Page 20 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to Canada

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THE CANADIAN • VIA RAIL CANADA
Ride the Rails
BY LIZ FLEMING
When negotiations to make Canada a country were
underway, it was the promise of a railroad that would
bind one coast to the other that clinched the deal. On
that history-making day in 1867 in Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island, the concept of a permanent link
between the West and the Maritimes convinced the
Fathers of Confederation that our nation could
become a reality.
Built in the late 1800s, the railway soon
enabled valuable freight to be moved,
making our country a solid business
proposition for all provinces.
While freight was key for the growing
economy, the railway was equally important
for European tourists eager to see this vast
country. Soon tourist travel rivalled freight,
and exploring the exciting young country by
train became ultra-fashionable. Capitalizing
on a profitable trend, the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company built glamorous, luxurious
hotels designed to rival the most elegant
European châteaux. Located conveniently
near the train tracks, the CP hotels invited
guests to relax at the end of a day of touring.
The combination of elegant accommodation,
and this magical manner of travel, fostered a
thriving Canadian rail tourism industry.
Rail travel still entices tourists with train
journeys topping the list for sophisticated
travellers from all over the world. Many areas
of the Far North can still only be reached by
train, and sitting in a comfortable railway car
is by far the most inviting way to cross vast
stretches of prairie, see the Rocky
Mountains, and experience the wealth of
natural beauty that is Canada.
VIA RAIL
VIA Rail connects over 400 Canadian
communities from Halifax to Vancouver
and Churchill.
It offers some of Canada’s best scenic
travel experiences, including one of the
world’s most legendary and popular long-
distance rail journeys—the Canadian—a
cross-country service linking Toronto and
Vancouver. This route offers breathtaking
landscapes and cosy accommodations. The
long-distance journey through Eastern
Canada, also known as the Ocean, is as
memorable: the unique charm of the
Maritimes make it the perfect getaway.
Day trippers love the Québec City-Windsor
corridor as a means of experiencing some of
the country’s most vibrant cities. Every year,
when the streets of Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal
and Québec City explode with the energy of
iconic festivals and events showcasing top
talent from around the world, VIA Rail makes
getting there part of the thrill. Festival-hop
from city to city to experience some of
Canada’s many great events.
If you’re a nature lover, be sure to make
the trip between Jasper National Park and
the rugged North Pacific Coast of Prince
Rupert, B.C. This two-day rail journey winds
along the Skeena River where wild grizzlies,
black bears, moose, bald eagles, elk and
mountain sheep gaze as you pass. Visit the
Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and
explore Prince Rupert’s remarkable Museum
of Northern British Columbia, which houses
the fascinating history, culture and art of the
Northwest Coast in a traditional longhouse.
You can also opt for the Winnipeg-
Churchill train which travels through 1,697
km (1,055 mi.) of Canadian landscapes, from