Travelers Guide to Scenic Western Rail Options Passenger Train •Amtrak Journeys in Western •Rocky Mountaineer North America •VIA Rail By John Burchnall Two additional options shared at the end Western Routes Amtrak, Rocky Mountaineer & VIA Train Route Days Coach Sleeper Prince Rupert Quesnel Jasper Chicago to Roomette, Skeena Empire Builder 2 Coach Edmonton Whistler Lake Louise Seattle or Portland Bedroom, Suite Kamloops Banff Roomette, Rocky Calgary Canadian Ocean California Zephyr Chicago to Oakland 2 Coach Mountaineer Bedroom, Suite Winnipeg Southwest Chief Chicago to LA 2 Coach Roomette, Cascades Amtrak Bedroom, Suite Empire Adirondack Builder Vermonter Roomette, Corridor Coast Lake Shore Limited Coast Starlight LA to Seattle 1.5 Coach Maple Leaf Downeaster Bedroom, Suite Starlight Ethan Allen Keystone & Journey through Vancouver to Jasper GoldLeaf, Pennsylvanian 2 (hotel) Capitol Corridor California the Clouds (via Kamloops) SilverLeaf Zephyr Regional First Passage Vancouver to Banff GoldLeaf, Capitol Limited City of 2 (hotel) San Joaquins Arches NP Southwest SilverLeaf Chief New Orleans to the West (via Kamloops) Cardinal Rainforest Vancouver to Jasper GoldLeaf, Pacific Surfliner Piedmont Carolinian 3 (hotel) Texas Eagle (via Whistler & Quesnel) SilverLeaf Silver Star Rocky Mt. Rocky to Gold Rush Palmetto Heartland Flyer Silver Meteor Rockies to the Red Denver, CO to Moab, UT 2 GoldLeaf, (hotel) Rocks (new 2021) (via Glenwood Springs) SilverLeaf Crescent Sunset Limited Toronto to Vancouver 4 Coach Berth, Cabins, Amtrak Canadian (via Edmonton & Jasper) Prestige Rocky Mountaineer VIA Coach, Skeena Jasper to Prince Rupert 1 Touring None VIA Rail Canada Amtrak, Rocky Mountaineer & VIA Rocky Mountaineer Prince Rupert Quesnel Jasper Skeena Edmonton Whistler Lake Louise Kamloops (2) Banff Rocky Calgary Canadian Ocean 3 (2) Mountaineer Winnipeg (3) Cascades Amtrak Cascades (great value!) 2 Empire Adirondack Scenic highway/Selfhighway/Self----Drive/CoachDrive/Coach Builder Vermonter Corridor 2 Coast Lake Shore Limited Downeaster Starlight Maple Leaf Ethan Allen Keystone & Pennsylvanian Capitol Corridor California Regional 2 Zephyr 1 Capitol Limited 1 Arches NP Southwest City of San Joaquins Chief New Orleans Cardinal 1 Pacific Surfliner Piedmont Carolinian Texas Eagle Silver Star Palmetto Heartland Flyer Silver Meteor Crescent Sunset 1 Amtrak Limited Each day on the train 2 Rocky Mountaineer denoted by circled VIA Rail Canada numbers Basic Comparisons Route Attractions Train Scenic Highlights Empire Builder Rolling Hills, Wisconsin Dells, Mississippi River Bridge, Amtrak Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail Rockies, Glacier National Park, Cascades California Zephyr Mississippi River Bridge, Denver, Front Range, Rockies, •WesternContent USA Canada & US Rockies Canada Sierra Nevada Mountains, Donner Pass Southwest Chief Mississippi River Bridge, Apache/Abo Canyon, Raton Pass, Government Owned Private Enterprise Government Owned Amtrak Albuquerque, Desert Bluffs, Cajon Pass Accessible Accessible Accessible Sunset Limited Low Lands, San Antonio, Desert Scenery and Bluffs Single Level Classic Journey through Kamloops, Canadian Rockies, North Thompson River, All Bi-Level Single or Dual Level the Clouds Frazier River, Jasper Streamliner Cars Superliner Cars Panorama Cars (multiple domes) First Passage Kamloops, Canadian Rockies, South Thompson River, to the West Frazier River, Banff/Lake Louise 4 Train Routes + Mt. Rocky Rainforest 4 Train Routes 2 Train Routes Coastal Lakes and Rivers, Whistler, Rainforests, Quesnel, Connecting Bus Tours to Gold Rush Canadian Rockies Rockies to the Red Denver, Front Range, Colorado Rockies, many Gorges and 2 Day Runs 2-3 Day Runs 1.5 or 4 Day Runs Rocks (New 2021) Tunnels, Glenwood Spgs, Thompson River, Arches NP, Moab Canadian Canadian Shield, Lakes and Rivers, Canadian Rockies, Kicking 1X, 3X and 5X 6X and 10X 1X, 2X, 3X, 5X, 13X Horse River, North Thompson River, Frazier River Price Ranges Price Ranges Price Ranges VIA Skeena Canadian Rockies, Rolling Hills, Coastal Lakes and Rivers, Port of Prince Rupert Amtrak, Rocky Mountaineer & VIA Amtrak Out West Prince Rupert Quesnel Jasper Skeena Edmonton Whistler Lake Louise Kamloops Banff Rocky Calgary Canadian Ocean Mountaineer Winnipeg Cascades Empire Adirondack Builder Vermonter Corridor Coast Lake Shore Limited Downeaster Starlight Maple Leaf Ethan Allen Keystone & Pennsylvanian Capitol Corridor California Zephyr Regional Capitol Limited Arches NP Southwest City of San Joaquins Chief New Orleans Cardinal Pacific Surfliner Piedmont Carolinian Texas Eagle Silver Star Palmetto Heartland Flyer Silver Meteor Crescent Sunset Amtrak Limited Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail Canada Amtrak Out West Rocky Mountaineer Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail Canadian VIA Rail Canadian Equipment Comparisons Amtrak Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail • ContentGE P42-DC GMD GP40-2L GMD F40PH-2 Pullman Standard Stadler/Col. Rail Car Budd + Colorado / Bombardier + Can. Car & Foundry Railcar (Panorama) Superliner Coaches 1 Level Panorama Coaches Superliner Lounge 2 Level Panorama Panorama Car Superliner Diner Skyline Domes Superliner Sleeper Diners & Snack Cars Sleepers Park Dome/Observ. AMTRAK GE P42-DC (Genesis) Rocky Mt. GP40-2L Diesel-Elec. Siemens Charger EMD F59PHI VIA GMD F40PH-2 Diesel-Elec. Equipment Comparisons Amtrak Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail • ContentGE P42-DC GMD GP40-2L GMD F40PH-2 Pullman Standard Stadler/Col. Rail Car Budd + Colorado / Bombardier + Can. Car & Foundry Railcar (Panorama) Superliner Coaches 1 Level Panorama Coaches Superliner Lounge 2 Level Panorama Panorama Car Superliner Diner Skyline Domes Superliner Sleeper Diners & Snack Cars Sleepers Park Dome/Observ. Panorama vs. Dome Cars VIA Panorama vs. Dome Cars • Dome Cars have a glass bubble with 360 degrees of viewing, all above the train - All VIA Domes have 24 seats (6 rows) • Panorama Cars have vertical walls at front and rear – some with windows, but typically view-blocked by adjacent cars - Boxier than Dome Cars - Panoramic areas are all full car length Panorama vs. Dome Cars Rolling Stock Amtrak Amtrak Superliner Coach Amtrak Superliner Coach Superliner Sightseer Lounge Amtrak Sightseer Lounge Car •Content Amtrak Superliner Diner Amtrak Superliner Sleeper Upper Level Lower Level Rolling Stock Rocky Mountaineer Cars SilverLeaf Class (Single-Level) Guests Dine in Seats Rocky Mountaineer New: Lounge & Open Platform in adj. Car GoldLeaf Class (Bi-Level) Guest Seats Above Outside Platform Dining Below SilverLeaf Service GoldLeaf Service Rolling Stock VIA Refurbished Budd Cars VIA Rail •Content VIA Canadian VIA Canadian • 4 dome cars / train (panorama can sub) VIA Canadian VIA Canadian Park Car • Tail Observation Cars = Park Cars Tail Lounge • Featuring Dome, Lounge, Snack Bar 24 Seat Dome • Exclusive Use by Prestige Class Extra Restroom Bar and Snacks Prestige Cabin Prestige Accessible Cabin VIA Park Observation Car Western Train Amenities Amtrak Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail Coach or SilverLeaf (1 level) or Coach, Touring, • Content •SleeperContent Classes GoldLeaf (2 level) Sleeper+ or Prestige Roomette, Bedroom No Sleepers Cabins (for 1,2,3 or 4), and Suite Sleepers (Bus to/from Hotels) Berths, Prestige Sleeper Meals Meals Included, Sleeper Meals Included Except Evenings Included Can Buy Alcohol GoldLeaf: Included Prestige: Incld. 24/7 1 Panorama Lounge All Panorama Cars Multiple Domes No Tail Obs. Car No Tail Obs. Car Tail Obs. With Dome No Outside Viewing Covered View Porch No Outside Viewing Walk Between Cars Must Stay in Your Car Walk Between Cars Sleeping Accommodations Amtrak Superliner Roomette Amtrak Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail * • ContentRoomette SilverLeaf Berth (for 2) (bus to/from hotels) (for 1) Bedroom GoldLeaf Sleeper+ Cabins (for 2, w/ bath) (bus to/from hotels) (for 1, 2, 3 or 4) Prestige Staterooms Suite (for 2, out West only (2 Bedrooms) on the Canadian) Family Bedroom, Prestige Accessible Accessible Bedroom Stateroom * Only the Canadian and Ocean have sleepers, not the Skeena Amtrak Superliner Bedroom Family & Accessible Bedrooms Rocky Mountaineer Sleepers? VIA Sleeping Cars • Berth • Cabin for 1 • Cabin for 2 Buses to/from Hotels VIA Sleeping Cars VIA Berths Sleeping with Cars full •Content width heavy curtain Cabin Cabin for for Two One Suite Sleeps four in two adjacent normal ‘Cabins for Two’ VIA Sleeping Cars VIA Prestige Cabins • Own bathroom w/ separate shower • Meals • Suites • 24/7 snacks/drinks • Huge picture window • Prestige • 24/7 exclusive use of Park observation car Cabin VIA Canadian Park Car Food and Drinks Tail Lounge Amtrak Rocky Mountaineer VIA Rail 24 Seat Dome Coach Coach • Content SilverLeaf Buy at Dining or Buy at Dining or At Seats, Buy Alcohol Snack Cars Snack Cars Extra Sleeper Touring GoldLeaf Restroom Priority Meals in Included At Seat Diner, All Inclusive Diner, Buy Alcohol Meals w/ Wine Bar and Sleeper+ All evening meals Snacks Included Meals, Fruit, on your own in town Cookies, Buy Alcohol Prestige Cabin Prestige Gourmet Dining, Prestige Accessible Cabin 24/7 Snacks, Alcohol Amtrak Superliner Dining Car Rocky Mt. GoldLeaf Dining Rocky Mt. SilverLeaf Dining VIA Canadian Dining • 3 dining cars / train • Meals cooked on train • Real plates, glasses and flatware VIA Prestige Class Service Amtrak, Rocky Mountaineer & VIA Prince Rupert Quesnel Jasper Skeena Edmonton Whistler Lake Louise Kamloops Banff Rocky Calgary Canadian Ocean Mountaineer Winnipeg • Content Cascades Empire Adirondack Builder Vermonter Corridor Coast Lake Shore Limited Downeaster Starlight Maple Leaf Ethan Allen