Train travel question

[Low Light Mike]

(yeah, I know this page is for ferry-travel questions, but this is a low-volume page, so I hope you don't mind a train-travel question).

I would like some advice from those of you who've taken train trips in Canada & the US.

I'm planning 2010 summer vacation ideas. I'm considering taking Canada's VIA rail from Vancouver to Jasper, and then from Jasper to Prince Rupert. Of course, I'd then take the NorEx ferry back home to Vancouver Island....

Regarding the train, my question is about class. VIA has 2 basic classes now, economy and sleeper-touring. The old "silver & blue" isn't part of their vocabulary anymore...

Sleeper-touring class is approx 3-to-4 times the price of economy. So I'm wondering if it is really worth the higher price? I can afford the sleeper-touring price, but I'm concerned about wasting money. As far as I can tell, other than meals & a place to sleep, the main benefit of the high-price class is better viewing from the cars. ie. access to a park-dome car, and on the Skeena train the touring-class seating is in a panorama car with very high windows.

From my recent VIA Malahat experience, the lack of window viewing was my main complaint. It seems to me that to have access to panorama-windows and dome-cars is a key element to being able to see the scenery and to enjoy the trip.

Economy class would mean that I'd be stuck with smaller windows, and no roof-windows. I think that would diminish the travel experience for me.

So, I'm asking for advice:
- Would my travel experience be impaired by choosing economy and sitting in a seat with just standard windows?
- Are the panorama windows and dome-cars worth the higher price?

FerryNutSeattle: what type of class do you normally do for your multi-day trips?

Coastal Skier, what did you do for your cross-Canada trip?


Thanks for the advice!

[Balfour]

On "The Canadian," I traveled in Silver and Blue Class on the leg from Vancouver to Edmonton when I did my trip back in 2007. The accommodation is very comfy and the food is excellent. In addition to that, they give you free champagne and appetizers once you board the train in Vancouver, so they really treat you well. I traveled in Economy Class for the remainder of the trip and it was nice too, however I had to sleep in a recliner chair although the train attendants hand out free blankets and pillows. Food is costs extra in Economy but it is still very good and costs very little, and best of all you have access to a Dome Car.

On the Skeena Line, I traveled in Economy and I would not recommend doing that. Touring class includes all of your meals and the larger windows of the "Panorama Car."

I'll post photos from my trip on "The Canadian" later when I'm not at my office...

[Low Light Mike]

Thanks, Mr. Skier.

[WettCoast]

Fluge,

You might consider traveling in spring say in the first half of May. The deluxe service (which they were calling 'Totem Class') on The Skeena (aka Rupert Rocket) does not start until mid May. Prior to that there is economy class only. Economy passengers have access to the Park dome car at that time of year. Once the Totem Class service starts economy passengers are not permitted to use the dome.

You do know that no matter what time of the year the Skeena over nights in PG. You must make your own arrangements for accommodations. Beware that most of what is available close to the PG Via Station makes that motel in Westview look deluxe.

I suspect that there are also good financial incentives to ride Via's Canadian early, also. Economy passengers do have dome access in the Skyline car year round. They do not have access to the other dome in the Park car.

Another attraction might be that if you do your Rupert to Port Hardy trip before mid May it will (it appears as of now) be an overnighter aboard the NorEx. Perhaps you would prefer the day trips which do not start until the May long weekend.

The WCK family is tentatively planning a Spring Break train round trip to Jasper. Why then? Mainly because its way cheaper and you can access the dome. We would of course also be taking in the mountain delights of Jasper while there for three days or so.

Another thought if you go early in May... Go sleeper class on the Canadian. For the Skeena you have no choice; it has to be economy at that time of year. It would not be a huge hardship and you save a lot of money.

[Low Light Mike]

Thanks Mr. Wett Coast for the advice.

If I did an off-season train trip, I'd likely do it in the autumn. So maybe that would mesh nicely with a NorEx cruise from Rupert to Tsawwassen?

It does sound like off-season is better $-value for the train.

[WettCoast]

Sept 15, 2009 20:01:19 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

If I did an off-season train trip, I'd likely do it in the autumn. So maybe that would mesh nicely with a NorEx cruise from Rupert to Tsawwassen?

It does sound like off-season is better $-value for the train.

The end of season for Via's Skeena deluxe tourist service is usually Thanksgiving. That is a week or two after the end of the day cruise season for BCF's Inside Passage service. Keep in mind also that daylight hours are much shorter so a good portion of you trip will be in the dark.

As for the NorEx to Tsawwassen - do you mean a repositioning service or are you counting on a regular summer service that goes to/from Tsawwassen? The NorEx schedule for summer 2010 is already published and shows service to be the same as for this year - i.e. no Tsawwassen trips. As we on this here forum know, they were talking about such, and it still may happen.

[Low Light Mike]

For the NorEx, I was wishfully thinking of an autumn-2010 (off season) semi-regular Tsawwassen-Rupert run, as rumoured.

I'm not able to take vacation until late June each year (no spring trips for me....but lots of time in the fall), so I'll have to weigh all my options and costs.

That's the fun part of trip planning.