97hrs on Luxury Canadian Sleeper Train | Toronto to Vancouver

today I'm riding this sleeper train for 97 hours across an entire continent I'll show you exactly what it's like to live on board this train from economy to first class from how you shower the food you get and what it's like to sleep on board there's even separate viewing cars to enjoy one of the world's longest railway Journeys from mountains to cities to Wilderness let's pick up my story at the beginning of this epic adventure in Toronto Canada thank you well hello there and welcome back to the channel you join me here bright and early at Toronto Union Station where we're going to be catching the Canadian super excited about this although a little daunted as we're going across an entire continent opened in 1927 Toronto Union Station is a landmark in its own right it's Canada's largest and most opulent railway station designed in a Bourgeois style back in 1913. it certainly stood the test of time and is a fitting space to start our Epic Journey we're in Prestige class today so instead of checking in at the counter we're directed to the business class Lounge adjacent to the main ticketing Hall [Music] after a warm Canadian greeting our bags are checked tickets validated were shown into the lounge naturally let's begin with a caffeine hit it's still early after all with coffee in hand let me show you the special Lounge within a lounge which Prestige guests have access to in fact this section is entirely for us as there are no other guests In First Class in what seems like no time at all we're welcome to board at our Leisure our friendly concierge Natalie escorts us through the station to our platform [Music] here we are then our train the world famous VIA Rail Canadian our home for the next 97 hours with its pedigree dating back to the first transcontinental passenger trains of 1886. this is a service rooted in history it wasn't however until the 1950s that a new luxury offering came to light known as the Canadian what makes this so special is the train still operates the original 1950s Bud stainless steel cars oh and it also appears on the Canadian 10 bill our first class Prestige Carriage is located to the rear of the train in car 130. there are six ensuite bedrooms per carriage and we're in room D today right in the center this is my preference for a smoother Journey well welcome on board and yet again welcome back to the channel Millie hi you're you're about to say you're back I think that's your catchphrase um but anyway Welcome to our room our Prestige classroom where it's home for the next five days let's get settled in we're gonna set off and we'll show you all around after a few minutes we're notified it's time for departure and so Begins the constant movement for the foreseeable future so where is the world's second longest passenger train taking us we'll cross the Northern Ontario lakelands the wide open prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan before passing the Alberta and British Colombian Rockies finally arriving into Vancouver on day five as we trundle slowly out of Toronto we're treated to Epic views of the CN tower it's actually more relevant than you'd think as the CN tower was commissioned by the Canadian National Railway company back in 1973. anyway back to our Prestige compartment we offered champagne and canapes to begin with this certainly is a far cry from Amtrak with that let's take a proper look around our room this is the very best class of travel within the Via realm Network and offered exclusively on the Canadian with a huge panoramic window and a comfy leather adorned L-shaped couch for use in the day and this will convert to a comfortable double bed by night there's even a TV loaded with a variety of movies and TV shows there's a mini bar which can be stocked with drinks of your choosing replenished throughout your journey there are several power outlets which will keep the devices charged with AC being controlled via a central control panel you're also able to cool your concierge at any time anything from broom service to turndown it's a smart space that's for sure but it needs to be for this price point there's also an ensuite bathroom complete with shower and level amenities though we'll take a closer look at this later on anyhow I make it time for lunch each meal is served in two sittings and sometimes three joint Peaks summer travel in Prestige you get the first pick of timings and we've gone for the later sitting today aside from room service meals all served in the dining Carriage which is located one car down the train it's a lovely place to be with huge panoramic windows and seating arranged into play settings of four that is aside from our separate Booth to the rear which has been reserved just for Millie and I should we take a look at the menu then an impressive four options for main is offered along with soup of the day and a selection of desserts in terms of drinks these are chargeable to most passengers however Prestige guests get these included naturally let's begin proceedings with an ice cold DC as our orders are placed it certainly started to get a lot busier in here remember it's communal seating for most so be prepared to make some new friends super the day turns out to be a tomato served with a Kellogg's cracker I can't say I've been served such a combo before but hey it works really well a few minutes later and we're served our main Milly goes for the spinach and ricotta cannelloni complete with a rich tomato sauce and garlic chair barter meanwhile I opt for the pulled pork sandwich [Music] foreign top marks all around albeit I'm now rather full [Music] just as lunch concludes we pass over the famous Parry Sound Trestle Bridge completed in 1907 but the Canadian Pacific Railway at 105 feet high The Trestle provides single track passage for westbound traffic whilst eastbound uses Canadian national tracks this also means that we've arrived at our first fresh air break better get wrapped up warmly it's certainly well below zero outside currently Parry Sound is a popular vacation destination from hiking trails to the beautiful shores of Georgian Bay however today I'll just be attempting not to stack it on the incredibly icy platform [Music] we've already traveled a few hundred kilometers so we're now in quite different surrounds the Toronto of course but time to get some fresh air and step onto some Solid Ground just briefly [Music] back on board I think it's time we explore some more of the train including the Dome car sleeper cabins and the bullet Lounge unfortunately unlike the Royal Scotsman or Andean Explorer there's no onboard Spa facility on the Canadian sleeper train however in such instances you can take the spa to you introducing the Swedish beauty Tech brand foreo the sponsor of today's video foreo actually have a wide range of innovative devices for homes such as the UFO 2 at home supercharged facial device that practically gives you a spa facial in just two minutes it's the perfect gift for your significant other but let me tell you a little more the UEFA 2 features a bunch of tech that you can only get at a spa such as thermotherapy cryotherapy and LED light therapy it's app connected for True personalization allowing you a professional level treatment from the comfort of your own home at a smaller cost Milly is obsessed with the UFO 2 device and is constantly showing me how her skin is more radiant and softer I have to admit I may have stolen this from her for a testing purposes it's great as it works for every skin type so you can't make a mistake it's the perfect gift or indeed an at-home spa treat for yourself thanks again foreo for sponsoring today's video Let's head to the sleeper plus car which features three types of accommodation [Music] firstly the cheapest upper and lower births by day two double seats which face each other but by Night the seat folds down to provide two comfortable beds with a privacy curtain there are no ensuite facilities but instead a toilet is located at the end of the carriage now let's go up another class to the private cabin for one these feature lockable doors privacy curtains and an all-important ensuite well not quite with this being your toilet no thank you I'd instead opt for the toilet at the end of The Carriage again both of these accommodations offer access to a shared shower facility [Music] lastly the private cabin for two unfortunately I'm unable to access these on my trip because they're fully booked but here's some stock footage so you get a rough idea back in our cabin dusk begins to fall whilst we're served a pre-dinner charcuterie board which is certainly a lovely surprise foreign sitting for dinner too but remain at the same booth to the rear of the dining car this evening's menu looks particularly special and I'm sure you can guess what I'm going to be going for our drinks are served and orders taken and in no time at all we're served an appetizer of salmon Road and creme fraiche on bellinis with a side salad of balsamic dressing not quite Beluga caviar but most tasty as we drift through the darkness of Ontario we're served of delicious pretzel roll along with our Mains we both opt for the steak however not being a huge mushroom fan having mine without the sauce it's cooked to my liking of medium rare top marks to finish we served a rich decadent chocolate brownie cake which is utterly divine with our Tommy's full let's head back to our cabin for some sleep it's worth noting that our room is accessible by Hotel style key cards unlike the rest of the train which just lock from the inside so our room has been transformed into some very comfortable sleeping quarters thank you even down to some Belgium chocolate being placed next to our pillow all in the detail eh it's time to boot the Thames off and get ready for some sleep it's been a long day of eating and exploring with much more to undertake tomorrow [Music] the next day we awake to a stunning Winter Wonderland still in fact in the state of Ontario I make it time for a shower which is always somewhat a challenge when you're moving at 70 miles an hour [Music] believe it or not I'm actually a little peckish let's head to the dining car to remedy that Guinea Tao is a little cold out you can almost build a snowman in the vestibule time to warm up with a piping hot caffeine hit and of course a hearty bracky I opt for the Transcontinental breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs hash browns and bacon foreign [Music] into our first stop of the day so look out so let's grab my jacket and head outside [Music] of my cheeks as Millie says it's incredibly cold here a bitter minus 25 Celsius to warm up let's jump it up the front of the train and take a look at our locomotive taking us all the way to British Columbia we're in fact being pulled by two General Electric p-42 DCS with a combined 8 500 horsepower that should certainly do the trick anyway back to sue Lookout known by locals as Hub of the north its name originates from the nearby mountains used to watch the Sioux Warriors Incorporated in 1912 as a terminal on the national transcontinental Railway today the town is a busy hub for healthcare and education for the Northern Communities that swells in size during the summer months with many seasonal visitors welcome to uh well it's a quite a small town although for the area it's a big town and a population around 5000 people we're just gonna have a quick look around because it's freezing isn't it so cold utterly freezing about minus 20 here also comment on how much more prepared Millie is than I I've got very basic gloves on the coat's good but uh Millie is much more warm than I am [Music] with refueling done it's time to get back on board and not wanting to risk being left without another train West for quite some time as we glide through the winter wonderland outside I think it's time for a better perspective of course it's time to explore this Train's party piece the park car no other Vantage Point Compares for a close-up look at the fabulous Panorama that is Canada located at the very end of the train here it is during peak times access here is limited to just Prestige guests so it's almost like a private Lounge however during the winter months it's open to everyone on board snacks are available throughout the day with comp drinks for us though being perpetually jet-lagged I think we'll stick with the caffeinated variety let's head upstairs to my favorite part of the Train the park Dome [Music] seats are a 2-2 config with arguably the best views being upfront these are reserved for exclusive use by The Prestige class passengers we're incredibly fortunate to be such passengers today so let's settle in next to Millie and enjoy a fresh coffee that is of course if the snow clears just a bit [Music] foreign [Music] ly be arriving into Winnipeg the provincial capital of Manitoba this will be a prolonged stop of around four hours so plenty of time to get out and stretch our legs it seems strange to be back in a large built up area after spending the last 36 hours in the wilderness coupled with little cell reception [Music] not wanting to walk too far away will head off into the station and check out the immediate area around downtown Winnipeg this station is also the gateway to Churchill this is certainly a train I'd love to take at some point over 45 hours on board and it will take you to what's known as the beluga whale and polar bear Paradise it's also a great place to see the Northern Lights let me know if you'd like to see a video on this later in the year well it's a very good evening here from Winnipeg station we're actually I think pretty much in downtown as well so we've actually got a bit of time to go and explore the city I've never been here before do you know anything about where we are I don't no no okay well let's try and find out together just a little bit we've got about an hour and a half before we need to get back on the train and of course we do not want to miss the train because if we do there's none of well we won't be going to Vancouver we'll be stuck in Waterberg and all of our luggage will be going to Vancouver so yeah let's not do that named after the nearby Lake Winnipeg though perhaps one of the most unique quirks of the city is the world's largest ice rink well kind of technically the world's longest naturally Frozen skating Trail at a length of five and a half miles to be frank it feels like we're ice skating walking around downtown it's so incredibly slippy so much so after seeing the iconic Fort Gary hotel which was built by the grand trunk Pacific Railway in 1913. we decided it's probably best to head back to the warmth of the train and indeed dinner [Music] back on board let's head straight to the dining car as usual the menu looks brilliant to begin milliops for the seared prawns with a sweet chili sauce whilst I go for the winter vegetable soup something about it just feels particularly warming this evening this is served with some delicious freshly baked pretzel bread for Maine I go for the garden vegetable lasagna with a breadcrumb topping it certainly hits the spot now I probably shouldn't have but hey for review purposes let's try the salted caramel cheesecake rich moist and utterly delicious [Music] but my Fork down will begin to roll out of Winnipeg station so let's head back to our living quarters and turn in we'll see you all in the morning [Music] the next day [Music] good morning from yet another new Province Saskatchewan through the night we went through the rest of Manitoba which also means we've gained yet another hour just as we finish off the last of our coffee we begin to glide into our first stop of the day Saskatoon unfortunately the railway is five miles outside the CBD so there's not a chance to explore the downtown area originally saskatoon's main station was located closer to the City Center opened in 1908 by a Canadian Pacific however passenger service ended here in 1960 where it was relocated to the current station well hello and good morning from where are we Millie Saskatoon we are and we're here for I think it's is it 20 minutes or so yeah by Amiga to get back though soon yeah Millie's not quite used to my uh how much I like to push it and how far I get away from the tracks your anxiety levels are at eek I like to stay close to the train no I don't blame you I mean given what I've been capable of doing before long time viewers of the channel will know my uh how I almost missed the train in the wilderness of Alaska where there wasn't a train for another two days we don't want to do that let's make sure we don't do that much to Millie's relief we'll head back to the platform where refueling has almost finished and get back on board I think it's time we explore some more of the train believe it or not there's still a few carriages that we've not seen yet we'll start with the Skyline car located near to the front this is accessible to both sleeper and economy passengers with this comfy Lounge to relax in and watch the world go by this is also where the catering provision is for economy but also on demand for sleeper passengers there's also a less glamorous dining room to eat in I believe it's referred to as the skyline Cafe but the real special feature of this car is yet another Dome upstairs [Music] there is no reserved seating up here but I never found seating to be of an issue [Music] of course in the more popular areas like the Rockies we'll be passing through tomorrow you want to get here early doors during summer months this would be the only option for non-prestige guests throughout most of the day however they do add additional Dome cars especially for the increased passenger footfall [Music] now I mentioned economy this is located one car up which again can Flex for capacity today there's just one of these cars on the train but more added during peak season travel I can't say I'd like to do five days here though with the sun getting lower in the sky remember it's winter still so it sets pretty early let's go and enjoy the views from the prestige seating in the park car oh and so that we can enjoy drinks served at our seats too [Music] as night has fallen it's of course dinner time in the restaurant car and what a treat we have this evening [Music] to start I opt to the butternut squash soup but it's the main event I'm most looking forward to the prime rib of beef of course complemented by a rich Rosemary demi-glaze phenomenal [Music] to close we both go for the famous chocolate brownie cake this has got to be one of my favorite desserts on board a train to date top marks theorail and with that it's time to turn in for the night because tomorrow will be in the Rocky Mountains the next day good morning from Jasper Alberta yet another new Province after we've traveled through the night from Saskatchewan unlike the provinces we've passed through so far with indigenous derived names Alberta was named after Queen Victoria's fourth daughter princess Alberta in 1905. Jasper for me marks one of the highlights of the trip as we'll be continuing through the Rocky Mountains today Jasper is an all-season playground from skiing during the winter months through cross-country Trails hiking and rafting during the summer it's also one of the terminal Stations of the rocky Mountaineer a luxury train which I took last summer [Music] while it's a beautiful good morning here from Jasper Alberta it's uh it's around eight o'clock and we've got about an hour to explore off the train this town is somewhere I want to be for much longer it's of course also our first look at the Rocky Mountains because last night when we were sleeping we went through much of the Rockies but we do have some incredible views coming up this morning it's at this point we're distracted by this cute coffee shop and the baked goods it has to offer I mean we have to warm up right [Music] appropriately caffeinated it's time to reboard the train Jasper is a popular boiling point for many passengers who just want to overnight to Vancouver and enjoy some of the most incredible scenery the Canadian has to offer this next leg of the journey will take around 24 hours reaching our final destination of Vancouver early tomorrow morning [Music] this is where Prestige class really comes in clutch having upfront reserved seating for the most scenic part of the trip and my word within just a few minutes of leaving Jasper it's evident while the rocky Mountaineer exclusively runs a train for this sector I have to admit this is one of the most magical train experiences I've had to date gliding through one of the world's most iconic mountain ranges all whilst kicking back in a comfy recliner sipping coffee in the warmth but that's not all as we continue even higher we wind through forests under heavy snow it's really just a dream at this point [Music] we have a brief interlude where the train passes through the Rocky Mountain trench between the Rockies and three mountain ranges the caribou monashi and Selkirk ranges this is known as the Valley of the mountains or well formerly Belmont but also signifies our entry into our final province of British Columbia [Music] given its past midday now I think we should indulge in a spot of brunch [Music] we served in the dining car and given we've been up since about six a.m I'm definitely feeling more lunch than breakfast so pasta is on the agenda pasta of the day is a delicious four cheese ravioli served with fresh garlic bread it most definitely hits the spot however the resulting food coma means an afternoon nap is most certainly needed this of course highlights the benefit of having turn down service whenever you want I'd say sitting back in our comfy bed being gently rocked by the motion of the moving train and looking out of the panoramic windows it's the most relaxed I've been in a very long time [Music] awake and rejuvenated we're about to arrive into Kamloops Incorporated in 1893 as a result of the gold rush and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway it saw this once small settlement drive to tens of thousands it's an important Transportation Hub but also a tourist Hot Spot it's actually one of Canada's sunniest destinations with many resorts popping up to cater for both domestic and international visitors [Music] well welcome to Kamloops North for around a 20 minute drive outside of Kam lips in fact I was here before when I took the rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver this was the mid stop over point and in fact you probably just saw in the corner of the shots just now the rocky Mountaineer which is uh basically in hibernation mode until the summer months this will be our last stop off the train before we arrive into Vancouver in the morning though we still have one last car to experience beforehand the bullet Lounge it's actually part of the parked car at the rear of the train and it's one of the busiest on board which we rarely found empty however with the first dinner seating currently underway this allows us some respite we can enjoy the inclusive alcoholic and soft drinks here and what a way to end another incredible day on the rails [Music] all right it's time for our last dinner on board and starting with a delicious appetizer of chorizo served with a Dijon mustard dressing [Music] the main melee went for the rack of lamb whilst I went for the chickpea Curry served with fresh Roti ordinarily I'd have chosen the lamb too but fancy something a little different this evening something which we both didn't fancy a change from though is the chocolate brownie cake back on the menu by popular demand seriously I need to find the recipe for this one [Music] the next day well good morning and Welcome to our very last mile heading into Vancouver by this point you've probably wondered just how much this all cost well it was far from cheap for five days in Prestige class but the two of us came to 11 257 Canadian dollars now the service was Flawless the food was incredible and it was a very comfortable way of crossing the country however it's still a crazy amount of money and whilst I absolutely loved it this is Orient Express level of cost if I was to do this again I'd probably go for the sleeper plus cabin for two at over half the price well we are happy to announce that we've arrived safely in Vancouver after five days on the rail all the way from Toronto Millie how has your experience been on the Canadian oh it's been absolutely amazing the staff were lovely the food was amazing oh my God the food I feel like I don't need to eat for days yeah we pretty much had to get rolled off that but but we had an amazing time thank you so much for joining us and we'll catch you all again next time [Music]

Channel: Trek Trendy

Views: 6,134,331

Keywords: luxury sleeper train, the canadian, via rail canadian, via rail the canadian, sleeper train, sleeper train review, first class sleeper train, first class

Id: -qh_NAXayPU

Length: 28min 8sec (1688 seconds)

Published: Sun Apr 16 2023