The Weekend Warrior: Toronto to Glen Eden
Escaping Toronto for a weeknight or weekend trip is easy by car (as long as the traffic is moving), but, unfortunately, anyone interested in leaving the city by train faces a dearth of choice for winter recreational destinations. Sure, there’s existing train stops to Niagara Falls or Stratford, but nothing else. The Glen Eden Ski Area and the greater Kelso Conservation Area could be great train destinations. Nestled just west of the terminus of GO Transit’s Milton Line, the Glen Eden Ski Area is a recreational destination for skiers of all levels. While not a large ski area by any means, the vertical (elevation change from top to bottom) is only 72 metres. What makes Glen Eden a great opportunity for train travel is how the ski slopes and parking area are separated by Canadian Pacific’s mainline. To cross, riders need to either use the pedestrian bridge, or the tunnel from the parking lot to the ski area. A platform, located at the bottom of the hill, could serve as an ideal train stop to a convenient transportation line, offering an escape for urbanites interested in shredding the slopes for a couple hours.
Sea to Sky By Rails: Vancouver to Whislter
While there used to be a regional train service operated by BC Rail from Vancouver, extending all the way to Prince George in the interior, this service sadly ended in 2002. It’s crazy that the largest ski resort in North America is not connected by passenger rail to the third largest city in Canada, Vancouver. There is Rocky Mountaineer’s Rainforest and Gold Rush route, which includes a night in Whistler. However, this service runs only during the summer months and guests cannot start/end their trip from Whistler. The Rainforest and Gold Rush route is primarily a luxury travel service, and is not a passenger run for travellers, hoping to hit the slopes.
Reinstating the train service from North Vancouver to Whistler with a focus on passengers transporting their ski gear to shred the slopes would be a great escape from Vancouver. Think the northern version of the Winter Park Express, but with a West Coast experience to Whistler, which would depart from North Vancouver in the morning and back in the evening.
Charlevoix: Quebec to Le Massif
Editor’s note: While a ski train has run in the recent past, there is no winter train running for the 2023-24 season. There is, however, a Le Massif de Charlevoix Package during the summer, offering a weekend escape up the mountain by train and gondola. Perfect for active people, not so much for skiers and winter enthusiasts.
Le Train de Charelvoix runs a popular tourist train departing from the edge of historic Quebec City and northeast up the northern shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Popular for day trips and the weekend excursion, this train has branched off into seasonal services such as the ski train connecting to Le Massif. Situated on the southern face of an escarpment that plunges towards the Saint Lawrence River, Le Massif de Charlevoix could be mistaken for a ski resort in the Rockies, considering the vertical length of 770 metres, and an extensive network of trails.
What we really want to ski: A departure from downtown Quebec’s Palais Station to connect with VIA Rail’s Corridor service to Toronto and Montreal. No more driving to Monmonrency Falls station to catch the train. Make it a car free experience to shred the slopes. Unique to this route is North America’s first (and only) commercial hydrogen powered train.
Gateway to the Rockies: Calgary to Banff
Canada’s gateway to the Rockies is without frequent regional train service. Considering how busy and packed the Banff National Park becomes during peak season, a ski train would be a welcomed addition. Think the second Rocky Mountain verison of the Winter Park Express with trains departing in the morning from Calgary and returning in the evening every day of the week, accommodating urban weekend warriors and international tourists hoping to avoid renting a car.
Ski Resorts along the route: Lake Louise, Mount Norquay, Nikiska, and Sunshine.
Not to mention other recreational activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking, and skating. While plans are in motion and studies are funded, nothing concrete has come together, leaving the Calgary to Banff train a distant dream for now.
Hydrogen train