The Canadian
The westbound Canadian near Jasper, Alberta | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Intercity rail |
| Status | Active |
| Locale | Canada |
| Current operator(s) | Via Rail |
| Former operator(s) | Canadian Pacific |
| Ridership | 1,186 weekly (FY 2023) |
| Annual ridership | 61,670 (FY 2023) |
| Website | Via Rail – The Canadian |
| Route | |
| Termini | Toronto, Ontario Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Stops | 65 (55 on request only) |
| Distance travelled | 4,466 km (2,775 mi) |
| Average journey time | Westbound: 97 hours and 5 minutes Eastbound: 92 hours and 29 minutes |
| Service frequency | two trains per week in each direction |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | Economy, Sleeper, Prestige |
| Disabled access | Yes |
| Seating arrangements | Coach seating |
| Sleeping arrangements | Berths, bedrooms for one, two or three |
| Catering facilities | Dining car, Skyline Cafe, take out, in-room service (Prestige Class only), bar |
| Observation facilities | Skyline car, park car, panoramic dome car (between Edmonton and Vancouver) |
| Entertainment facilities | Artists on Board Program |
| Baggage facilities | Checked baggage available at selected stations |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | F40PH locomotives Skyline series |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
| Operating speed | 80 mph (130 km/h) (maximum) |
| Track owner(s) | |
| Timetable number(s) |
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The Canadian (French: Le Canadien) is a transcontinental passenger train operated by Via Rail with service between Union Station in Toronto, Ontario, and Pacific Central Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Canadian Pacific introduced this service on April 24, 1955, serving Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. In 1978, Via Rail Canada acquired the service, and, on January 15, 1990, designated the Canadian as its sole transcontinental service, between Toronto and Vancouver. The new service replaced the former Super Continental, Canadian National's flagship passenger service, and continues to run primarily over CN tracks.