The ‘dayliner’ Rocky Mountaineer is North America’s leading tourist train, with over 2 million passengers since 1990. It offers first class accommodations, spectacular views and attentive hosts who tell fascinating stories about the local flora and fauna, as well as provide complimentary drinks and gourmet snacks.
The train is operated by a subsidiary of VIA Rail, Canada’s national railway. Travellers can choose from three routes that connect Vancouver with Banff or Jasper. The train is designed to be operated at all scenic sections in daylight hours, so you can see the mountains and take stunning photos.
Branded First Passage to the West, this route runs between Vancouver and Banff, starting in 1990 when the last passenger trains on this section of the Canadian Pacific Railway were discontinued. This is the most historically significant route, travelled over Canada’s very first trans-continental railway opened in 1885.
Yellowhead Pass: At milepost 88, the train leaves Banff to head over the lowest of the passes in the Rockies, the easy but spectacular Yellowhead Pass (at 3,718 feet above sea level). This is a great route to see snow-capped mountains and glacier-fed lakes as the Rocky Mountaineer goes through a valley.
Stoney Creek Bridge: At milepost 97 the Rocky Mountaineer crosses over the historic Stoney Creek Bridge, built in 1885. This is the only passenger train to cross over this bridge, and is one of the most memorable parts of this journey.
Grand Trunk Pacific: The Rocky Mountaineer passes over the visit here second of Canada’s 3 trans-continental lines, the Grand Trunk Pacific, which was built between Vancouver and Prince George in 1917. This route is a great way to see the beautiful Fraser River valley between Kamloops and Vancouver.
Prince George: The Rocky Mountaineer slowly approaches the city of Prince George, heading for a long low steel bridge over the Fraser River. The train then turns right onto a line which takes it out of Prince George and towards Jasper, where it will depart for the next leg of the journey to Vancouver.
The Grand Trunk Pacific route is a good one to see the scenery change as it progresses, passing through a series of tunnels including a 9-mile long MacDonald Tunnel built in 1988 to improve capacity by bypassing the Stoney Creek Bridge. It’s also a great way to see the very different peaks of the Canadian Rockies as the train heads up to the summit of Mount Robson at 7,425 feet above sea level.
The Rocky Mountaineer stops at Whistler, Quesnel and Glenwood Springs on this route. All guests are offered a motorcoach transfer between where the train stops and their hotel in these locations. This is included for all packages. Please check your itinerary carefully to confirm the pick-up time at your hotel. If you’re a solo traveller or don’t have a package, you can make your own arrangements to get to and from the stations by bus or rental car.