The Canadian

History

In the years following

FPA-2s.

CP christened its new flagship train The Canadian and service began on April 24, 1955. Running time between Montreal and Vancouver was reduced from about 85 to 71 hours, so that passengers spent only three, rather than four, nights en route. Although CP competitor Canadian National Railways began its own new transcontinental service, the Super Continental, on the same day, CP was able to boast honestly that The Canadian was "The first and only all-stainless steel 'dome' stream-liner in Canada" — it was not until 1964 that the CN acquired dome cars from the Milwaukee Road.

The train operated with Montreal and Toronto sections, which ran combined west of Sudbury, Ontario. The Montreal section (also serving Ottawa) was known as train 1 westbound and train 2 eastbound, while the Toronto section was known as train 11 westbound and train 12 eastbound. Matching its streamlined appearance, The Canadian's 71-hour westbound schedule was 16 hours faster than that of The Dominion.

Although initially successful, passenger train ridership began to decline in Canada during the 1960s. Facing competition from new jet aircraft and increased automobile usage following construction of the Trans-Canada Highway, the CP cancelled The Dominion in 1966, and petitioned the government to discontinue The Canadian in 1970. Although this petition was denied, CP during the 1970s attempted to remove itself from the passenger service market. The Canadian was operated at reduced levels, with the government funding 80 percent of its losses.

Service under Via Rail

Via Rail, a federal

crown corporation, formally assumed responsibility for CP's passenger services on October 29, 1978, although the Via identity was not assumed by the trains themselves until the following summer. Following the takeover by Via, the Canadian became the company's premier transcontinental train, and initially operated over its old CP route. It was supplemented by the former CN Super Continental, which operated over the parallel, but more northerly, CN route. The Canadian continued to be operated in two sections east of Sudbury and provided daily service west to Vancouver and east to Toronto and Montreal.

The Super Continental was discontinued in 1981 due to sharp budget cuts. Since then, the Canadian has Via Rail's only true transcontinental train. While the Super Continental was brought back in 1985 amid popular demand, it only ran as far east as Winnipeg.

In the aftermath of another round of deep budget cuts made to Via Rail on January 15, 1990, Via again discontinued the Super Continental, this time permanently. The Canadian was moved from CP trackage to the CN route plied by the Super Continental for its first quarter-century, dropping the Montreal section. The new longer route bypassed

In 2007, the schedule was lengthened so that the train now takes four nights, rather than three, to travel between Toronto and Vancouver. The four-night schedule is almost identical (in terms of travel time) with that of the 1940s, despite substantial technological change since then.

In 2013, the train was honoured by being featured on the back of the new polymer Canadian ten-dollar note.^[8]

As of 2022^[update], Via Rail continues to operate the Canadian using the rebuilt ex-CP Budd passenger equipment.^[9]

Due to CN's shortage of capacity on the cross-country line, 12-hour delays had become almost standard. On-time performance had fallen from 84% in 2009 to just 8% in 2017.^[10] Continuing delays reached nearly 2 days in length by mid-May, 2018.^[11] To address this issue, the schedule was lengthened again, effective July 26, 2018, to four days and four nights in each direction due to continuing schedule-reliability problems on the host railway: CN.^[12] This change has almost entirely resolved the issue.

The Canadian currently takes 94 hours 15 minutes westbound^[13] vs. 95 hours 29 minutes eastbound.^[14] This is 13h50m vs. 12h19m slower than the SSContinental's 80h25m vs. 83h10m^[15] and 13h5m vs. 12h24m slower than the Dominion's 81h10m vs. 83h5m^[16] schedules from 1952. The difference is entirely due to CN freight traffic being prioritized over passenger traffic along the route.^[11]

Current operations

When operating on the normal schedule, the Canadian operates twice per week, departing Toronto on Wednesdays and Sundays and Vancouver on Mondays and Fridays. The total journey takes about four days.

The great majority of stations operate as flag stops; passengers boarding or detraining at these stops must give advance notice. On March 21, 2020, the Canadian and most other Via Rail services were suspended due to the pandemic.^[17] This suspension continued until December 11, to accommodate inspection and repair work as part of its Heritage Modernization Program.^[18] Beginning December 11, the Canadian was reinstated between Winnipeg and Vancouver only and ran once a week. Service to Toronto resumed on May 17, 2021, still operating once a week.^[19]

Service disruptions

In January 2020, service on the Canadian (along with nearly all of Via's other services) was suspended due to the 2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests and blockades at several points along CN and Metrolinx lines.^[20][21] Partial service was restored in early March.^[22]

However, less than a month after the blockades were lifted, the

In response to these two major disruptions, Via amended its cancellation policies to allow changes without penalty and full refunds.[25]

In November 2021, service west of Winnipeg was impacted by the

The Canadian offers three main classes of service: Economy, Sleeper Plus, and, since 2014, Prestige.[27]^[28] It additionally includes one or more dining cars, at least one Skyline (dome) car per class, a Panorama car (west of Edmonton), and a Park car.^[26]

Prior to boarding

Sleeper Plus and Prestige passengers have access to the Via Rail business lounge, if available at that station. Prestige passengers are offered exclusive access to a dedicated business lounge area.

Sleeper Plus and Prestige passengers are pre-boarded.

No smoking is permitted in any Via station or on board the Canadian, including e-cigarettes and marijuana. The Canadian will make extended stops at some stations, which allow passengers to step outside the train and smoke if they so desire.^[29]

On board

Seating and rooms

Economy class cars are kept separate from sleeper cars. One concierge is assigned to every sleeper car, or sometimes to two sleeper cars. The Prestige rooms are at the very back of the train.^[30]

Economy offers reclining seats. Sleeper Plus has a choice of upper/lower berths, a roomette for one, or a cabin for two: each of which features chairs or facing sofa seats during the day and beds at night. Some berths can accommodate two persons. It is also possible to join two adjoining cabins for two to create a space for four people during the day. The second bed in a cabin for two is a pull-down bunk. Prestige offers a significantly larger cabin, with a modular leather sofa during the day which converts to a double bed at night. The Prestige cabin also has a much larger window.

Economy and Sleeper Plus have one washroom per car. Sleeper Plus roomettes and cabins for two include private washroom facilities, and additionally have access to a shared shower in each car. Prestige has both private washroom facilities and private showers.

Meals and entertainment

Sleeper Plus and Prestige include three-course meals in a dining car, including non-alcoholic drinks during meals and coffee/tea/snacks at all hours. Prestige additionally includes unlimited drinks, including alcoholic drinks, with a dedicated concierge who will bring requested drinks to the room. Economy gives access to a cafe car with light meals available for purchase. A Sleeper class which included accommodation but no meals was discontinued in 2015.^[30]

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is open seating, with an additional continental breakfast available in the Skyline car. Lunch and dinner are served in two or three seatings, usually chosen the previous evening.

All classes have access to their own Skyline car. Sleeper Plus and Prestige passengers also have access to the Panorama car. Prestige passengers have semi-exclusive access to the Park car, a licensed lounge at the back of the train.^[30]

Talks and activities are scheduled during the summer months. If a singer or musical group is travelling with the train, separate performances will be available to each class of service.

Prestige uniquely has an in-cabin flatscreen television, with a selection of TV channels and movies.

Changes during COVID-19

As of October 30, 2021, all Via Rail passengers were required by Canadian law to bring proof of vaccination.^[31]

The Prestige class was unavailable until February 14, 2022.

Masks were mandatory at all times in public areas on the train. They could be removed in cabins or nighttime berths, in the shower, or while eating or drinking.

During the initial restart, lunch was served in the cabin or berth seating area. This practice ended with the introduction of the law requiring proof of vaccination for all intercity public transportation. Shower time slots had to be reserved with the car concierge, who disinfected the shower after each use.

All activities were cancelled. The Panorama car was discontinued for the duration. Dome cars were open, but with limited seating.

Route

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Vancouver-Kamloops

Vancouver-Gifford

The Canadian's eastbound journey begins at Vancouver's

Fraser and Thompson River Canyons

At Gifford, the train diverts from the CN mainline and crosses the

Westbound, the Canadian stays on the CN tracks all the way into Vancouver. The CN route passes through Painted Canyon, and features CN's 800-foot (240 m) steel-arched bridge over the Fraser River and the CPKC mainline at Cisco. The tracks in Painted Canyon are only approximately 200 feet (61 m) above the Thompson River. After Cisco, the CN mainline stays on the east/south side of the Fraser River all the way to the New Westminster Bridge, where the two routes merge.

On their regular schedules, both east and westbound Canadians travel through the Fraser and Thompson river canyons at night.

Basque-Kamloops

Traveling eastbound from Basque, the CN line crosses back across the Thompson River. Aside from a few brief deviations across the river, the line stays on the north/west side into just outside Kamloops. Arriving in Kamloops, the train halts at CN's North Kamloops Station.

Kamloops–Jasper

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North Thompson River Canyon

For six hours after departing Kamloops, the tracks run north, following the North Thompson River for much of the way and crossing it four times up the valley.^[32][33] Several flag stops are located here — for example, Clearwater and Blue River. The Monashee Mountains lie to the east for much of the way to Valemount. Although railway slide fences protect the route alongside the mountains, the train usually runs at speeds between 26 and 30 miles per hour (42 and 48 km/h).

On the downslope side of the train lies the North Thompson River; in the distance are often-snow-covered mountains. The icefields of the

South of Valemount, the train passes a memorial to the Canoe River crash. The train then crosses the river over a 240-foot (73 m) bridge before arriving at Valemount station.

Valemount–Redpass

North of Valemount, eastbound and westbound trains routes again diverge. Eastbound trains use CN's Albreda Subdivision, which continues to climb until Milepost 65.6, a curve near Jackman. The line then runs eastward at constant elevation through Mount Robson Provincial Park, with views of Mount Robson. The line passes through a 1,670-foot (510 m) tunnel and then descends to Redpass Junction, where it joins with CN's Robson Subdivision. The latter is used by westbound trains; it is lower in elevation and has more favourable grades^{[according to whom?]} than the Albreda Subdivision.

Redpass-Yellowhead Pass

Redpass Junction is near the western shore of Moose Lake. The train follows along the north shore of the lake for several miles, and there are a couple of splashing waterfalls cascading down from the mountains into the lake. The south shore of the lake is the Selwyn Range, which the train has essentially detoured around. The Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) parallels the CN tracks to the north.

After Moose Lake, the train travels through a narrow valley nestled between the mountains, crosses the

The town of Jasper sits inside of a big "U," as it relates to the railroad. The railroad comes in from the northwest and rounds a curve into the station. At the station, the train is actually facing northeast. Upon leaving the station, the train continues in a more northeasterly direction rather than due east. Also the train has descended into Jasper from Yellowhead Pass and now climbs a grade shortly after leaving the Jasper railyards. The train runs along the mountainsides overlooking the Athabasca Valley and River and surrounding mountains. There is usually a flock of bighorn sheep grazing on the bluffs above the train to the north. During the winter, they can often be seen licking salt off the parallel Yellowhead Highway. Other Canadian wildlife that may be seen from the train^{[citation needed]} include bear, deer, elk, mountain goat, and various species of Canadian birds.^[40]

To the north/northwest, passengers will see the peaks of the Victoria Cross Range—so named because six of the peaks are named after Canadian recipients of the Victoria Cross. Mount McKean (2,743 metres [8,999 ft]^[41]) and Mount Zengel (2,630 metres [8,630 ft]^[42]) are two such mountains that can be seen from the train. Looking southward (across the river), there is the Colin Range. Hawk Mountain (2,553 metres [8,376 ft]^[43]), Roche Bonhomme (2,495 metres [8,186 ft]^[44]), and Morro Peak (1,678 metres [5,505 ft]^[45]) are among the peaks in this range that can be seen. English is the top of the grade, after which the train descends into the Athabasca Valley, passing Henry House.^[46] The Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) continues to parallel the route.

The train then crosses the Snaring River.

Snaring and Chetamon Mountains (the latter 2,606 metres [8,550 ft]^[47]) and the De Smet Range including the Roche de Smet (2,539 metres [8,330 ft]^[48]) can be all seen from the train to the north. The Snaring River Campground^[49] is near the confluence of the Snaring and Athabaska Rivers. Looking to the south, passengers can see the Jacques Range including such peaks as Roche Jacques (2,603 metres [8,540 ft]^[50]) and Cinquefoil Mountain (2,259 metres [7,411 ft]^[51]).

Jasper Lake

The train reaches the north shore of Jasper Lake and rides along it for several miles. The Yellowhead Highway rides along the south shore of the lake. The lake is a shallow, wide section of the Athabasca River. This has been the site of many CN publicity photographs—including of the Super Continental^{[52][failed verification]} —through the years, and it is still popular with photographers, railfans, the present-day Canadian, its advertisers and its passengers. The Jasper Lake Sand Dunes are on the northwest shore of Jasper Lake^[53] and can be seen from the train. They are the only sand dunes ecosystem in the Canadian Rockies. Parts of the mainline have been built on causeways away from the shore, which have created several mini lakes. This adds to the effect of being out on the water, creating additional views of the lake, its waters and the forests and mountains surrounding it. The lake is surrounded by mountain ranges, many of which can be seen the train from various places along the lake. They include:

From southeast to southwest:^[54]

• Miette Range. Most prominent peaks include Utopia Mountain (2,602 m [8,537 ft]) and Roche Miette (7,600 ft [2,300 m]).
• Jacques Range. Prominent peaks: Cinquefoil Mountain (2,259 m [7,411 ft]), Roche Jacques (2,603 metres [8,540 ft]), and Mount Merlin (2,711 m [8,894 ft]).
• Colin Range: Peaks include Mount Colin (2,687 m [8,816 ft]) and Roche Bonhomme (2,495 metres [8,186 ft]^[44])

Northwest to northeast:

• Victoria Cross Ranges
• De Smet Range. Prominent peaks include: Roche de Smet, (2,539 metres [8,330 ft]) and Mount Greenock (2,065 m [6,775 ft]).
• Bosche Range: Mount Aeolus (2,643 m [8,671 ft]) and Roche à Bosche (2,123 m [6,965 ft])

The train crosses Stoney River, glides through a 700-foot (210 m) horseshoe tunnel underneath Disaster Point, and begins riding along the shores of Brûlé Lake. Along the way, it passes Black Cat Mountain (1,800 metres [5,900 ft]^[55]) and Mount Solomon (1,585 metres [5,200 ft]^[56]). The Yellowhead Highway is on the other side of the lake. Folding Mountain (2,844 metres [9,331 ft]^[57]) should be visible as the train crosses the Athabasca River. The river is now on the north side of the tracks.

Entrance

Entrance is the official easternmost point of the Canadian Rockies (at least on the CN), but the Miette Range usually is still visible for many miles as the train heads out across the prairies. The surrounding landscapes are still heavily forested and the riverbanks a bit dramatic, but the land slowly opens up to ever broader valleys, plains, and farmlands. About 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Hinton, the train crosses an impressive trestle over Prairie Creek with the Athabasca still in sight. The train crosses a curved trestle over Sundance Creek just west of Edson; then crosses the McLeod River on a 1,066-foot (325 m) bridge and Wolf Creek on a 652-foot (199 m) bridge. The train rides along the shores of three lakes: to the north Chip Lake; to the south, Octopus Lake and Wabamun Lake. Westbound, passengers should be able to start seeing mountains (still way off in the distance) just after crossing the Sundance Creek trestle.

The train finally reaches West Junction

The train (in both east and westbound) backs into the station upon arrival with the train facing north while standing at the station. Departing out of Edmonton station, the train heads east past the CN Walker Yard (city skyline is visible to the south) and cuts across the Canadian prairies for nearly 470 kilometres (290 mi), paralleling Alberta Highway 14. The train stops in the rural communities of Viking and Wainwright, Alberta, before turning south to follow Alberta Highway 610. The train then crosses the Alberta–Saskatchewan border and stops in Unity, Saskatchewan, before passing over the Killsquaw Lakes en route to Biggar. Now paralleling Saskatchewan Highway 14, the train enters Saskatoon from the west, stopping at the modern Saskatoon station south of downtown on the site of the CN Chappell Yard via a short spur line.

Saskatoon to Winnipeg

After re-joining the CN main line, the train follows

Winnipeg to Toronto

With its journey through the prairies almost over, the train heads out of the yards and continues east, following Manitoba Provincial Trunk Hwy. 15, towards the rural community of

Trains returning to Vancouver leave Union Station either from the east as it came in from (if turned around prior), or from the west. In the latter case, the train would then proceed north along the Newmarket Subdivision, shared by GO Transit's Barrie line. This subdivision was the route for the transcontinental train until the 1990s as far north as Washago; however, the train only continues as far as Snyder Diamond in Vaughan today. At this point, the train backs up for about five minutes in order to connect with the York Subdivision. After that, the train heads eastbound towards Thornhill in western Markham to meet up with the Bala Subdivision at Doncaster Diamond and from there continue Northwest leaving the Greater Toronto Area towards Washago and eventually Vancouver.

Ridership, funding, and fares

In 2014, the train served 93,810 passengers receiving government support of $591 per entrained passenger or $0.50 per passenger mile.^[59] Because the Canadian is used primarily by tourists, this funding has been the source of criticism.^[60]

Economy fares on the Canadian between major cities are comparable to scheduled air travel, in some cases are significantly less. Escape fares and Canrailpass purchases can sometimes compare favourably to the cheapest equivalent air fares, Special promotions can drop that price even further, especially outside the busy summer season. Sleeper Plus service between major cities is usually more expensive than air travel, even after deals, but includes meals, accommodation, and some entertainment options.

Seniors, military members, former railway employees, serving Members of Parliament/Senate, and children are often eligible for additional discounts.^{[citation needed]} Via also offers discounted/complimentary transportation for artists willing to entertain passengers through their "Artists on Board" program.^[61]

Use in popular culture

• A documentary on The Canadian is featured on the Discovery Channel’s TV show Mighty Trains in Season One, Episode Three.
• The Canadian is the setting for
  Murder on the Canadian, a children's mystery novel by Eric Wilson
  .