Canadian
A true classic, the original line that put VIA Rail on the map,
The Canadian is an overnight rail line that speaks to the
experience of long-distance rail travel in years long ago. This
train follows a course of approximately 2,775 miles, traversing
through mountainscapes, lush evergreen forests, and wide-open
prairies during its journey between Vancouver and Toronto. Along
the way, VIA Rail's Canadian makes stops in cities and towns that
highlight the country's diversity.
One of the most scenic stretches of the entire route is between
Vancouver and Jasper, a resort town surrounded by Jasper National
Park and the Rocky Mountains. The train travels along the Fraser
River and offers a glimpse at Hell's Gate, a portion of the river
that narrows rapidly, forcing the water to erupt at an incredible
speed. The Canadian also joins the North Thompson River and offers
views of Pyramid Falls and Mount Robson - the highest peak in the
Canadian Rockies - before stationing in Jasper.
Leaving the natural haven of the snow-capped Canadian Rockies,
watch for canyons and glaciers before the terrain gradually levels,
the mountains giving way to foothills and evergreen forests as the
Canadian cuts a path through some of Canada's most varied
landscapes. Admire tucked-away lakes and vast prairies, filled with
color in the summer and endless swathes of white in the winter, as
the train travels through Saskatchewan. See Canada frozen in time
in the Canadian Shield, a picturesque region of lakes, forests and
isolated communities. Then, as the final miles to Toronto near,
hilly countryside emerges once more, guiding the Canadian to its
final station amidst a vibrant metropolis.