Rocky Mountaineer
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV) offers and operates numerous sightseeing railway routes in Canada. Founded in 1990, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations offers what are widely considered the most spectacular train trips in the world.
Background
Started in 1990, RMV was founded by and currently managed by the Armstrong Hospitality Group (AHG) in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Equipment
RMT operates 60 railcars in their fleet:
- GE Rail F40PH locomotives
- GP40-2L locomotives - ex-Canadian National Railway and rebuilt by GEC - Alstom
- Bi-level Ultradome observation cars
- Single level coaches
- 35 Canadian Car and Foundry Red Leaf Cars - ex-Canadian National Railway
- 10 Colorado Railcar (Fort Lupton, Colorado) Gold Leaf Cars
Routes
Routes used routes used by Canadian National Railway
Trip structure
Trips are day travel only so that none of the scenery is missed. On the Banff-Vancouver run an overnight stop is made in Kamloops, BC, with a dinner and stage show offered.
Service levels
Two classes of service are offered:
- Red Leaf service offers single level coach seating with a box lunch served at the passenger's seat.
- Gold Leaf service employs two-level coaches, with wrap-over window seating on the top level with hosted bar in the afternoon, and dining car service on the lower level with a complete dinner menu served at midday.
Connecting service
Some tour companies such as Grand Circle offer guided group tours from points east such as Toronto, with transport to Jasper, Alberta by Canada Rail ("Via") sleeper rail coach, and connecting motor coach to Banff.