VIA Rail Canada's The Canadian In Winter

Via Rail’s “Canadian” is Canada’s premiere transcontinental luxury passenger train which, although curtailed by the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020, polishes high iron on the Canadian National Railway between Toronto in the East, and Vancouver on the Pacific Coast twice a week in each direction.

Back in 1953 the Canadian Pacific Railway placed an order for 155 brand new, stainless steel, streamlined passenger cars to replace their aging heavyweight fleet, changed the name of their flagship cross-country passenger train from “The Dominion” to “The Canadian”, and on April 24, 1955 began service on one of the world’s most famous passenger trains.

Running time between Montreal, the starting terminal at the time, and Vancouver was reduced from about 85 hours aboard The Dominion, to 71 hours on The Canadian.

In 1978 Canada’s national passenger rail provider, Via Rail, took over operation of The Canadian… and in 1990 reduced service on the Canadian to only between Toronto and Vancouver… and changed the route from Canadian Pacific to primarily Canadian National tracks.


This video documents one voyage on The Canadian during March of 2003, when three trains ran in each direction every week.

Видео VIA Rail Canada's The Canadian In Winter канала Christopher Lewis