Rocky Mountaineer

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Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer logo.png
Rocky Mountaineer train.jpg
Overview
Headquarters Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Reporting mark RMRX
Locale British Columbia and Alberta, Canada
Colorado and Utah, U.S.
Dates of operationMay 27, 1990 (1990-05-27)–present
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Other
Website www.rockymountaineer.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

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

Contents

History

Via Rail Canada

The Rocky Mountaineer concept was created by Harry Holmes, a railroad engineer, and Pat Crowley, a 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-sightseeing train pulled by the retired steam locomotive CNR 6060, a Bullet Nose Betty-class engine, operating 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 higher 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. Marketing for the Rocky Mountaineer sale began on November 12, 1989, and the process was overseen 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.

In March 1990, following the bidding process, the route's equipment, book of business, 12 coaches, two baggage cars, along with various equipment and branding, were sold to Vancouver businessman Peter R.B. Armstrong's Armstrong Hospitality Group Ltd. The inaugural train journey took place on May 27, 1990. [6]

Following the success of its early operations, Rocky Mountaineer expanded its fleet and routes throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The company became a cornerstone of Canada's luxury tourism industry, drawing travelers from over 30 countries and contributing significantly to the economies of Western Canadian communities along its routes. [7]

Awards

As of 2025, Rocky Mountaineer has received numerous international awards for service excellence and tourism innovation. The company has won thirteen World Travel Awards, including World's Leading Travel Experience by Train eight times. [8]

In addition, it has been recognized with multiple Travy Awards between 2017 and 2024 for Best Rail Experience and Best Luxury Train; a Travel + Leisure World's Best Award for World's Best Luxury Train in 2025; and several Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards for ranking among the top 10% of things to do worldwide in 2024 and 2025.

Other recognitions include the Lonely Planet Best Sustainable Train award (2021), Globe Travel Award for Best Rail Company (2022), and the Deloitte Canada Best Managed Companies Platinum Distinction (2025). The company has also received multiple honors from Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Weekly, and Baxter Travel Media.

Legacy and influence

Since its privatization in 1990, the Rocky Mountaineer has played a key role in redefining luxury train travel in North America. Its success demonstrated that high-end, daylight sightseeing services could be commercially viable without government subsidy, influencing tourism rail concepts across Canada and the United States. The company's model has inspired similar scenic operations worldwide, including the development of routes in the U.S Southwest such as Rockies to the Red Rocks. Tourism analysts and travel writers often cite the Rocky Mountaineer as a benchmark for combing hospitality standards with heritage railway experiences. [9]

Equipment

The Rocky Mountaineer boards passengers at Banff, Alberta, showing its former livery, 2006 RockyMountaineerRailCoach3998.jpg
The Rocky Mountaineer boards passengers at Banff, Alberta, showing its former livery, 2006
Two Goldleaf double-deck panorama wagons of the Rocky Mountaineer in the station at Jasper, 2019 Jasper.Rocky.Mountaineer.P1033590.jpg
Two Goldleaf double-deck panorama wagons of the Rocky Mountaineer in the station at Jasper, 2019

The Rocky Mountaineer's fleet includes: [10]

Previous equipment included GE B36-7 locomotives leased from Santa Fe. [13]

Routes

Rocky Mountaineer currently operates train journeys on four routes, with three in western Canada and one in the southwestern United States. [14] Two additional routes (one in Canada and one international) are no longer operated.

Former routes

Service levels

Upper level of Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf.jpg
Upper level of Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf
Lower dining level on GoldLeaf Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf 3.jpg
Lower dining level on GoldLeaf

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. [19] [20]

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. [21]

Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf.jpg
Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf

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. [19] [20]

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. [19]

Trip structure

Rocky Mountaineer trains operate only during the tourist season, from April to October. They operate exclusively during the day and sleeper services are not offered. All trips include overnight stops at which passengers disembark and stay in hotels.[ citation needed ]

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 First Passage to the West, which has an intermediate stop at Lake Louise where westbound passengers may board and eastbound passengers may disembark. No tickets are sold solely for the Banff–Lake Louise portion of the trip.[ citation needed ]

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).[ citation needed ]

Each journey is designed as a leisurely experience, with commentary, locally inspired cuisine, and opportunities to observe wildlife such as bears, eagles, and mountain goats along the route. The company emphasizes a slow-travel philosophy, encouraging guests to focus on scenery and relaxation rather than speed. [22]

References

  1. ↑ Greenlaw, Christopher (2007). Via Rail. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing. pp. 116–121. ISBN   9780760325292.
  2. ↑ Via: Canada's passenger train network. System Timetable. Montreal: Via Rail Canada. May 1, 1988. p. 51.
  3. ↑ 1989 Via Rail Annual Report (PDF). Ottawa: Via Rail Canada. December 31, 1989. p. 14. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  4. ↑ Via National Timetable (Summer–Fall ed.). Montreal: Via Rail Canada. April 30, 1989. p. 51.
  5. ↑ Via National Timetable. Montreal: Via Rail Canada. May 27, 1990. pp. 24–25.
  6. ↑ Johnston, Bob (February 2016). "It takes more than scenery". Trains . Vol. 76, no. 2. p. 50.
  7. ↑ "Celebrating Rocky Mountaineer's 30 Years of Stories". Rocky Mountaineer Blog. January 29, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Awards & Accolades". Rocky Mountaineer. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Travel by Train: Canada's Rocky Mountaineer". National Geographic. September 29, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Rocky Mountaineer. February 25, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Rocky Mountaineer. October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Stadler Goldleaf" (PDF). Stadler. August 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  13. ↑ "General Electric Locos in the 1990s". Traingeek. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  14. ↑ Friel, Mikhaila (January 13, 2024). "The best luxury train rides in 2024". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 "Routes". Rocky Mountaineer.
  16. ↑ McGough, Will (August 16, 2021). "Canadian luxury scenic train line debuts its first US route". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Rocky Mountaineer U.S. operations to become Canyon Spirit, will expand to Salt Lake City". Trains. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Rocky Mountaineer Axes Seattle-Vancouver Route". Latte Luxury News. June 28, 2019.
  19. 1 2 3 "Rocky Mountaineer". Rocky Mountaineer.
  20. 1 2 "Rocky Mountaineer: 25 Years of Life Changing Experiences". Canada Train travel Guide. 2015. p. 19.
  21. ↑ Johnston, Bob (November 23, 2020). "Rocky Mountaineer targets California Zephyr scenery with SilverLeaf cars". Trains Magazine. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Travel by Train: Canada's Rocky Mountaineer". National Geographic. September 29, 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2025.

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