The vast Canadian Rockies are a wild and wonderful draw for nature-loving travellers, with mist-shrouded forests, epic jagged peaks and an abundance of wildlife including moose, elk, bighorn sheep, bear, and eagles.
There are many ways to explore the surrounding area, whether it’s mountain biking on Whistler’s spectacular slopes or taking a brisk hike through Banff National Park. Another option is by train, with one company having just unveiled a selection of glass-domed fleets that allow travellers to fully appreciate the views.
Announced by Rocky Mountaineer, the new GoldLeaf Service rail cars are offered on its Western Canadian rail routes for the 2019 season, with four rail cars having just been added to its current fleet. The routes are First Passage to the West, a two-day rail journey between Vancouver and Lake Louise or Banff, and Journey Through the Clouds, a two-day rail trip between Vancouver and Jasper. The bi-level rail cars feature oversized glass-dome windows and a separate dining area for guests traveling through the Canadian Rockies. The company partnered with the Swiss rail car company Stadler to engineer and build the new equipment at its facilities in Germany. Each rail car can seat up to 72 guests.
An additional three cars will also join the fleet in 2020, bringing the company’s total to 26 bi-level GoldLeaf rail cars and 16 single-level SilverLeaf rail cars to mark its 30th anniversary. “These new GoldLeaf rail cars will allow us to welcome even more guests on board our trains and offer increased availability across our most popular dates and routes,” said Steve Sammut, president and chief executive officer of Rocky Mountaineer.
The new rail cars feature dimmable domed windows that harness technology similar to that used in luxury yachts and private jets, and custom-designed reclining seats with heated composite leather that have the ability to spin 180 degrees, while a number of engineering enhancements were made on the cars.
More information on the experiences are available at the official Rocky Mountaineer website.
