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Published: November 6th 2014
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17 hours on a plane from Bangkok to Hong Kong than on to Toronto... 24 hours to visit Toronto at the hedge of Winter...and now, I'm on for my next adventure...all the way from Toronto to Vancouver on the Canadian train number 1. Well, that would include the long stop in Winnipeg to go to Churchill....and the little hop on the plane from Winnipeg to Saskatoon to get on the missed train in Winnipeg.
So this blog is about another mythical train. I did last year the train ride all the way from Europe to Shanghai by train with Leslie and Tiffany...going on Canadian One in Autumn is another to do for any train aficionados! The train is running three time per week in Summer, and only twice per week in Winter.
There are two options on the train...the cheaper coach section, it's one or two cars, access to a panoramic saloon and to some snacks...no shower. Than you have the sleeper sections....with anything from a basic berth to a little suite for 3 people. "Sleeper" section does also include showers in every car and all the meals.
I can afford "sleeper"...but
sleeper has the reputation to be a "tourist only experience"...and one wit tourists with an average age well above their sixties...not really my cup of tea right now. So I went coach, all the way. My trip was dived in two sections, 36 hours between Toronto to Winnipeg...and 36 hours train ride between Saskatoon to Vancouver. The original plan was the 48 hours ride between Winnipeg to Saskatoon. There is not much to see between Winnipeg to Saskatoon. The place is call the prairie...and it's basically flat grain fields...fields after fields...boring...but I won't be able to confirm as I was on the plane!
I board the train at 9.15pm, to leave Toronto at 10pm. First god news, the coach car is pretty empty, so I already know I will have two seats for me all the way to Winnipeg. The train attendant asked me if I wouldn't agree to be in charge of opening the door in case of emergency...interesting point, I'm the furthest in the car from the door. There is one elderly tourist couple from England in our car...everybody else are locals. It was fun to hear comments like..."I'm so afraid to fly that the
train is the only way for me!" 75% of the passengers are ladies in their 60's.
First night went smoothly...we just had a 10 minutes stop...middle of nowhere...and rain all the way to Winnipeg. Once morning is there, it's just the forest, autumn colors, and lakes after lakes...even in the rain, beautiful scenery...and only one 10 minutes stops for the all day...plus multi stops for one minutes in the middle of nowhere. This train is really a lifeline for local communities in Ontario...and all the provinces that we are going to ride to Vancouver.
At lunch time, we are offered the option to have lunch with the "sleeper guests". 15usd for a soup, main, dessert, tea and water...not a bad deal. The food was adequate, definitely not gourmet! I did the same for dinner and this time 20usd. The day went smoothly...but sun rise only just before 8am, and by 7pm it was already dark.
We reached Winnipeg on time, which it seems to be is a pretty rare occurrence!
Few days later, I'm standing in front of the door of Saskatoon station by 8.40pm for my 10pmtrain.
The sign mentions that the station will only open that day from 9pm till midnight. Well, the station manager...and only employee shows up at 9.20pm...and our train pull in at 11.40pm...We are on the go to Vancouver for 36 hours by midnight!
The train is clearly more busy than the one I took from Toronto to Winnipeg. I'm sharing a 4 seats section with a young guy from Saskatoon to Edmonton. Night...was, just ok. Than for the 7 hours ride from Edmonton to Jasper we have a full train. There is no airport in Jasper...and this is clearly the most popular section of Canadian 1. Soon we reach the Rockies...and the scenery is simple amazing. Next we are entering the Jasper National Park...and this place is breathtaking!
Lunch in Jasper anyone? On this section, we don't have access to the restaurant car with the "sleeper guests" . We have 80 minutes in Jasper...so per advice of all the train attendants, I have lunch at North Face...and yes, the pizza was pretty nice. Banff and Lake Louise are on my wish-list for some ski in the future...so I may be back in the area...oe day!
Jasper is a cute little city. But Jasper is clearly small, so walking the main street is done in a few minutes.
We pull out of Jasper by 3pm, and my next stop is Vancouver, by 10am next morning. empty train one more time. Great view of Mount Robson, the highest peak of the Canadian Rockies...sadly the summit is covered by clouds. The train also slow down to get a glimpse of Pyramid Falls...and by 7pm, it's night time again.
I spent an hour in Vancouver...stocking on great wines from New Zealand and Argentina...I'm not joking! Amazing stuffs! Next, my plane to Hong Kong and Bangkok....48 hours in Bangkok....family time big time....running all over big time...and on for my next two flights, to Joburg first, next to Lubumbashi...it's a small world...Canada, see you next year!
Canadian train 1....amazing experience!
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liliram
liliram
Hmmmmm
maybe i'd do this sometime. Great idea!