ROCKY MOUNTAINEER -THE ENGINE THAT COULD
Rocky Mountaineer -The Engine That Could - Luxury Travel Magazine
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The Engine That Could | |||||
| By: Megan Cuthbert, Issue 41 – Summer 2010 | |||||
| (Rocky Mountaineer – Canada) | |||||
| AS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER PREPARES FOR ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY, MEGAN CUTHBERT LOOKS AT WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE FAMOUS CANADIAN RAIL SERVICE. | |||||
| In a year that promises to bring unprecedented attention to Canada’s west coast, thanks to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Rocky Mountaineer, Canada’s iconic private rail service, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Since it’s inception the company has grown to become the largest privately owned rail service in North America. Though the continent has not widely embraced train travel to the extent its European or Indian counterparts have, rail has played a significant role in the molding of Canada. The Rocky Mountaineer celebrates that history, following the same routes through the Rocky Mountains that united the country over 100 years ago. To mark its 20-year milestone, Rocky Mountaineer has planned a few marketing nips and tucks: “We will relaunch our brand with a new logo, route names and train design, which will strengthen our position as a world-class travel experience,” explains Hubert Wat, Vice President of Marketing for Rocky Mountaineer. However, it is not novelty but simplicity that the company has built its business on. Since taking over the daylight tourist route’s from Canada’s VIA rail in the 1990s, the Rocky Mountaineer has focused on four routes running between British Columbia and Alberta – a very small, albeit picturesque, region of Canada. With dramatic landscapes along the route – dense green forests, glacier-fed lakes, pulsing rivers, and the stark outcrops of the Rockies – Rocky Mountaineer tailors its service around the the views with glass-domed carriages that ensure passengers can enjoy uninterrupted vistas, and by limiting travel to daylight hours. Coupled with the beautiful West Coast landscape is the famed Canadian hospitality: “We certainly pride ourselves on the exceptional guest service experience we provide,” says Wat. Two levels of service are offered: the standard RedLeaf Service and the premium GoldLeaf service. While perhaps not as opulent as some of its foreign counterparts (such ostentation would be downright un-Canadian) the bilevel domed Gold-Leaf carriages offer comfortable views on the top level, and a private dining car serving three course gourmet meals on the lower level. On board guests can listen to insightful commentary from attendants about the region, or sample some of the regional foods from the a la carte menu, paired with British Columbia wines. Once the train stops, GoldLeaf passengers can upgrade to accommodation at one of the Fairmont Hotel & Resorts when available, or may choose a helicopter tour and limousine transfers as part of their experience. The new year also heralds the launch of the Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Themed Experiences. Designed so passengers can experience even more of Canada’s West, the eight-day Themed Experiences particularly promote the famed Okanagan region, renowned for both its wine and golf. The Experiences have therefore been designed around these two pursuits, with a Wine Themed Experience and Golf Themed Experience that both travel between Vancouver and Banff. Golf aficionados will be able to take a swing at Predator Ridge, Harvest Golf Club, and the Fairmont Springs Banff, while wine-lovers will be stopping for winery tours and tastings at several different wineries, including Gray Monk, Summerhill, Sumac Ridge, and Tinhorn Creek. Both itineraries leave some room for passengers to enjoy the region, while onboard facilities include a library and lounge area. Guests receive limousine services in Vancouver and Calgary, and will be staying at Fairmont properties in Vancouver and Banff. “We have come a long way in 20 years,” says Wat.” We are confident that the next 20 years will see as much growth if not more than the last.” | |||||
| THE ROUTES | |||||
| • Whistler Sea to Sky Corridor Three-hour express train experience between Vancouver and Whistler. Operates Thursday through Monday, from May to September. | |||||
| • The First Passage to the West Two-day journey between Vancouver, BC and Banff or Calgary, Alberta | |||||
| • Journey Through the Clouds In two-days passengers travel between Vancouver and Jasper, Alberta. | |||||
| • Rainforest to Gold Rush A two-day journey between Whistler, BC and Jasper, Alberta. | |||||
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