Train from Vancouver to Toronto

The best way to travel from Vancouver to Toronto is by train. The train follows the historic Canadian Pacific Railway route and covers 2,775 miles (4,466 kilometres). Leave the West Coast, pass through the Fraser Valley and head towards Alberta. See the towering peaks of the Canadian Rockies all around you, then continue your journey. Cross Canada’s prairies, then see the rugged landscape of the Canadian Shield before arriving in Toronto, Canada’s largest city.

At Canadian Train Vacations, we help you create your dream holiday in Canada. Our trips from Vancouver to Toronto include the train, sightseeing tours, transfers, and hotels. No itinerary is the same, as they are customizable to your interests. We can build the perfect train tour Vancouver to Toronto for you.

Vancouver to Toronto Train Journey

On this 11-day trip from Vancouver to Toronto, experience a cross-country overnight train journey and the Rocky Mountaineer daylight sightseeing train. Sleep onboard The Canadian train for three nights as you travel across Canada, explore Jasper and Banff national parks, and tour the Icefields Parkway. Enjoy plenty of wildlife spotting and photo opportunities along the way.  

Miles covered on train: 2,775 

Days on train: 5 

Nights on train: 3

Trans Canada by Train in Winter  

This train tour from Vancouver to Toronto is the perfect Canadian winter adventure. Board the train in Vancouver, then stop in the Canadian Rockies for some winter sightseeing and activities. See snow-capped mountains, then re-board the train and travel across the prairies before arriving in Toronto.  

Miles covered on train: 2,775 

Days on train: 4 

Nights on train: 4

Canada Coast to Coast by Train 

Make the most of your time in Canada with the ultimate rail adventure from coast to coast! Go from Vancouver to Toronto by rail, then travel on and explore Montreal, Quebec City, and Halifax. You’ll get to enjoy five amazing train journeys, including sleeper trains and daytime trains. 

Miles covered on train: 3,930 

Days on train: 7 

Nights on train: 4 

There are three main ways to travel from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Toronto, Ontario. You can fly, drive or train between these cities. Vancouver is on the West Coast and Toronto is in Eastern Canada. There are over 2,500 miles in between these cities.  

Flying from Vancouver to Toronto is the quickest option. There are a few airlines that service this route, including Air Canada and Westjet. Flight time is approximately 4.5 hours. However, by flying over the country, you do not get to see much of the landscape. And you won’t want to miss the scenery between Vancouver and Toronto—there’s mountains, rainforest, lakes, prairies, and more.

You could drive from Vancouver to Toronto. This journey takes at least a week as it includes a minimum of 40-45 hours of driving. Most travellers give themselves two weeks to complete this route, as there are plenty of places to see and things to do along the way — you’ll want to make sightseeing stops!

A train trip from Vancouver to Toronto is the most relaxing way to travel between the two cities. You can take VIA Rail’s sleeper train which has a range of onboard accommodation (seats, berths, cabins). The train has various viewing areas and a dining car, so you can travel in complete comfort and not have to worry about a thing. The train takes 4 days and 4 nights. 

Train trips between Vancouver and Toronto include VIA Rail’s Canadian Train. Some itineraries will also include the Rocky Mountaineer train. Learn more about the different onboard experiences below.

The Canadian Train Onboard Experience 

The Canadian train has different levels of service. There is Economy, Sleeper Plus, and Prestige class available on VIA Rail from Vancouver to Toronto. We recommend Sleeper Plus Class or Prestige Class.  

In Sleeper Plus Class, you can choose an upper or lower berth, a cabin for one, or a cabin for two. For the long journey between Vancouver and Toronto, we recommend booking a private cabin. Cabins for one feature a comfortable armchair next to a large window. At night, sleep well in a cozy lower bed. Cabins for two feature comfortable armchairs next to a large window. At night, the chairs are replaced with retractable upper and lower beds (bunk beds). Cabins have a private toilet, sink, and mirror. There is not a private shower in your cabin, though there are shared showers available. 

Prestige Class is a luxury all-inclusive experience on the Vancouver to Toronto train. The cabin is spacious and features an L-shaped leather couch which converts to a lower bed for two. Wake up from a good night’s sleep and instantly look out the large window in front of you. Your cabin also has a private bathroom with a shower and heated floors. Prestige guests enjoy a range of perks including priority boarding, priority meal reservations, unlimited snacks, and turn down service. There is also a dedicated concierge who will attend to your needs while on the train.  

In addition to their onboard accommodation, Sleeper Plus and Prestige passengers have access to the train’s dining car and the viewing cars. There is the Skyline Car, which has a glass-dome viewing area, and the Prestige Park Car. Prestige guests have priority access to the Park Car during peak season.  These viewing areas are fantastic places to sit and admire the scenery outside. 

Meals are included for Sleeper Plus and Prestige guests. Non-alcoholic drinks are included for Sleeper Plus and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase. Both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks are included for Prestige. Freshly made three-course meals are served at lunch and dinner. Meals are prepared by onboard chefs in the train’s kitchen. There are usually four main meals options to choose from, including a vegetarian option. The menu changes each day, so you won’t get the same meal twice. 

A sample breakfast menu features these four options: 

• Chef’s omelette 
• Cranberry orange pancakes 
• Tofu scramble 

• Continental 

A sample lunch menu features these four options: 

• Ginger beef on rice 
• Shrimp and scallops 
• Pulled turkey wrap 
• Couscous salad 

A sample dinner menu features these four options:  

• Prime rib of beef 
• Sole filet with fruit salsa 
• Chicken with lentils 
• Marinated tofu 

Tea, coffee, juice, and water are always available. 

Rocky Mountaineer Onboard Experience

Though the Rocky Mountaineer train does not go all the way to Toronto, you could take this train from Vancouver to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper as part of your summer trans-Canada trip. The Rocky Mountaineer has oversized windows, outdoor viewing areas, and friendly staff who provide entertaining commentary. 

 
The Rocky Mountaineer train has two levels of service, SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. 

• In SilverLeaf, you have an assigned seat in a single-level dome car. Delicious three-course meals are served at your seat. 
• In GoldLeaf, you have an assigned seat on the top floor of a bi-level dome car. You will be sitting underneath huge dome windows which reach to the ceiling and provide you with panoramic views of the scenery. On the bottom floor, there is a dining room, where you will enjoy a la carte meals.  

The VIA Rail Vancouver to Toronto train travels 2,775 miles and takes 95 hours. The train travels across five provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Major city stops between Vancouver and Toronto include Kamloops, Edmonton, Jasper, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. There are other small towns that the train passes through, though the train will only call at some of these if the stops are requested in advance. This route operates year-round. You do not have to do the entire Vancouver to Toronto journey. Some passengers like to do Vancouver to Jasper or Jasper to Toronto, for example.  

The Rocky Mountaineer train travels from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies. There are three different train routes to choose from and you can go to Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. The train does not go all the way to Toronto, so many guests choose to combine it with VIA Rail’s overnight train. The Rocky Mountaineer only runs between April and October. It is not possible to take the Rocky Mountaineer in the winter months.

The Vancouver to Toronto train cost depends on the date of departure and level of train service you select. The vacation advisors at Canadian Train Vacations can provide you with a personalized quote for your requested dates and itinerary. Our packages do not just include the train. They also include transfers, tours, activities, and hotel accommodation.  

Our 11-day Vancouver to Toronto Train Tour starts at $6,090 USD per person. This includes Sleeper Plus class on The Canadian train between Jasper and Toronto, and two days on the Rocky Mountaineer train.  

Please contact us if you are looking for the Vancouver to Toronto train prestige class price.  

VIA Rail’s Vancouver to Toronto train duration is approximately 95-96 hours. It is a sleeper train, which means you sleep onboard for 4 nights. 

The train departs Vancouver on Mondays and Fridays at 3pm. On Day 2, the train passes through Jasper at 11am and Edmonton at 6.50pm. On Day 3, the train arrives in Saskatoon at 5.57am and then reaches Winnipeg at 10pm. Day 4 is spent travelling through Ontario and the Canadian Shield. The train arrives in Toronto at 2.39pm on Day 5, which would be a Tuesday or Friday.  

During these train days, you will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner onboard.  There are also optional onboard activities depending on the day and the train crew. Some examples are trivia, information talks, movie nights, and chair yoga. Take a seat in the train’s viewing cars and gaze out at the changing scenery, read a book, do a crossword, and make new friends.  

You can do the full Canadian rail Vancouver to Toronto journey in one go, or you can choose to stop in Jasper or Winnipeg. Spend a few nights in these locations, then hop back on the train (according to the train’s schedule). Jasper is a popular stop-off for exploring the Canadian Rockies.

Before and after your train journey, you’ll stay in hotels in Vancouver and Toronto. There are a range of hotels to choose from, ranging from 3 to 5 stars.  

Most trip itineraries include one or two nights in Vancouver and one or two nights in Toronto, with the train journey in between. For the duration of your VIA Rail Canadian train journey, you’ll sleep onboard. If you take a Rocky Mountaineer train, you will sleep in a hotel each night as the train only runs during the daytime.  

At Canadian Train Vacations, we list hotels in three groups: Comfort, Superior, and Deluxe.  

• Comfort hotels are typically rated at 3-3.5 stars. They are well-situated and have clean, comfortable accommodations and great service.  
• Superior hotels are 4-4.5 stars and have exceptional service, location, and quality.  
• Deluxe hotels are 5 stars. These properties have world-class amenities and attentive service. If you choose Deluxe level, then you’ll likely stay in some of Canada’s most iconic hotels and resorts, including Fairmont properties.