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Rail Travelspacer
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Rail Travel

Rail travel has been a popular mode of transportation in BC since the first cross-country rail link was completed in 1886. A national passenger rail service, VIA Rail, offers regularly scheduled trips to a wide range of destinations year round. Rocky Mountaineer sightseeing rail services operate mainly between May and October.

Regional Rail Services

VIA Rail

Via Rail, Canada's national passenger rail service, offers three routes in BC. "The Canadian" is a three-day journey between Vancouver and Toronto, via Kamloops, Clearwater, Valemount and Jasper, Alberta. "The Skeena" is a two-day, all-daylight journey between Jasper and Prince Rupert, via Prince George, Smithers and Terrace. You can get off at any point along either route - even where there is no scheduled stop - as long as you request a "special stop" in advance. "The Malahat" is a Vancouver Island route between Victoria and Courtenay via Chemainus, Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach. It takes three and a half hours one-way.
> VIA Rail details

Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer rail service runs three two-day, all-daylight sightseeing tours through BC and beyond, to points in the neighbouring province of Alberta. The "Journey Through the Clouds" route runs between Vancouver and Jasper, Alberta. The "Rainforest to Gold Rush" route runs from Whistler to Jasper, Alberta. The "First Passage to the West" route runs between Vancouver and either Banff or Calgary, Alberta.

"Whistler Sea to Sky Climb" (formerly known as Whistler Mountaineer) is a three-hour sightseeing rail tour from Vancouver to Whistler via Howe Sound, Squamish and Cheakamus Canyon. Extend your journey through the Rockies by connecting to the Rocky Mountaineer rail tour (Rainforest to Gold Rush route) in Whistler.
> Whistler Sea to Sky Climb details
> Rocky Mountaineer details


Amtrak

Amtrak provides connecting passenger service to Vancouver from points across the US, via Washington State. Direct service is offered between Seattle, Washington, or Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver.
> Amtrak website