Jasper–Prince Rupert train


The Jasper–Prince Rupert train is a Canadian passenger train service operated by Via Rail between Jasper, Alberta, Prince George and Prince Rupert in British Columbia.

Route history

In 1911, with station names selected, passenger service was available for the first eastward from Prince Rupert to Kitselas. Following the arrival of the tracks at Skeena Crossing in March 1912, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was offering passenger service from Prince Rupert to Hazelton with a ferry across the Skeena. By 1913, Rose Lake was a temporary terminal station location. In October 1913, the first passenger train arrived at Smithers.
In September 1912, an Alberta-Tête Jaune weekly passenger service began. In August 1913, the first GTPR passenger arrived at Kidd. From late 1913 to early 1914, immediately west of Dome Creek was a temporary terminal station location. Foley, Welch and Stewart, the prime contractors, provided passenger and freight service on completed sections of the line as the railhead advanced. FW&S ran the first such westbound train into Prince George on January 30, 1914. In March 1914, GTPR passenger service coverage comprised Prince Rupert-Priestly, Prince George-McBride, and McBride-Edmonton. However, the track conditions west of Hansard made the initial service unreliable. The Prince Rupert-Edmonton through service, which inaugurated that September, took 22–23 hours for Prince Rupert-Prince George, and the same for Prince George-Edmonton. In following decades, the latter varied little, but the former decreased to 20–22 hours. With fewer stops, this is now about 12 hours and 7–9 hours respectively.
Maintaining services, Canadian National Railway took over the insolvent GTPR. From 1922, a summer-month schedule operated until the end of each halibut season, because the passenger train also carried frozen fish as fast freight. Once regular passenger service ended in 1931, sleeping and dining cars were attached to the three-times-weekly way freight. In addition, from 1934 to 1942, a once or twice weekly summer passenger service operated with limited stops. When the US Army turned Prince Rupert into a major supply base in early 1942, four or five troop trains arrived daily, carrying 75,000 soldiers bound for Alaska. In 1943, the passenger service permanently expanded. With wartime demand ending, frequency reduced, despite protests, for the fish/passenger train, but was restored in 1951 to cater for new industrial developments at Prince Rupert and Kitimat. In 1954, new sleeper and passenger cars were introduced. A way freight ran on the Terrace-Kitimat branch line from January 1955, until replaced by a passenger service June 1955–November 1957.
In 1962, although Prince George-Jasper remained unchanged, Prince Rupert-Prince George frequency reduced, but restored during the 1965 summer and from the 1966 summer. In 1968, the whole route cut back, except for summer on Prince George-Jasper. Although CN experienced significant losses on the Prince Rupert-Jasper passenger service, an application to discontinue the route was denied in 1972, but CN became eligible for an 80 percent federal subsidy. Sustaining losses of $3.3m in 1974 for the 25,000 passengers carried, CN's reapplication to discontinue was again denied. In 1977, Via Rail was launched as a CN subsidiary to gradually take over CN and CP passenger services. Via maintained the CN service levels, broadening the summer schedule to the whole route.
From 1981, the lower levels applied year round. Despite losses of $6.6m in 1988 for the 26,000 passengers carried, safeguarding isolated communities gave the route a reprieve from closure. However, the subsidy of $480 for every passenger carried made the route difficult to justify retaining, and alternatives remained under review. After extensive consultation, Via proposed an overnight stop in Prince George and a daylight schedule for the Prince Rupert leg that would enable tourists to enjoy the outstanding scenery. With ridership falling seven percent between 1990 and 1992, and a $9m deficit, the focus switched to possible service cuts and the daytime option was shelved in 1993. Eventually implemented in 1996, the daylight schedule also provided better connections with coastal ferry services and the BC Rail Cariboo Dayliner.
From the 1920s, CN promoted its "Triangle Tour". Rail tour operators such as Rocky Mountaineer have included the train or rails as part of various "circle" itineraries.

Present time

The train operates three times weekly, departing Jasper on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The return-service departs Prince Rupert on the same days of the week. The journey takes two days with an overnight stop at Prince George.
The train offers Economy Class, and twice a week in the summer, Touring Class service. Touring Class provides exclusive access to the Panoramic Dome car and the Park car. When Touring Class is available, Economy Class passengers are restricted from the dome cars; sandwiches, drinks, and other snack items are sold by the attendants at the passenger's seat. Touring Class passengers are served three meals per day in the Panoramic Dome car and staff provide commentary throughout the journey.
The train offers connections at Prince Rupert between the BC Ferries service to Port Hardy and Haida Gwaii, the Alaska Marine Highway service to points in southeast Alaska, and a connection at Jasper to the Via Rail Canadian to Vancouver and Toronto.

Patronage and subsidy

A significant portion of the traffic on the train originates with a Jasper-based tour that offers a day-time package west to Dunster or east from McBride, with the opposite leg completed by bus.

Timetables

Scenery

The departure from Jasper takes the train past Moose Lake, before traversing Mount Robson Provincial Park. In the early decades, passengers could alight onto the viewing platform west of the station to view Mount Robson. The same was true above Bulkley Gate, near Hazelton. This section between Smithers and Terrace features some of the most incredible mountain scenery in the country, and the run east of Prince Rupert offers a picturesque journey beside the Skeena River.

Stations/stops

Station/StopKm.MilesTime
Zone		Regular/
Flag stop		Date Erected &
Building Design Plan		HistoryArchit.
Merit		Current Facilities
CN/Via Other
00Mountainterminus1912 100-155; 1925 100-205 Jasper, formerly Fitzhughlistedcounter, washrooms
10666Pacificflagc.1988replaced Tête Jaunenone
14288Pacificflag1913 100-152 none museum
174108Pacificregular1913 100-156; 1919 100-167 listednone visitor centre
217135Pacificflag1914 100-152; 1953
110-254 conv. bunkhouse		 formerly Brundall, Rooneynone
232144Pacificflag1914 100-152; ? 100-41 formerly Crescent Islandnone
262163Pacificflagc.1921Dome Creeknone
265165Pacificflag1914 100-152 Bendnone
285177Pacificflagc.1917; 1927 conv. tool shed;
1947 100-152		 ˸Pennynone
301187Pacificflag1914 100-152 Longworthnone
314195Pacificflag1914 100-152 Huttonnone
319198Pacificflagc.1930 110-217
converted bunkhouse		none
331206Pacificflagc.1959McGregornone
341212Pacificflagc.1941Upper Frasernone
349217Pacificflag1914 100-152; c.1960 ˸Aleza Lakenone
378235Pacificflag1914 100-152 Willow Rivernone
409254Pacificovernight1913; 1922 100-136;
1970 Special		 Prince Georgecounter, washrooms
520323Pacificregular1914 100-152; 1924 100-72;
1960 100-345		 none
560348Pacificflag1916 100-162; 1923 100-72;
c.1971 100-41B		none
594369Pacificregular1914; 1922 100-143; 1970
trailer; 1985 hybrid b'house		 none
650404Pacificregular1914 100-152; 1952 100-332 none
734456Pacificregular1914 100-152; 1920
100-168; 1971 Special		 shelter
780485Pacificflag1914 100-162; 1922 100-168none
795494Pacificregular1915; 1919 100-166 Smitherslistedshelter, washrooms
869540Pacificflag1913 100-152; 1980 ˸New Hazeltonnone
912567Pacificflag1912 100-152 none
933580Pacificflag1912 100-152; 1931 100-41B none
957595Pacificflag1913 100-152 none
967601Pacificflag1913 100-155; 1935 100-277 formerly Nichollnone
988614Pacificflag1912 100-152; ? conv. b'house none
1,007626Pacificregular1911 100-152; 1960 100-391 formerly Littletonshelter, washrooms
1,084674Pacificflag1911 100-152 building movednone
Cassiar
Cannery		1,136706Pacificflagc.1916inactive as a stop
c.1990 to 2016		none
1,160721Pacificterminus1907 140-210; 1922 100-135 Prince Rupertlistedshelter, washrooms

Footnotes