The Canadian (VIA RAIL)

[iCe]

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,2763,632601,00.html

The last time I took a train across Canada, the car was so frigid I had to sleep in my ski coat and trousers. There was ice in the sink every morning. By the time we hit the prairies, we were 48 hours behind schedule and the kitchen was no longer serving hot food. I remember long hours shivering in my bunk, nursing my bottle of Grand Marnier and wondering if I would ever get to Vancouver.

Is this true? I hope not! Seeing that the Canadian costs more than $1000 for a single bedroom! :shock:

[skyliner]

I had the opposite experience in February 2002, from Vancouver to Toronto. One of the best travel experiences I've ever had; also, three of the most relaxing days of my recent existence. Far from the writer's problem with cold, I took a sweater to wear if it were cool on the train, and never used it. (BTW, the weather outside was quite cold for most of the trip, to the point where they stored extra ice for the diner put on during the servicing in Winnipeg in an adjacent vestibule--no danger of it melting!) Food was of good quality; the service staff (two different crews-changed at Winnipeg) were friendly and did their jobs well; the equipment was in nice shape; and what can you say about having three nights and three days to ride in dome cars, including seeing the beauty of the Canadian Shield country in northern Ontario with a full moon lighting up the snow-and-ice-covered landscape. Only (minor) flaw I noted was the upholstery on the seats in the dome cars was becoming worn; shouldn't be hard to fix, and wasn't a real problem. I'd love to do it again.
Check out:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=1596
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=1597
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=4835
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=7717
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=8630
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=39299
George

[iCe]

Hey George,

That's more like the reviews I've heard from other people about The Canadian. I guess the writer had an unlucky experience.

Nice photos!

[F40PH-2D6429]

Read the replies here also.
http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11226

Telus6429
Ian
Windsor, Ontario
http://www.trainweb.org/swontariotrain/index.html
http://www.railpictures.net/showpho...?name=Telus6429