- The Japan Railways Group voted the Canadian Rockies snow train the best of all winter train rides in the world.
- The train leaves Vancouver at night and continues to Jasper.
- Many people travel deeper into the Rockies with an overland trip from Lake Louise to Banff ending in Calgary.
Bullet trains are a world-famous feature of Japan, and they can transport passengers up to 200 miles an hour. We were therefore interested when the Japan Railways Group conducted a study examining popular winter train routes in the world.
The experts from JR PassThe Japan Railways Group, which sells a rail pass for overseas tourists, looked at things like Tripadvisor ratings, Instagram hashtags and snowfall statistics to determine the most magical train rides in the world. In their top rankings, the Canadian Rockies Snow Train.
It is a route that deserves to be on your wish list. The train departs at Vancouver It then heads east to the Rockies. This range of mountains is famous for its rugged, glacier fed lakes and icecapped peaks. The train travels through narrow river canyons and dense forests. You arrive in after one night of travel. JasperThe town of is located in a national forest with the same title. Jasper National Park It is also home of the Athabasca Glacier which is shrinking and can be visited easily, along with beautiful (likely freezing) alpine lake. The park is the second-largest International Dark Sky Preserve.
The route ends at Jasper but most tour operators continue by coach. Icefields ParkwayOne of the most beautiful drives in winter. The parkway links Jasper to Lake Louise. BanffTwo sibling towns located within Banff National ParkCanada’s oldest national park. The turquoise Lake Louise is fed by a glacier and surrounded by mountains. You can enjoy the Johnston Canyon Icewalk as well as hiking the Johnston Canyon Icewalk. the light show from the Banff Gondola. Most travelers continue their trip to Calgary from Banff.
JRPass ranked the route as an “unrivalled showcase of Canada’s magnificent winter landscapes” and gave it a score 8.94 out 10. In the winter, the average snowfall in this region is well over 100″ per year. This adds to the magical experience of a train ride. The trip includes a night’s stay in a private sleeping car, meals and access to viewing areas with large windows.
Ranked under the Canadian Rockies Snow Train were nine other routes spread across the globe—three in Japan, five in Europe, and one in the United States. Top five is rounded out by Japan’s Stove Train, Colorado’s Pikes Peak Cog Railway, France’s Montenvers Train. Norway’s Bergen Line.
