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PAL@YWG · Last edited by PAL@YWG on Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:06 am; edited 2 times in total

Our short, precious summer came and gone. I couldn’t venture out anywhere as I was busy adding a floor to our home. Winnipegers have only two seasons, winter & construction; for this year I left the real travelling for winter time. When it was all over (after $$ budget overrun and stressful interactions with contractors), I was desperate to go somewhere! Beginning of September is still not bad weather-wise; especially if I could head towards west.

A conference was coming up in Kelowna, BC so I thought why don’t I make it a wholesome trip? I needed to unwind (thoughts of numerous cheques that I handed over to my greedy contractor was still haunting me!) so I decided that I will take a train ride, slow and easy! In Canada, trains run really slow (even Indian suburban trains run way faster) and very few ride train unless you are old & retired and you are ready to see this vast country’s breathtaking landscape. Though I am not in that category (not yet), I wanted a train ride.

Courtsey: Via Rail website (Red route is what "Canadian" covers)

My Trip Courtsey: GC Mapper

The “Canadian” train of via Rail Company connects east coast (Toronto) with the west coast (Vancouver) similar to “Empire Builder” of the US. Passengers who pay $$ (in sleeper classes) are pampered with great service and gourmet food! My family is travelling with me so I am travelling economy class Very Happy

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My Itinerary:
Winnipeg- Jasper (Alberta): Via Rail
Jasper- Kelowna (British Columbia): by Road
Kelowna- Vancouver: by Road
YVR- YWG: WS 458

Date: Sep 5th 2013
Winnipeg- Jasper: Via Rail

Train leaves Winnipeg at 11.45 and reaches Jasper next day at 1pm covering a distance of 921 miles in about 26 hours. Boarding was airlines-like; first the sleeper classes then passengers who came back from a quick city tour (utilising the hour when train changes engine in Winnipeg) and then economy class! The seats are comfortable with generous recline and foot rest. The skyline car (offering great view all around) has a mini pantry section that offered great food at a reasonable price. From time to time there were friendly announcements over PA giving information about the area we are passing by or inviting whoever interested to enjoy live music (with travelling musicians) in Dining car. Grab your beer and relax. After all you need to kill good 3.5 days if you are doing the whole length (Toronto- Vancouver). I met two such guys (did you say nuts?).
So our journey starts:

endless prairie fields; bread basket of Canada

We are passing thru Saskatchewan, Potash capital...those are Potash Mountain at far

Skyline Car. This one is for economy class only

A small station in Sask.

Our train is making it's way in to Alberta

Around 6 in the morning we arrived in Edmonton

Edmonton Municipal airport

We finally reached Jasper station. Jasper is surrounded by Canadian Rockies and the town bustles with tourist from all over the world. Between Banff and Jasper, Canadian Rockies offer some of the best mountain cliffs and pristine lakes and plenty of wildlife. We spent great 3 days hiking and resting in Jasper. Some Pictures.

Jasper station, quite busy during train hours

Posters inside train station: from bygone era when Canada was inviting immigrants from England

During mating season don't try to get closer..

Jasper Bus station

On our way to Columbia ice field

Coffee break

We were told these icepacks are million years old but scientists now predicting that they will not last long due to.. what else, global warming!

Date: Sept 9th 2013

Next stop: Kelowna, a picturesque city that is situated in the midway of beautiful Okanagan Lake. About 70% of the population are retirees (I met some of them who worked all their working life in cold places (like Winnipeg) and are now fulfilling their lifelong dream about retiring in warmer British Columbia). I will do one day or at least that’s what I say to myself to justify my base at YWG Very Happy

 I spent 3 busy days attending seminars, family roamed around at leisure.

People who live here are definitely not missing Mexico like rest of us do in winter months!

Date: Sept 13 2013

Next stop: Vancouver. Arguably the best city in Canada and one of the top five in the world to live, work and play! I am here to meet my daughter and spend a day at leisure.

Downtown Vancouver and harbour front

A quick tour to Stanley Park & Capilano suspension bridge and the day is over!

Chairman Mao on display here at a Downtown store

Daughter insisted that we visit her University campus.

Nice residences on campus

Found this one in the hallway,near the lift door. Hmmm, time to update my vocabulary! On a serious note, how students from conservative countries (forget hard core Middle East, take liberal Malaysia, Indonesia for argument sake) will react this this kind of openness..

Quite a few of them are from Indian subcontinent

Date: Sep 15 2013
YVR- YWG
Airline: Westjet
Flight #: WS 458
Aircraft: B737-700
Departure: 7.00pm
Arrive: 23.38pm

Finally I am taking a flight (that qualifies this TR to be posted in an Aviation Forum Very Happy

). We had late lunch in downtown area and nonchalantly headed towards YVR. Canada Line (Vancouver’s LRT) is an efficient and green way to reach airport.

WestJet guys are really fun loving!

Check in was super easy at Westjet counter as always. We still had enough time to kill so we wandered around.

Some lesser known Regional Carriers

Biggies dominating the scene

Our aircraft at the gate

The flight was uneventful and for a late flight on a Sunday, the load was pretty decent.

We landed in Winnipeg on time after a well deserved break.
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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

What a magnificent way to start off a Sunday morning for me!
A TR by Mr. Pal, after a very long pre-winter hibernation on the forum Smile

You pictures, notes and descriptions (and the wit and humour too!)are things to look forward to.
The train journey would have been absolutely magnificent, thank you for taking us through this, and also including pictures of the trekking around. I liked the warning under the deer-in-the-mating-season's picture, this gives the term `horniness' a completely new meaning/feeling. Being Al Gore'd by those horns isn't something one would look forward to. Your pictures of Vancouver (YVR, the Gaslight District and Stanley Park, and a bit of UBC as well) brought back memories of a 2001 trip to the city, where I was able to verify that Vancouver was indeed a province in the undivided Punjab.
Mr. Pal, with less than a month to go for yet another adventure, this time, with India being a part of the itinerary, we look forward to more gems from you! You travel to exotic places on exotic routings: I really wish I could do that, and describe them as well as you do.
Cheers, Sumantra.

ameya · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 10:52 am Post subject:

Amazing set of pictures Sir. A completely different part of the world, not discussed much any where

sabya99 · Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:16 pm Post subject:

A very nice trip report. I really enjoyed the pictures. You really don’t need to fly to write a trip report! Very Happy

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PAL@YWG · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 7:18 am Post subject:

PAL@YWG · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 7:28 am Post subject:

Ameya, Sabya99,
Very happy to know that you liked the TR.
Besides flying, I really enjoy train rides. Next in my wishlist is a ride on Amtrak's "Empire Builder" that covers the distance from Chicago to Seattle. Some day I will...

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jbalonso777 · Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 12:44 pm Post subject:

A brilliant TR!
What a wonderful insight into Canada, from every aspect!
The train ride - surely there aren't any sleeper berths like our brilliant railway system. How comfortable was the journey, being up for 26 hours as you mentioned?
Pictures were really nice too Smile

Canada looks like a really nice place to visit or stay and importantly, study. Worth a visit there, surely!

Regards
Jish
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PAL@YWG · Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:30 am Post subject:

jbalonso777 · Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:19 pm Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:50 pm Post subject:

Wow - magnificent pictures and commentary. Sounds like a real fun and relaxing trip. Do you have any pictures of the seats on board the train? How comfortable were they for the sleep at night?
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PAL@YWG · Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:55 pm Post subject:

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Thanks for posting a great train report. It is always a best way to see a country by taking a train journey as it brings out the best in sight and visual.

I was reading an article about future of business travel in the next 30 years and the predictions are:

- Most of Europes domestic air traffic will vanish, as most cities will be connected by High Speed Rail
- In Asia similar story is being predicted with High Speed Rail to take over most short distance flights across countries (Except India)
- Middle East and Africa will be connected with High Speed Rail as well. ( I wont be surprised if they build one under the sea between Dubai and Bombay which most likely will be run by Emirates)

So Rail is making a big time comback thanks to its low carbon footprint, and ease of travel.

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Wow amazing train journey- definitely on my list of things to do!
Thanks for the TR + pics, not much for me to say Smile

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airindia787 · Member Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 770 Location: DAB & ZTF

Quite Possibly one of the most unique and interesting TRs I have ever read. Especially loved the train and mountain pictures. Looks like a great 360 degrees view from the upper deck of that train.
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Theairplaneguy4ever · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:42 pm Post subject:

What an amazing TR there, sir! With some incredible pictures as well. Lovely!

Canada has so much to see and do it seems. I guess its time to pack those bags once again for me!

Aren't the trains in the Americas running into losses though with their high prices?

Anyway, the view outside more than compensates for the uncomfortable ride in my opinion.

Now, to the flight, I've heard a lot about WestJet being a great LCC. How was your flight?

Neat stuff. Looking forward to the next one!

Adi,

Theairplaneguy4ever
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PAL@YWG · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:37 pm Post subject:

PAL@YWG · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject:

Stealthpilot & airindia787,

Thanks for your comments. For many Canada is not high on list as a tourist destination (partly because of long cold winters, BTW we are having minus 30 degree C for last few weeks here), but for nature lovers it has lot to offer especially during warmer months.
Please visit.
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PAL@YWG · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 9:49 pm Post subject:

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

jbalonso777 · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:23 pm Post subject:

....and quite incidentally, UBC came in to our school this morning to give us a presentation. And I must say, this is probably the only university that I like, just by reading the brochures and seeing the presentation! But there is lot more than just that! Of course, Canada wasn't really on my list of places, but with UBC now in my head, I'm confused all over again, just a few days after I felt I had sorted my places out!
I must say that I was quite amazed by the Vancouver campus: the sea on 3 sides, the forests, the sheer size etc - bliss for a photography nut like me!
Kelowna Campus, obviously, is much smaller, but since its the same University, it should be equally amazing!

Regards
Jish

PAL@YWG · Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:07 pm Post subject: