This could be the last year the Rocky Mountaineer’s Rainforest to Gold Rush route will run, as CN intends to discontinue its operations on a portion of the rail line used by the trip.
A press release from the luxury train journey company from March 30 says this season may be the last chance to travel the route. The trip takes people between North Vancouver and Jasper, with overnight stays in Whistler and Quesnel, and has been part of the company’s offering since 2006.
Explaining the reason for the possible closure of the Rainforest to Gold Rush route, the company says the trip takes the rail line currently operated by the Canadian National Railway Company (CN).
“CN intends to discontinue operations on a portion of the rail line between Squamish and 100 Mile House, B.C., as part of their network plan. Without a long-term operator maintaining the rail line, Rocky Mountaineer is unable to travel on the route,” said the company.
Rocky Mountaineer will not operate the Rainforest to Gold Rush route in 2027 and is currently not including it in the schedule for 2028.
Tristan Armstrong, CEO of Armstrong Collective, which operates Rocky Mountaineer, says they are incredibly grateful to the partners, business owners, and residents in the communities of Whistler and Quesnel for welcoming their guests over the last 20 years.
“The Rainforest to Gold Rush route has been a majestic part of our company’s history, and we would be happy to return to the route if a long-term operator can be found to maintain the rail line,” Armstrong said.
“In the meantime, our team will ensure the welcoming spirit and warm hospitality of Rainforest to Gold Rush lives on through our other train journeys in western Canada and in the American southwest.”
The company explains that Rocky Mountaineer has been operating on the rail line between North Vancouver and Jasper, Alberta, since 2006. It began as two routes, a one-day Whistler Sea to Sky Climb between North Vancouver and Whistler, and a two-day Fraser Discovery Route between Whistler and Jasper with an overnight stay in Quesnel. They were eventually combined into the three-day Rainforest to Gold Rush route in 2016.
In total, Rocky Mountaineer has welcomed over 250,000 visitors to travel by train through the region of western Canada, they say.
“Rocky Mountaineer will continue to operate two rail routes in western Canada: First Passage to the West, which travels between Vancouver and Lake Louise and Banff, and Journey through the Clouds, which travels between Vancouver and Jasper. These are two-day rail routes and include an overnight stay in Kamloops,” the company says.