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I'm starting the planning for a trip next April on VIA Rail's Skeena from Jasper, Alberta, to Prince Rupert, BC.
Perhaps we'll fly RT from Chicago to Edmonton, Alberta, and catch VIA's The Canadian (in coach) to Jasper, overnight in Jasper, and then board the Skeena the next morning. The Skeena overnights in Prince George before continuing to Prince Rupert.
We'd return to Edmonton and Chicago the same way.
Can anyone recommend reasonable-to-nice hotels in Princes George and Rupert, preferably close by the rail stations?
And can anyone tell me what the best things to see and do are in either princely town?
HopefulRailUser Member # 4513
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Henry, I have been researching this recently and will post some info tomorrow when I have some time. I computed prices, etc. for booking all parts of the trip myself and also looked at some arranged excursions. I am aiming for next May and want to take the Skeena west and the ferry from Prince Rupert over to Vancouver Island and then on to Victoria. The arranged excursions were certainly more expensive than booking on one's own but also have some advantages. More to follow.
train lady Member # 3920
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Vicki, check the ferry schedules carefully. When we were there we had hoped to go from Vancouver IS. to Prince Rupert and found out that it wasn't running . We were there in May and missed it by one week. We couldn't extend our time because were had to get back to Seattle at a certain time to get the Empire Builder home.If you get to the Island be sure to stop in Chamanius( spelling). It is on the way to Victoria and a charming place
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Thanks to you both, and I hope you will share everything you learn. I'll do the same.
I'm now wondering about taking the bus from Edmonton to Jasper. If I recall right, there are several departures a day from the Jasper rail station. It would probably be both faster and cheaper to go by bus.
train lady Member # 3920
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I checked my spelling(not one of my strong points)and found this.. Chemanius. If you go to www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns then to Pacific Rim region and from there click on Chemanius you will get an excellent site. Also you will find mention of of the railroad,Esquimault & Nanaimo, which runs along the coast. I wanted to take it as I understand it is beautiful but we were driving. The town was disappearing so a group of artists got together and invited other artists to help restore the town. they painted the most wonderful murals on many of the buildings. Wandering around the town looking at them is an adventure. there are great little shops and restaurants as well. It is a great way to spend a day. Further down is Duncan which is also an interesting place.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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My wife says WE ARE NOT TAKING THE BUS from Edmonton to Jasper and return. WE ARE TAKING THE CANADIAN AND SHE DOES NOT CARE HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS.
Now there's a true railfan's spouse.
HopefulRailUser Member # 4513
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Henry - all the high end trips seem to use the Coast Inn of the North in Prince George and the Crest Harbourview in Prince Rupert. I also priced the Inn on the Harbour in Prince Rupert and it looked pretty good. Also don't forget that the Skeena gets into Prince Rupert in the evening on days 4,6, and 1 and leaves in the morning on days 3,5, and 7. So you either leave the next day or stay 2-3 days there before catching the eastbound Skeena.
Connie - Yes, that ferry goes south on odd numbered days in May and begins on May 19th. And thanks for the Vancouver Island info.
Slightly related to this thread, I need to go from Seattle to Vancouver to begin the trip. The Cascades train may be too early for my timing. I know the southbound Amtrak bus trip from Vancouver to Seattle is not recommended due to the customs delays. But what about the northbound Seattle to Vancouver Amtrak bus? Is it the US Customs southbound that causes the hassle? Anyone with recent experience on this bus?
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: My wife says WE ARE NOT TAKING THE BUS from Edmonton to Jasper and return. WE ARE TAKING THE CANADIAN AND SHE DOES NOT CARE HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS.
Now there's a true railfan's spouse.
That is a true railfan's wife and I would never consider riding the bus if there were a train on the same route at any hour of day or night.
Ironically, the last time I accepted a bus in lieu of a rail passenger operation, it was from Nanaimo to Victoria. I had wanted to explore this train but a bridge was out north of Nanaimo. The bus return enabled me to take a short train ride and make it back to Victoria for supper with my wife.
timefortrains Member # 5603
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Vicki - My one horrible Amtrak experience was the "bus" service from Seattle to Vancouver after a 4 am arrival on the Coast Starlight. The vehicle was a van conversion with lousy suspension and wheels out of alignment. The driver was unable to find heater controls but had no trouble playing his Christian rock CD's. Upside was no wait getting through customs just before dawn.
David Member # 3
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: My wife says WE ARE NOT TAKING THE BUS from Edmonton to Jasper and return. WE ARE TAKING THE CANADIAN AND SHE DOES NOT CARE HOW MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IT IS.
Now there's a true railfan's spouse.
Indeed, listen to your wife. The bus is a bit cheaper than the train, but staying home is cheaper still. The travel time is approximately the same: five hours ten minutes. Two of the four Greyhound bus trips from Edmonton arrive in Jasper in the middle of the night. In addition to the tri-weekly Canadian, there is the weekly Snow Train departing Edmonton Friday afternoons (starting 30th Nov.) and returning Sundays. The train fares are, depending on how far in advance one books, $80.56, $92.22 and $115.54.
After arriving in Vancouver on the Canadian a couple of weeks ago, my wife and I took a bus/ferry trip to Victoria. It is a convenient service, with the bus departing Vancouver's railway station and going on the ferry boat, but the 45 minutes to an hour on either side of the lovely ferry trip is a typical horrid bus ride. The seating is terribly cramped. Even the commuter plane (DASH-8) that we took from Victoria to Vancouver had palatial seating by comparison.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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We took the 8 a.m. bus from Vancouver to Seattle for the late afternoon departure of the Builder. The border wait was short, because it was a Sunday morning and the Amtrak bus was one of only two going through at that hour (9 a.m.), but the black battledress-clad Blackwater Thug-style immigration police with large pistols on their hips were frightening to look at. We had to get off the bus, take our suitcases into the bus shed, and have everything X-rayed as if we were boarding a plane for Washington, D.C. I can't imagine what for. The bags in the long line of cars outside weren't being X-rayed, except in suspicious circumstances.
That said, the Blackwater Thugs were efficient and polite and did not behave the way they looked.
I have no idea if the Canadians do the same thing at the border. I kind of doubt it.
royaltrain Member # 622
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A bus is simply too appalling to consider. $80 is pretty cheap, but if you want to go silver and blue, the cheapest between Edmonton and Jasper is an upper berth for two and the price is a rather shocking $608.44 ($304.22 each). If one or both passengers are over 60 then the fare drops to $415.52 (for two). Although I always travel first-class where available, I would have second thoughts about paying such a fare. Actually not, I couldn't bear the thought of going coach when I know there is a better class available.
rresor Member # 128
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I did a BC Rail "circle trip" a few years back, and the hotel in Prince George is within a short walk of the VIA station (but a distance from the former BC Rail station).
The Crest Harborview in Prince Rupert is very nice, and used to be just up the hill from the train station, but I'm told that VIA stubbed the train back to a point adjacent to the ferry slip, so it would be several blocks from there.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Since the run from Edmonton to Jasper is only five hours and it's in daytime, going in Comfort Class (doesn't that sound better than "hard class"?) is just fine with me. There's a lounge car and sandwiches. I always go coach in Amtrak if it doesn't involve an overnight trip. Once in a while I will pop for business class in order to get an electrical outlet for my laptop but I understand in the East most coaches have outlets now.
gibg Member # 2565
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Mr. Resor; Vicki; Mr. Kisor: and Train Lady (et al.): Contemplating a circle trip next year such as Mr. Resor had done, I would ask what the connection is between the end of the Vancouver Island Malahat line (Courtenay) and Port Hardy. I'm assuming it's a bus, but can anyone give more details? Thanks in advance for any information.
HopefulRailUser Member # 4513
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gibg - I see the Greyhound Canada schedule does not work with the Malahat. The train comes in to Courtenay in the afternoon and the bus leaves in the morning. It is still a 5+ hour bus ride to Port Hardy. Don't know if VIA Rail has thruway buses like Amtrak but if so, that is a long bus ride.
I looked into car rental. Don't even think it!
sojourner Member # 3134
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Re getting from Seattle to Vancouver, I had heard Amtrak was going to start running a second train each way next year, in time for the Olympics the following year. But I'm not sure when the added service starts. It's a beautiful ride; try to sit on the left side facing forward northbound, the right side facing forward southbound. However, they assign seats, so it can be tricky. If you don't like the seat you get, you can always go to the lounge!
When I was in Jasper last May, I met a German tourist who had taken the Skeena to Prince Rupert, then a ferry to Port Hardy. Then she had taken a bus down to the ferry to get back to Vancouver; she had wanted to take the Malahat but the connections were too hard. She said she had no trouble with any of the connections she did take, though.
Don't forget, from Prince Rupert, you can also take an Alaska ferry to Juneau. You could then come back to Bellingham WA, overnight there, and catch Amtrak. . . .
HopefulRailUser Member # 4513
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Sojourner - the Alaska part of my trip will be at the front end, cruise Seattle to Seattle. That is what started me on the idea of adding on the Skeena - after all, we'll be so close! Since the cruise ship comes in to Seattle in the morning I will miss the morning Cascades train. I too heard about adding a train, wonder if and when that will happen.
palmland Member # 4344
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If you want to combine it with an Alaskan cruise, another option is to take Alaska State ferry from Prince Rupert to Juneau - about 24 hours. Then return to Seattle on another ferry (actually Bellingham) or a cruise line one way positioning cruise in late spring or late summer (our 120 passenger ship took 11 memorable days).
Great way to combine the best of rail and water. Alaska's M.V. Columbia is their largest and has a fine dining room and nice, if spartan, cabins.
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