The "Canadian" will have twice a week runs from both Toronto and Vancouver.
I can't seem to find any information as to when the Maple Leaf or Cascade trains will be able to, once again, cross the Canadian border.
Richard
Posted by David (Member # 3) on :
As indicated in the linked article, the first of the second weekly "Canadian" runs will start on Friday 29th of April from Vancouver and Wednesday 4th May from Toronto. The short-turn "Canadian" that ran once a week in peak season between Vancouver and Edmonton will not run this year. The re-opening of berths (sections) and the sale of Prestige resumes on 4th April.
A while back VIA said full corridor service would resume in June. Until recently VIA had not updated Reservia to show this. But almost full corridor service is now showing from about the third week of June. Some trains appear to have not returned, such as the Toronto-London train via Stratford and the morning Kingston-Toronto train. Also, the Toronto - Niagara Falls portion of the "Maple Leaf" is not showing.
As for the "Ocean" the third weekly round trip is set to resume in June. At this time only Renaissance sleepers are in the system. On some summer dates they are sold out. VIA has been running one or more Budd "Chateau" sleepers in the busy seasons, so it is strange they are not loaded in the system yet for booking.
Anyone with mobility issues should think twice about booking a Budd sleeper. Due to the configuration of the train it is quite a walk from the Chateau sleeper(s) to the service car (lounge) and dining car. Depending on the direction of the train (it can no longer be turned in Halifax)you may have to walk through the crew sleeper, HEP coaches and transition car to get to the service car and diner.
[ 03-21-2022, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Admin5 ]
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
The new schedule in a nutshell:
Toronto to Vancouver
Departs Toronto on Sunday and Wednesday:
Leave TOR 0945 Arrive VAN 0800, 4 days later.
Vancouver to Toronto
Departs Vancouver on Monday and Friday
Leave VAN 1500 Arrive TOR 1429, 4 days later.
Richard
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
hope to do the Canadian again from toronto to Vancouver. Did it once in coach about 12 years ago. Spent 80 percent of the time in the dome car. Sleeping car passengers came up to coach dome as our view was better (behind loco). I also want to do montreal-halifax sometime so i will have crossed entire country (ive also done churchill run). sad no coach dome car on the ocean anymore though.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Jim, I hope you plan to treat yourself to a Sleeper this coming journey.
Posted by David (Member # 3) on :
quote:Originally posted by MontanaJim: hope to do the Canadian again from toronto to Vancouver. Did it once in coach about 12 years ago. Spent 80 percent of the time in the dome car. Sleeping car passengers came up to coach dome as our view was better (behind loco). I also want to do montreal-halifax sometime so i will have crossed entire country (ive also done churchill run). sad no coach dome car on the ocean anymore though.
Sleeper passengers are not permitted to use the coach class Skyline car. It was this way on my last three trips, including the year before the shut-down due to COVID. There is a notice on the entrance to the coach Skyline car.
In peak season, the Canadian is essentially a three-class train. Sleeper passengers are banned from the Prestige Park car until 4:00 p.m. each day during peak season, which this year runs until 15th Oct. (On the day of Vancouver departures there is no access at all for sleeper passengers because departure is at 3:00 p.m.) In the off-peak it is open to all sleeper passengers at all times. The first few rows of the dome are blocked for Prestige passengers, though.
VIA has been telling some callers that a Skyline dome car will be oeprated on the Ocean this summer. There has been nothing official about this so far.
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
ah guess things have changed since last time I rode the Canadian--about 10-12 years ago--then def. some sleeping car passengers came up to the coach dome because i met/spoke with them. Wasnt a ton of folks, but a few. Good that they arent allowed to go there anymore, could be a problem during peak season (i went in May and it wasnt a huge problem then). Ill keep an eye on any news about a dome for coach folks on the Ocean this summer. Though wearing a mask 24/7 is prob a deal maker for me (i understand the requirement, just dont want to ride when there is such). Ill prob not ride till next year anyway with covid still an issue. Hoping things can clear up by 2023. Thanks Gilbert for the sleeper suggestion/comment. No doubt sleeper more comfortable but im on a budget and did just find in coach last time. I also spent about 80 percent of my time (virtually 100 when not sleeping) in the dome. And to me the coach dome may be better than the sleeper one as a better view behind the engine. At least it was when i rode a few years ago.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by MontanaJim: Thanks Gilbert for the sleeper suggestion/comment. No doubt sleeper more comfortable but I'm on a budget and did just fine in coach last time.
Jim, we do not know one another face to face, but you are now twelve years elder from when you did your prior X-Canada journey.
I of course know nothing about your financial standing and have no prerogative to know of such.
But I just think, owing to short supply and if you started the journey, and found after one night out (it would be "of torture" to me. I cannot sleep on an overseas flight even in a Business Class "pod") you decide "even if I did this as a kid, it's too much now", who is to say if there were to be space open enroute?
Now as a retired CPA in this life, I would never recommend anyone go "into hock" with a credit card for a discretionary expense; rather in your case, I would recommend deferring this journey until such time that funds were available to make such in a Sleeper.
I'm not suggesting "Prestige"; just a minimal "Single Cabin" (I guess from Ocean Liner days, that would be Cabin Class) to enable you the creature comforts to find some enjoyment from the journey.