Rocky Mountaineer

Overview
Headquarters	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Reporting mark	RMRX
Locale	British Columbia and Alberta, Canada Colorado and Utah, U.S.
Dates of operation	1990 (1990)–present
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Other
Website	www.rockymountaineer.com

The Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian rail-tour company based in Vancouver that operates luxury scenic trains on four rail routes in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado, and Utah.

History

Via Rail Canada

The Rocky Mountaineer concept was created by Harry Holmes, (CN Locomotive Engineer) and Pat Crowley (tourism entrepreneur) both of Jasper, Alberta. Together they developed a business plan which they presented to Via Rail prior to Expo 86. It was designed as an all daylight sightseeing train pulled by the steam locomotive retired CNR 6060 (Bullet Nose Betty class) in the Canadian Rockies. Originally, it began as a once-weekly Via Rail Canada daytime service between Vancouver, Calgary, and Jasper. The first departure was on May 22, 1988, with a special train for the travel industry. Soon, another one was made for the traveling public on June 9, 1988, called the Canadian Rockies by Daylight.^[1] To maximize scenic views, this service operated only during the day, with an overnight stop in Kamloops. These were express services, with no intermediate stops.^[2] On June 4, 1989, Via began its second season of the service, renaming the service the Rocky Mountaineer.^[3] The final summer Rocky Mountaineer (under Via Rail branding) departed Calgary and Jasper was on October 12, 1989, and arrived in Vancouver on the 13th.^[4] Rocky Mountaineer was removed from schedules and marketing in May 1990.^[5] After two financially unsuccessful seasons, there was to be a change in approach. The Federal Government decided to see if the private sector could do a better job. The then Minister of Transport and Minister of Finance Michael Wilson decided to sell off the route, equipment, branding and book of business in the fall of 1989. In early November, advertisements were taken out in a number of newspapers soliciting interest in the Rocky Mountaineer.

Private operation of the Rocky Mountaineer

The federal government curtailed the subsidies to Via Rail in 1989, dramatically reducing services (especially the transcontinental service). Rocky Mountaineer was a tourist service, and as such the government felt the funds could be better spent on other bigger priorities. They asked (at the time) Via Rail and CN Rail CEO Ron Lawless to organize the sale of the route, equipment and book of business to the private sector. The marketing of the Rocky Mountaineer sale started November 12, 1989 and sale processes were run by recently retired CN Executive Charles Armstrong. Submissions of interest demonstrating financial and operational capabilities were required by January 15, 1990. Initially there were 20 interested parties but after phase one of the bidding process, that group was reduced to three parties left to make a decision. One bidder was Westours Holland America, subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Line. The other two were a group of Via Rail executives and a Western Canadian entrepreneur.

After the bids, in March 1990, the route's equipment, book of business, 12 coaches, two baggage cars, plus assorted equipment and some branding was sold to Vancouver businessman Peter R.B. Armstrong's Armstrong Hospitality Group Ltd. It ran its first train on May 27, 1990.^[6]

Awards

Under private ownership Rocky Mountaineer has become a Canadian icon, hosting millions of guests from around the world over the past three decades. These tourists spend time in BC and Alberta, creating sizable economic benefits.

Rocky Mountaineer has been awarded the "World's Leading Travel Experience by Train" at the World Travel Awards seven times for its GoldLeaf service, as well as the "World's Leading Luxury Train" award 3 times.^[7] It was recognized by National Geographic Magazine as one of the "World's Best Journeys" in 2007. The Society of American Travel Writers, the world's largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, rated the Rocky Mountaineer as the world's top train ride in 2009.^[8]

Equipment

The Rocky Mountaineer's fleet includes:^[9]

• GP40-2L locomotives, ex-Canadian National Railway
• SD70M locomotives, leased from Union Pacific (the original GP40-2L locomotives are non-compliant with positive train control )
• 18 "SilverLeaf" single-level dome coaches, rebuilt from RedLeaf coaches^[10]
• Canada Car and Foundry single-deck coaches, ex-Canadian National Railway^[10]
• 16 "GoldLeaf" Colorado Railcar bi-level Ultra Dome coaches, with wrap-over view windows on the top level^[10]
• 10 "GoldLeaf" Stadler bi-level glass domed coaches, with restaurant and kitchen in the lower level^[11]
• 12 crew cars
• 8 generator cars
• 9 locomotives
• Two lounge cars (for SilverLeaf Plus service)

Previous equipment included GE B36-7 locomotives leased from Santa Fe.^[12]

Routes

Rocky Mountaineer currently operates train journeys on four routes, with three in Canada and one in the United States. Two additional routes (one in Canada and one international) are no longer operated.

• First Passage to the West: This route travels between Vancouver and Banff, with an overnight stop in Kamloops and an intermediate stop in Lake Louise. It operates primarily on Canadian Pacific Railway trackage, although directional running through the Fraser Canyon means that westbound trains use Canadian National Railway tracks in that area.^[13]
• First Passage to the West Discovery: This route travels between Vancouver and Lake Louise, continuing to Calgary via motorcoach with an overnight stop in Kamloops and intermediate stops in Banff and Lake Louise. It operates primarily on Canadian Pacific Railway trackage, although directional running through the Fraser Canyon means that westbound trains use Canadian National Railway tracks in that area.^[13]
• First Passage to the West Grand Adventure: This route travels between Vancouver and Banff via train continuing to Jasper via motorcoach, with an overnight stop in Kamloops and intermediate stops in Lake Louise and Columbia Icefield. It operates primarily on Canadian Pacific Railway trackage, although directional running through the Fraser Canyon means that westbound trains use Canadian National Railway tracks in that area.^[13]
• Journey Through the Clouds: This route travels between Vancouver and Jasper with an overnight stop in Kamloops. It operates primarily on Canadian National Railway trackage, although directional running through the Fraser Canyon means that eastbound trains use Canadian Pacific Railway tracks in that area.^[13]
• Journey Through the Clouds Grand Adventure: This route travels between Vancouver and Jasper continuing to Calgary via motorcoach with an overnight stop in Kamloops and intermediate stops in Columbia Icefield, Banff, and Lake Louise. It operates primarily on Canadian National Railway trackage, although directional running through the Fraser Canyon means that eastbound trains use Canadian Pacific Railway tracks in that area.^[13]
• Rainforest to Gold Rush: This route travels between North Vancouver and Jasper, with overnight stops in Whistler and Quesnel. It operates on Canadian National Railway trackage, including ex-BC Rail tracks between North Vancouver and Prince George.^[13]
• Rockies to the Red Rocks: This route travels between Denver and Moab with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs. It operates on Union Pacific Railroad trackage. Announced in November 2020, this route was initially set to begin service in fall 2021, but was pushed up. The first train ran on August 15, 2021.^[14]

Former routes

• Whistler Mountaineer/Whistler Sea to Sky Climb: This route was a day trip operating between North Vancouver and Whistler on Canadian National Railway trackage. It was discontinued after the 2015 season and incorporated into the overlapping Rainforest to Gold Rush route.^[15]
• Coastal Passage: This route was a day trip operating between Seattle, Vancouver, Jasper/Banff on BNSF Railway trackage, intended to provide travellers from the United States with easier access to the other Vancouver-based routes. It was discontinued after the 2019 season due to low demand.^[15]

Service levels

GoldLeaf

Operating on all routes except the Rockies to the Red Rocks, Rocky Mountaineer's GoldLeaf service is a custom-designed, bi-level, glass-domed coach with full-length windows and reclining seats that can be rotated to accommodate groups of four. Guests are offered hot meals prepared on board the train, served to them in the lower level dining car.^[16][17]

GoldLeaf service is not offered on the Rockies to the Red Rocks route because the coaches exceed the loading gauge; this mainly has to do with the coaches being taller than the Amtrak Superliners and double-stack container trains that frequent the route.^[18]

SilverLeaf

Operating on the same routes as GoldLeaf (and being the only service offered on the Rockies to the Red Rocks route), Rocky Mountaineer's SilverLeaf service is a custom-designed, single-level glass domed coach with oversized windows and reclining seats. Guests are offered breakfast and lunch served at their seat.^[16][17]

SilverLeaf Plus

This service option is only offered on Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rocks route (Denver to Moab). SilverLeaf Plus includes all the benefits of their SilverLeaf Service, plus exclusive access to their newly renovated lounge car. Featuring signature cocktails, the lounge car offers additional space indoors as well as a small outdoor viewing area. This service level offers an elevated dining experience and premium alcoholic beverages.

^[16]

Trip structure

Rocky Mountaineer trains operate exclusively during the day; no sleeper service is offered. All trips include overnight stops at which passengers disembark and stay in hotels.

As Rocky Mountaineer is primarily a rail-tour service, all journeys are end-to-end. Between their origin and destination, trains only stop for overnight layovers and no passengers may begin or end their journeys at these stations. The one exception to these provisions is the First Passage to the West route, which has an intermediate stop at Lake Louise station where westbound passengers may board and eastbound passengers may disembark. No tickets are sold solely for the Banff–Lake Louise portion of the trip.

Trains only operate in the tourist season of April to October.

Connecting services

Rocky Mountaineer train journeys often include bus connections between stations and hotels. Packages may also include bus connections to nearby cities (such as from Banff to Calgary).

While several cities—including Vancouver, Jasper, and Denver—are served by both Rocky Mountaineer and other passenger rail services (such as Via Rail Canada and Amtrak), no single-ticket rail connections are available.