The Craftiest Workshop

When I was growing up, our family did most of our traveling by train. We went as far west as Vancouver and as far east as Montreal. My dad was a CNR employee and economy travel was free for everyone in the family. When you have six children this makes it a great benefit.

We paid a bit and got a sleeper car for the longer trips; the bunks transformed into seats and a table during the day.

At night there was an upper and lower bunk with curtains.

During the day, my siblings and I would walk back and forth through the train.
We spent a fair amount of time in the dome car.

When I moved away from home and got married, I was lucky that my parents were able to come and visit by train at least once a year.
Dad had retired from the CNR when I was in grade 11 but my parents have free travel on the train for life.

I had not been on a train since high school; almost 30 years ago.

I decided to take a trip to see my parents for the first time without my husband.
I am not working and time was not an issue so I thought, “why not go by train?”

My husband dropped me off at the VIA Rail station in Edmonton on our way back to Grande Prairie after visiting in Fort Mac.
The train that runs from Vancouver to Toronto only travels once a week currently; it was scheduled to leave Edmonton Tuesday evening at 19:50 and on that day it was only about a 1/2 hour late.

The trains are rarely on time due to the fact that they have to give way to the freight trains traveling the same rails.

For anyone that travels in Canada and has the time, I would recommend train travel.

Here are some key things I noticed.

1. VIA offers discounts.
   I was able to get 25% off my ticket with a CF One card as a spouse of a veteran.

2. Baggage

Unlike with air travel, you can take quite a lot with you when traveling by train.

These are the baggage limitations for one passenger.

3. Spacious seating

There are only two seats on either side of the aisle and the aisle is much wider than on a plane.

4. Foot room

I was shocked at how much foot room I had. There are also two different footrests on the seat.

One black footrest that folds down from in front of you and another that folds out from under the seat.

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5. Carry on luggage space

There is plenty of space above the seats for bags and another baggage area in each car for larger suitcases. I could have had my bag at my feet and still been quite comfortable.

6. Food and drink

Unlike on airplanes, when boarding a train you can bring any drinks you want with you. Many people had small chest coolers as one of their carry on bags. On each car next to the bathroom there is a water dispenser with paper cone cups and enough room to refill a water bottle.

If you want to purchase food, you can order drinks, snacks or meals from your seat.
Normally, if COVID restrictions were not in place, you could go to the bar or dining car to get snacks and meals.

7. Little or no security

This one is good and bad. Less hassle but less safety. There was no security screening of carry on luggage although the security guard did ask a couple people if they had knives or sharp objects.

8. Better for smokers

Again good and bad depending on whether or not you smoke. Many people got off the train whenever they could for a cigarette or joint. Those of us non-smokers had to wade through a haze of pot to stretch our legs.

9. Friendly and courteous staff

Staff was very polite and accommodating, especially for seniors. They carried bags for them and helped them adjust their chairs.

10. Individual garbages

Instead of having to shove your garbage into the basket on the back of the seat, you have a convenient paper garbage bag hanging under the window. Extra bags were tucked in the seat basket and someone came around around to collect garbage after each meal as well.

11. Power and Wi-Fi

To keep your devices charged, there was a plug labeled for laptops at the base of the seats in front of you as well as USB and power connections between/below the seats you sit on.

No wi-if on these longer trip trains but when we stopped at a station and could get off, we were able to access the Wi-Fi.

Overall the positives definitely outweigh the negatives for me to travel on the train.
I would consider traveling to Ontario by train the next time we go that way.