Railway has traditionally been the link between communities in Canada. Sadly that’s no longer really the case. However the routes that do still exist in Alberta provide passengers with the opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery found anywhere in the world. The phrase "Kodak speed" is used to describe the halted pace trains creep to when passing through photography-worthy sections what is considered one of the world’s classic rail trips. Numerous packages that combine train vacations, motor coach tours, sightseeing excursions and self-drive holidays are available. Get your camera ready to capture a memory of a lifetime!

VIA Rail, Canada’s government rail agency, offers the only regular passenger rail service into Alberta. VIA’s CanRail Pass allows unlimited travel anywhere on the VIA Rail network (conditions apply). It’s recommended for journeys that involve more than one trip. Visit Via Rail or call 1.800.872.7245 (Canada or US).

Note there is no regular scheduled passenger VIA rail service into Banff or Calgary. See the Rocky Mountaineer and Royal Canadian Pacific rail tours below.

The Canadian – offers scheduled service stops in Edmonton three days per week from Vancouver, British Columbia (stopping in Jasper) and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Most trains from major Canadian and American cities connect with this route. In the U.S., VIA Rail can be booked through Amtrak. Call 1.800.USA.RAIL (1.800.872.7245).
The Skeena – makes a two-day journey three times a week from Jasper north-west to Prince Rupert on British Columbia’s Pacific coast.
The Snow Train route between Edmonton to Jasper offers a unique winter weekend ski getaway to Marmot Basin the world-class ski resort in Jasper National Park.

The Rocky Mountaineer train offers passengers four spectacular, all daylight, rail routes journey through British Columbia, the Canadian Rockies, Banff and Jasper. Visit Rocky Mountaineer Railtours or call 1.877.460.3200.

The Royal Canadian Pacific luxury rail tours offer passengers a nostalgic six-day tour that follows a circuit leaving Calgary through Banff, the Columbia River Valley, and into neighbouring British Columbia via the Crowsnest Pass and back aboard elegantly restored heritage rail carriages (built between 1917 and 1931). Royal Canadian Pacific also offers fly-fishing and golf tours to some of North America’s best fishing holes the finest greens in western Canada. For more and its history visit Royal Canadian Pacific or call 1.877.665.3044 (Canada or US) or 1.403.508.1400 (Direct).

Ride the rails to Alberta’s wild west aboard Alberta Prairie Railway’s vintage steam and diesel trains. All excursions leave Settler, about a two and half hour drive from Edmonton and just over three from Calgary. You’ll travel through beautiful rolling countryside and return five to six hours later – depending on whether there’s been a train robbery! Visit Alberta Prairie Railway or call 1-800-282-3994 (Canada) or (403) 742-2811 for more information.

Explore Alberta by air, bus/motorcoach, car, motorhome (RV) or train.