Across Canada by train
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Jamesbrownontheroad at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
While most Canadians choose to travel between major cities by airplane, there still exists today a continuous series of connecting train services from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and a trans-continental journey on the passenger trains of Canada remains one of the greatest railway journeys of the world. It is possible to make the trip in as little as five days, but most people plan trips of one to two weeks in length, so they can spend time in some of the cities they're travelling through.
UnderstandCanada is the second largest country on earth, yet with a population of almost 38 million in 2020, it has just the 39th largest population.
PrepareCanada does not have any high-speed railway lines, and much of the infrastructure was built before World War II.
Get inDepending on which side of the country that you start your transcontinental train trip in, see either the Halifax or Vancouver pages for information on getting in.
Overview of route and trainsThis itinerary presents a journey that travels from east to west, however it is quite possible and equally enjoyable to make the journey in the opposite direction.
ItinerariesCoast to coast, it is possible to make the journey from Halifax to Vancouver on board just three different trains, and in as little as five days traveling.
Stay safeRail travel in Canada is incredibly safe. The only precautions to take relate to personal belongings and valuables.
Go nextDepending on which side of the country that you start your transcontinental train trip in, see either the Halifax or Vancouver pages for information on getting out.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Across Canada by train" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: User: (WT-shared) Jamesbrownontheroad at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons