Five trains operate passenger service to and from Vancouver: Rocky Mountaineer, Whistler Mountaineer, ViaRail, Amtrak and West Coast Express.
Rocky Mountaineer trains depart Vancouver each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday between the middle of April and the middle of October. The Rocky Mountaineer also departs from Whistler, Calgary, Banff and Jasper on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, so you can depart from any one of five locations.
Rocky Mountaineer trains travel only during the day so passengers miss none of the spectacular scenery. At night the train stops and passengers spend the night in a hotel and then continue their journey the following day.
Rocky Mountaineer passengers, almost without exception, consider their Rocky Mountaineer trip one of the most memorable travel experiences of their lives.
For more information see the Rocky Mountaineer Train Site, call us at 1-800-913-9207 or email.
The Whistler Mountaineer
1-800-913-9207
In May 2006, Rocky Mountaineer introduced its new train, the Whistler Mountaineer that travels between Vancouver and Whistler every day. This train transportation, available daily from May until the middle of October, travels from North Vancouver to Whistler each morning at 8:15 AM, and from Whistler to Vancouver each afternoon at 2:30 PM. Breakfast is served on the morning trip and either tea or a late lunch are served in the afternoon.
The train follows the coast along Howe Sound as far as Squamish. You'll see mountains, rivers, lakes, Shannon Falls, Mt. Garibaldi and Porteau Cove en route. Once you reach Squamish, the route leaves the ocean and follows the Cheakamus Canyon past Brandywine Falls to Whistler.
Are you planning to visit Vancouver but don't have time for the Rocky Mountaineer? You can fit the scenic Whistler Mountaineer into your schedule if you have only a day. If you have longer, you can go to Whistler one day and return a different day for the same price. You can book the Whistler Mountaineer by calling 1-800-913-9207.
ViaRail Trains
1-888-842-7245 ViaRail is Canada's national passenger railroad, offering year round train transportation between Vancouver and Jasper, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and other major cities in Canada.
ViaRail trains depart Vancouver's Pacific Central Station on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday evening at 5:30 PM. They arrive in Jasper the following morning at 11:00 AM.
VIA Rail's classic trains offer several types of sleeping accommodations, observation domes, lounges and an art-deco style dining car. Meals are included when you purchase sleeping accommodations on the Silver & Blue Service between Vancouver and Jasper, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto.
Popular routes include the 16.5 hour trip between Vancouver and Jasper, a three day / two night trip between Vancouver and Toronto, a four day trip between Vancouver and Montreal, and a five day 18 hour trip between Vancouver and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Pacific Central Station, 1150 Station Street, near the corner of Main and Terminal is home to ViaRail and Amtrak.
Pacific Central Station is half a block from the Main Street/Science World Sky Train terminal where you can catch a Sky Train to downtown Vancouver. Trips take about 3 minutes and cost about $3.50 for adults and $2.25 for children. You can also take a taxi downtown for about $8.00.
For ViaRail train transportation and tour information, call 1-888-842-7245.
Amtrak - 1-800-872-7245
Amtrak offers passenger train travel between Vancouver and Seattle. This route is one of Amtrak's most popular. There is one round trip train each day.
The Amtrak train departs Seattle at 7:45 AM from the Amtrak station at 303 S. Jackson Street and arrives in Vancouver at 11:40 AM at Vancouver's Pacific Central Station, 1150 Station Street.
Amtrak departs Vancouver at 6:00 PM and arrives in Seattle at 9:55 PM. The fare is US$40 and up per person depending on the time of year.
En route, the train stops to pick up passengers at Edmonds, WA, Everett, WA, Mt Vernon-Burlington, WA and Bellingham, WA. Contact Amtrak for more information: 1-800-872-7245.
West Coast Express
The West Coast Express operates five trains during weekday peak periods connecting Mission, Abbotsford Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody with downtown Vancouver.
Trains leave Vancouver from the Waterfront Terminal which is also the Sea Bus/Sky Train terminal just east of Canada Place and the Cruise Ship dock.