveled in winter so Park Car access has not been a problem. We have heard of restrictions during peak season but have not personally experienced it. We always take two good sized bags into our bedrooms, roughly carry on suitcases in size, but any extra bags or large suitcases need to be checked (which is a generous and free service). This different than Amtrak trains which have large shared luggage racks in the aisles of each car. 148 times on The Canadian is quite the accomplishment!
VIA Rail's Preference program sounds a lot like the Amtrak Guest Rewards program. My husband and I were able to use AGR points to book a trip to Kansas City last year, and hope to use AGR points to book an even longer trip next year. (Paid cash for this year's trip, though.)
The points programs are similar. I’ve been travelling on The Canadian for a number of years, one trip each year, slowly building points but never having enough for a trip. But last year Via Rail changed their points system and seem to be pouring them on. I’ve ended up with two free long train rides on The Canadian in the last year!
Sad news about the Jasper train station burning down in this summer's wildfires! :(
Yes, Gail and I are watching the situation closely. The Jasper stopover on The Canadian has always been a highlight. We will be passing through in January 2025. It will be an interesting, maybe heartbreaking experience.
@@TravelIntently Just saw an update on the Amtrak Unlimited forums about Jasper. It sounds like the Jasper train station may have been spared, and that "significant equipment" was moved from the Jasper train yard out of the path of the wildfire.
That’s good news! I hope it holds out.
I've heard of one gal who used to give lessons on Tunisian crochet (she called it "railway knitting") on the Canadian; don't know if she's still doing that, though.
I haven’t run across the crochet lady on the Canadian but I have seen a young guy doing needlepoint on an Amtrak observation car!
@@TravelIntently I brought my crochet with me on Amtrak last fall, and plan to do so again this fall on the Texas Eagle. Which project I bring will depend on how much room I have for yarn and hooks, and on whether or not I already have the pattern memorized.
Could tipping be done in US currency as well?
I’m sure US currency would acceptable, given the exchange rate.