• Scenic Banff is just one of the stops on some Canadian railway vacations.banff national park image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  In 1977, Canada nationalized its primary passenger railway service, creating a national passenger rail service known as VIA. With 78 locomotives and 396 passenger cars, VIA transports over four million passengers each year. VIA offers one- and two-night single city specials, three- and four-night winter sports packages, and full week spa themed treks. Whereas VIA covers the entire country, other railroads in Canada offer area-specific trips and tours.
  
  

VIA Rail Canada

• The mother of all railroad vacations in North America just might be the 14-day coast-to-coast VIA "Train Signature" voyage. Experience some of everything the country has to offer on two of the fleet's flagship trains, the Canadian and the Ocean. This adventure departs Halifax and concludes in Vancouver, emphasizing Canada's major cities: Jasper, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa, and Quebec. Prices start at $6,300, as of 2010. The vacation package includes walking tours of the cities, a winery tour and a scenic flight over Vancouver. Enjoy views of the sloughs of Saskatchewan and the peaks of the Canadian Rockies while sipping wine in the dining car, or relax in the second-story all-glass observation room of the park car. At the end of each day, retire to a cabin for one, two, three, or four; for the height of luxury book a suite room which offers the additional amenities of fresh flowers, champagne, chocolates and breakfast in bed.
  
  VIA Rail Canada
  895 De La Gauchetiere Rue Oues
  Montreal, QC H3B4G1 Canada
  888-842-7245
  http://www.viarail.ca/en
  
  

Rocky Mountaineer

• This privately owned railroad offers more than 70 tour packages throughout Alberta and British Columbia. Take a three hour trip between Whistler and Vancouver or indulge in the six day Canadian Rockies Highlights excursion from Vancouver to Calgary via Banff and Kamloops. Starting at approximately $1,800 in 2010, this "First Passage to the West" themed package includes two scenic helicopter rides, and Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary sightseeing tours. The Rocky Mountaineer train has dining and observation cars and often travels during the daytime only; the railway has affiliations with many hotels and resorts for overnight stays.
  
  Rocky Mountaineer
  Suite 101, 369 Terminal Avenue
  Vancouver, BC V6A 4C4 Canada
  877-460-3200
  http://www.rockymountaineer.com/en_US/
  
  

Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions

• Take the entire family on this one day adventure on the vast prairie of eastern Alberta. Depart Stettler for a six hour trek that includes a train robbery, and buffet with onboard Western-themed entertainment. A full-day, all-inclusive package is $150 per person in 2010. The company also hosts dinner theater and murder mystery tours aboard its small fleet of steam and diesel trains, with an option to take a two- to three-day Conestoga wagon train trip as well.
  
  Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions
  P.O. Box 1600
  Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 Canada
  800-282-3994
  http://absteamtrain.com/
  
  

Train a Vapeur/Steam Train

• This 1907 steam train follows the Gatineau River, through Hull and Chelsea, to scenic and historic Wakefield, where the engine is turned around on a manual turntable for the return trip. All aboard for Sunday brunch or a sunset dinner in the dining car, or take a box lunch on a fall foliage tour. Make a vacation of it with a one- or multi-night stay in Wakefield; single-stay getaways are $364 per person in 2010.
  
  Train a Vapeur/Steam Train
  165 rue Deveault
  Gatineau, QC J8Z 187 Canada
  800-871-7246
  http://steamtrain.ca/