What is it about trains that make them such a unique way to travel? First, consider the initial excitement of searching for your car as the train enters the station. Then imagine you are boarding the car itself and making your way to your designated seat to settle in and get comfortable for the journey ahead. The final whistle blows and the train gradually pulls away from the station as it overcomes its own inertia. The train comes up to speed and the soothing rhythmic sway of the train welcomes you into its embrace. New sights unfold as you gaze out the window. Now it is all about enjoying the journey. Could there be a more enchanting means of travel?

Canada truly came together as a nation when the ceremonial last spike was driven into the track to mark the completion of the transcontinental railway in 1885. That legacy lives on today with VIA Rail trains. Connecting the west coast of Vancouver, British Columbia to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the east coast (and multiple stops in-between), travellers can sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery of this vast and awe-inspiring land from the comfort of premium seating. Are you in sleeper class for a longer journey? At night, service attendants are on hand to turn down your seats and transform your quarters into cozy bunks or a private bedroom. As Ralph Waldo Emerson quipped, “The journey is the destination”, and train travel captures the essence of that quote. After all, the Canadian landscape offers a rich variety of magnificent vistas – from snow-covered mountains to golden-hued prairies to the rocky shores of the Great Lakes and beyond – a sweeping panorama that gradually unfurls before you.

Anderson Vacations has partnered with VIA Rail to offer inspiring itineraries that combine the magic of rail travel with the highlight sights of iconic Canadian destinations. The superlative rugged scenery of the Atlantic Coast unfolds before your eyes on the Maritime Way, connecting the European-style charm of Quebec City to historic Halifax. Ride the rails between the urban juggernauts of cosmopolitan Toronto and magical Montreal in the urban heartlands of Ontario and Quebec. The Great Western Way traverses the great expanse of western Canada linking Ontario to British Columbia via boreal forest, rolling prairie, and towering alpine scenery to inspire nature lovers along the way.

Our wide range of Canadian tour itineraries offer plenty of opportunities to experience the magic of rail travel. Anderson Vacations and VIA Rail await. All aboard!