Review: Via Rail Prestige Class “The Canadian” Winnipeg to Toronto

Via Rail is Canada’s national passenger rail service, linking over 400 locations coast-to-coast since 1977. Today, the rail service offers a unique opportunity to travel and see Canada’s natural grandeur.

For our journey from Winnipeg to Toronto, we embarked on a lengthy 40-hour train ride in Prestige Class, which is Via Rail’s First Class offering. These luxury cabins debuted in 2014, giving passengers a superior railway experience with ultra-personalized service on their most famous train, “The Canadian”.

Following my recent adventure on the Rocky Mountaineer, as well an epic train journey years ago on the Trans-Siberian Railway, I was excited to continue riding the rails with this extended trip on Via Rail Prestige Class.

Via Rail Prestige Class – Routes

Via Rail has over 400 stations across Canada, with possibilities for both shorter jaunts and extended trips.

There are three main routes connecting Toronto to Vancouver (“The Canadian”), Quebec to Windsor, and Montreal to Halifax (“The Ocean”), as well as “Scenic Adventure Routes” in select remote areas, such as Churchill and Northern British Columbia.

“The Canadian” exclusively links Toronto to Vancouver, with connections in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Jasper, as well as a number of smaller towns and cities in between.

The full route begins at either Toronto’s Union Station or Vancouver’s Pacific Station. Along this route, the railway snakes its way over the Rockies and across the virtually endless prairies.

It takes four nights to complete the entire transcontinental trip, making it Canada’s longest train journey.

For our eastbound adventure from Winnipeg to Toronto, key stops along the way included Sioux Lookout, Hornepayne, Sudbury, and Parry Sound.

Via Rail Prestige Class – Classes of Service

There are four classes onboard Via Rail: Economy, Business, Sleeper Plus, and Prestige.

Only economy is consistent across each route, and the other classes of service vary depending on the destination and route.

• Ontario and Quebec: Business class and economy class
• Western Canada: Economy class, Sleeper Plus class, Prestige Class
• Atlantic Canada: Sleeper Plus class and economy class
• The Adventure Routes: Sleeper Plus class, economy class, and Touring class

Economy class only offers upright chairs with a semi-recline feature, which you’ll need to keep in mind for any long-distance travel. For example,…