Still Rolling at 70: Celebrating VIA Rail’s The Canadian
Seventy years is a long time for anything, especially a passenger train connecting an entire country. VIA Rail recently marked a huge milestone at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station: the 70th anniversary of The Canadian, the legendary train service running between Toronto and Vancouver since 1955. Over the decades, it’s become one of the most recognized rail trips in the world, offering Canadians and visitors a truly unique way to experience our country’s vast landscapes.
What makes this train so special? It’s really about slowing down. Mario Péloquin, President and CEO of VIA Rail, explained that The Canadian offers a way to experience the country that no other form of travel can offer. It’s a place where countless memories have been sparked: children seeing the mountains for the very first time, families crossing the country to be together, or simply strangers becoming friends over coffee in the famous Skyline car.
Jonathan Goldbloom, Chairperson of VIA Rail’s Board of Directors, noted that the train remains a symbol of connection and discovery; it’s a place where generations have come together to share stories and see the country anew. This anniversary year has even given a new generation of travellers a chance to experience this history firsthand through the Government of Canada’s Canada Strong Pass program.
The Canadian was first launched by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1955 before VIA Rail took over the passenger services in 1978. What made it revolutionary then, and still a major attraction today, was its unique design. At its launch, it was the first and only all-stainless steel dome streamliner in Canada, offering passengers spectacular, panoramic views of the passing scenery.
Those classic dome cars are still in service today. While the locomotives were updated in the 1980s, the passenger cars themselves are the original Budd cars from the 1950s, though they have been fully modernized. For example, a major renovation starting in 1988 replaced the old steam heating with electrical power and included commissioning murals and smaller works by famous Canadian artists, such as Jean-Paul Riopelle and Michael Snow, to be part of the redesigned interior.
Train travel on The Canadian isn’t just about the scenery; it’s also about the experience of eating on board. Forget typical travel snacks: meals such as prime rib of beef, sole filet, and garden vegetable lasagna are freshly prepared in a kitchen on board and served on actual fine China plates. The on-board staff certainly keeps busy, serving over 150,000 eggs, 750 litres of maple syrup, and 4,500 kilograms of prime rib annually!
To cover the incredible distance of the trip, which spans approximately 4,466 kilometres between Toronto and Vancouver, a large staff rotates. This includes twelve teams of two locomotive engineers and two teams of 24 to 30 on-board staff on every trip. Speaking of distance, since 1955, The Canadian has traveled more than 150 million kilometres, a distance roughly equivalent to going to the Moon and back 195 times!
As The Canadian celebrates its past, VIA Rail is looking to its future with the most significant modernization in its history. Supported by the Government of Canada’s 2024 commitment, the corporation is procuring a brand new Pan-Canadian fleet to replace its current Long-Distance, Regional and Remote (LDRR) cars and locomotives.
This transformative initiative is designed to deliver a modern, comfortable, accessible, and sustainable travel experience. VIA Rail expects to announce the selected partners for the new fleet in early 2026. The plan is ambitious: within the next decade, all VIA Rail trains across the country will be renewed, ensuring the legacy of The Canadian continues to connect people, stories, and the beauty of Canada for generations more.
