VIA Rail's The Ocean - 24 Hour Journey Halifax to Montreal in a Cabin

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Күн бұрын

Driving or flying to and from Halifax are two options. But have you taken the train before? VIA Rail offers a 24-hour scenic train journey to and from Montreal and Halifax.
I decided to travel back home to Toronto from Halifax via The Ocean. It was a unique opportunity that I wanted to try out. Trip details are below:
Recording date: August 12-13, 2022
Starting Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Destination: Montreal, Quebec (to Toronto, Ontario)
Class: Sleeper Plus - Cabin for 1
Cost: CAD$419.18

Пікірлер: 90

@rubydawn1 4 ай бұрын

kids would just love this trip imagine leaving Montreal and you end up at the ocean in Halifax the cabins are fun for kids.

@village_mayor 4 ай бұрын

So true! And the mud flats on the Bay of Fundy side (if it is the right time). To see mud so thick and deep!

@behramcooper3691 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for a verbal commentary, unlike Simply Railway where I have to read everything while a lovely landscape whizzes by.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your feedback! I am still learning how to produce KZfaq videos so I don't have much confidence yet.

@EmmaBadOne Ай бұрын

having taken this train several times in my youth Im looking forward to the next couple weeks when I'll be in my first cabin trip. views and experiences are amazing .

@rubydawn1 4 ай бұрын

everyone should go on a train trip and Halifax is a beautiful city and so is Montreal its a must

@village_mayor 4 ай бұрын

Sadly my trip to Montreal was delayed by 2 hours. I was planning to see Downtown Montreal at least before heading to Toronto. Such a bummer

@elizetes7313 2 ай бұрын

You read my mind ! Would love to lay down and watch the video , best video ever , looking forward to get my tickets. Tks !!!

@village_mayor 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching the video! I hope you have an amazing journey!

@elizetes7313 2 ай бұрын

@@village_mayor I will tks from Boston

@egpx Жыл бұрын

I did the trip in October. I had one of the Renaissance rooms which I would say was preferable to the traditional room. I was very pleased to have the en suite both for easier access to the lavatory and the shower in the morning. The bed was narrower though. Otherwise, my experience was much the same. I had less daylight to enjoy the view but the autumn colours more than made up for it. After Montreal and then Toronto, I then took the Canadian to Vancouver to complete an epic coast to coast journey by rail.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Nice! I definitely want to try out The Canadian one day, but a four day trip on the train might be too much. Did you find it boring at times? A shower would have been welcomed as I had to take the train from Montreal to Toronto right after.

@egpx Жыл бұрын

@@village_mayor I didn’t find it boring at all. The views were spectacular. I even enjoyed the day crossing the Prairies where I simply lost myself in the enormity of the planet. That’s just me though, most passengers found other things to do that day! Have a look at Paul Lucas’s videos about his journey on The Canadian. I think he enjoyed it as much as I did.

@samtrak1204 Жыл бұрын

@@village_mayor I rode the "Canadian" from Vancouver to Montreal in 1984 and agree a 4-day train trip can get boring, especially since the "Canadian" no longer runs the CP scenic route through the Rocky Mountains between Banff and Vancouver. However the food is great from what I can see on KZfaq videos. 😋 In June 2023 I'm riding the "Rocky Mountaineer" from Vancouver to Banff and the "Canadian" from Jasper to Vancouver so I can experience both routes through the majestic Rockies.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

@@samtrak1204 My bucket list is to ride the Rocky Mountaineer. I love fast trains like the Shinkansen, but something about slow trains too. Hope you have a great rail trip! Living in Toronto, and mountains is pretty LOL

@roberthingley661 Жыл бұрын

I went east from Montreal to Halifax on the Ocean return this pass summer. Sleeper class is the way to go and I very much enjoy the long laidback trip

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

I agree, the trip is so laid back. Much better than taking the plane.

@johndunbar7504 Жыл бұрын

Many people born during the period when travel became more and more a matter of driving or flying don't even have a concept of what train travel is like. They need to be educated and videos like this are therefore important. Because train travel has none of the disadvantages of car or plane travel and because it is by far the most environmentally friendly, it is the coming wave of the future. We;ll all be better off when most people travel by train.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

I completely agree! VIA rail has to do better to promote their scenic routes though. People are familiar with The Canadian but when I told people I travelled by train to Halifax, many were surprised. the romanticism of taking the "slow" train to a destination has been lost. Europe and Japan have sleeper cars where the travel is the destination, not the cities it stops at.

@joemeyers3127 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Journey has gone on my bucket list!

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! It is a great way to see the East Coast!

@bubbabear244 Жыл бұрын

Fun fact: you can save on fare if you're a CAA member.

@colinbarrett3016 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for a great video. I have done this numerous times and I just love it. The meals are fantastic and you have a chance to meet people from all over the world.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the comments! I can see why you are a fan. The meals are really good and harkens to what train travel was all about. No need for speed. And yes, I met numerous people especially in the dining car. I would love to do it again.

@kurtwoehrman3335 Жыл бұрын

I like the plug for simply railway. I love all the train videos. Keep up the great work.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@danboyd8686 Жыл бұрын

Well done. Very well organized, nice editing and very good narration. Informative and clear. I have taken the Ocean many times and always curious what others experience.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Dan! It is my first video in a few years and have much to learn about making videos. There are some great videos of The Ocean but they all seem to stay at the most expensive cabin. I thought I would showcase the smaller cabins instead.

@marktaylor1801 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much !

@goalhorn2012 Жыл бұрын

One day I really hope to do a full trip from Halifax to Vancouver. It looks so fun!

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Totally doable I think! The missing link with sleeper trains is between Montreal and Toronto, so you would have to take the regular VIA corridor train to connect.

@maysmith4906 Жыл бұрын

So interesting! I used to take the Ocean before COVID and before they lost the use of the dome car. Also, they only ever had the UK sleepers where everyone had their own room (which you could lock from the outside) that also had a great bathroom set up that included a your own shower.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

You are lucky you experienced the dome car. Sadly they don't and doesn't look like they ever will. Those sleepers are at the front of the train, and watching other KZfaqrs are larger in size.

@BKingdom-ek6vm Жыл бұрын

enjoyed it thank you

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@dougaustin2689 Жыл бұрын

Taken The Ocean a few times. Loved every trip. Highly recommended. ... 😊

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

It was my first time and I was just so impressed by the service and the food. And the views are pretty incredible especially if the tides are lowest.

@Moriks23 10 ай бұрын

Fantastic Video 👍

@village_mayor 10 ай бұрын

thank you!

@ChrisShameless Жыл бұрын

I did the trip back in 1995 and loved it...didnt have a cabin,but wasnt worried about such things....made it to MTL...after the train hit a cow just an hour before arriving.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Many people don't mind the economy and you certainly get to meet people. With the lack of a dome car I don't think the experience is as good as what you had back in 1995

@ChrisShameless Жыл бұрын

@Villagemayor I never explored the train so I wouldn't know....I was too busy enjoying the view out of my window

@samtrak1204 Жыл бұрын

Good video. Thank you.😃✌

@Wandychanel377 3 ай бұрын

Waow Amazing

@AeroShorts1224 Жыл бұрын

Nice one! For one thing that I think that not many trains have is the history room. You can learn about the history of the flags and its just something to make a visit too.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Yeah absolutely, the history car was interesting. And also sad to see how many scenic routes have closed over time.

@scottsheehan1596 Жыл бұрын

went to Vancouver on the Candian.the food was outstanding.had New Zealand rack of lamb one night.outstanding!

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

What that's crazy a rack of lamb? I thought my pot roast was top notch. I would love to travel on The Canadian one day.

@jwho4273 11 ай бұрын

I love the details with this video! Have you ever taken the Canadian towards Vancouver?

@village_mayor 11 ай бұрын

thank you so much! I didn't want to produce a video that just promoted The Ocean. I would let the viewer be the judge. I would love to take The Canadian. Funny enough I was looking at prices on Friday. I might have to save some money for that.

@jwho4273 11 ай бұрын

@@village_mayorthe intro and the fast facts were interesting. I liked the details about the Ocean train itself not simply as a tour but also where to find the dining cars, what's included and the different classes. Haven't seen this much detail in Canadian train videos so far and I love it!

@fredroper398 Жыл бұрын

love it never been one day when i retire like to thats luxury to me

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

There are larger rooms that other KZfaqrs have featured, but I am a realist, I think most people wouldn't want to, or need to travel where the room includes a shower. I agree, the cabin was tiny but I loved it. Cosy and just perfect. And if VIA has discounts, it's affordable given the amount of food you get and the privacy.

@RailfanVal Жыл бұрын

Cool

@mikeaveling5802 9 ай бұрын

I take the ocean train every year in the summer from Montreal to Halifax to visit my mother who lives in Nova Scotia. I've always done it in coach. It is so hard in coach

@village_mayor 9 ай бұрын

Prices do jump when there isn't a sale, and coach is popular too. But yeah you don't get the meals, but people bring lots of food to last 24 hours.

@mikeaveling5802 9 ай бұрын

@@village_mayor and they also have the food cart that comes around kind of like the airplane servers. It's not the best food but it's okay

@rriiley Жыл бұрын

Nice video, I love it! Is there a reason why some economy class passengers are seated in BUDD at the beginning of the train and some are seated in the Renaissance cars? I’m wondering if it has to do with the passengers destination or if you are a solo traveller or travelling with a plus one as the configuration is 2 seats together throughout the whole car.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I am not sure why there has to be a logistical reason. The former observation car was probably a Renaissance car and that was located at the very back of the train, so they never bothered to reconfigure the cars. I was fine with it, as long as the dining car was within close walking distance.

@robertfencl4401 Жыл бұрын

SOOOOO funny, pecan pie in Canada?

@zedacruja681 Жыл бұрын

Nice Everything But the price Please,ty.

@cbifilms1 Жыл бұрын

The loss of the dome car is a big drawback. I have taken this trip probably a dozen times, and spent about 50% of my time in the dome. Very disappointed to hear it is gone.

@seprishere Жыл бұрын

This is nothing like Halifax to York, Selby, Chester, Huddersfield, Manchester Victoria or Blackpool North! (Or intermediately to Bradford Interchange or Leeds.)

@Cyke101 Жыл бұрын

Wait, are Sky Flakes crackers offered with the meal? Pretty amazing if so.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

haha I know right! They had to be classier than using Sky Flakes crackers. Probably a sale somewhere so they had plenty lying around.

@emeraldkimble7602 Жыл бұрын

What happened to cn the tallest tower in Toronto?

@robertfencl4401 Жыл бұрын

No station building in Halifax?

@robertfencl4401 Жыл бұрын

If you have the time & money, train travel is great.

@robyoungquist5803 Жыл бұрын

I wanted to do this trip this summer but the loss of the dome car means I’m not interested anymore 😕

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

I cannot blame you, it was such a bummer to know the Dome car was not available anymore. It was one of the things I wanted to experience.

@travel2behappy197 Жыл бұрын

I did the same journey but from Montreal to Halifax in the cabin for 1, it was a fun ride. I also posted the video on my channel 🙂

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

I'll definitely need to check out your video as well! It is great to see so many people riding the rails.

@travel2behappy197 Жыл бұрын

@@village_mayor Oh yes, there are lot of people who take the trains. I even did journey on The Canadian last year, also on my channel. It was fun too.

@robertfencl4401 Жыл бұрын

Make sure you're not travelling backwards though.

@eilrobichaud Жыл бұрын

At 4:33 you talk about how the Acadians ‘used to live here’…. BUT Acadians STILL live in Nova Scotia. There are communities on both the Atlantic and the Bay of Fundy shores. In fact, the Acadian World Congress will be taking place in Nova Scotia again in 2024.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

My apologies of the incorrect information I said in the video! Great catch. I am not sure why I would say "used to live" as one of the most memorable restaurant I visited in 2022 was Cafe L'Acadie a few minute drive in Indian Harbour. The chicken fricot and meat pie was so delicious. Again thank you and my apologies for the misinformation.

@eilrobichaud Жыл бұрын

@@village_mayor Slip of the tongue, it happens. Were you able to try some Rappie Pie?

@Beans-great 9 ай бұрын

I am from Halifax and me and my family went and did a staycation this summer. We drove down the South shore of NS to Mavellette Beach, NS and stayed in an Airbnb. We drove around the Acadian shore coast along the Bay of Fundy and was blown away by the beauty. NS is a beautiful, quaint, little province that I’m proud to be a citizen of! The people here welcome everyone!

@eilrobichaud 9 ай бұрын

@@Beans-great I know exactly where that is. My family is from up the road in Meteghan and I graduated from Acadia U.

@eilrobichaud 9 ай бұрын

You are making me hungry! I have not had Rappie Pie in ages!

@OldGoupa Жыл бұрын

Pack some patience, pack some books, and PACK SOME FUDGE ifyouknowwhatimsayin.

@travelwithworld2133 Жыл бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Villagemayor❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@kevincaldwell4707 Жыл бұрын

I took Montreal to Halifax and back a few years ago. The train was terrible. No idea what train you were on. What I saw was old out of date trains with terrible wifi and food I wouldn’t feed a dog.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Darn sorry to hear about your experience. Can you share what the experience was? I wouldn't say my experience was absolutely perfect, but I would still recommend for anyone to try it. And for the price I paid which was a deep discount, I couldn't complain (other than a very rude staff person experience on the train). And don't worry I am definitely not sponsored lol.

@georgen9755 10 ай бұрын

I didn't travel like these

@terryjeisman7550 Жыл бұрын

Never again! room was too cramped, I have seen book shelves wider than the bed, no ensuite shower nad to top it all off it was 7 hours late arriving at the destination. The onlu up side was the excellent staff

@robertfencl4401 Жыл бұрын

Not exactly a straight route.

@keetahbrough Жыл бұрын

via rail and cp rail both look more and more like 1930's germany box car kind of accommodation. My stay in juvie detention afforded me better accommodations, i shit you not. It's utilitarian, at best. Canada DEFINITELY lacks style, for sure.

@village_mayor Жыл бұрын

Haha yeah, the room can be uncomfortable and tight for some. Once you pull the bed, there's no room to stand. But... it still worked for me. That's why I wanted to make this video because the famous KZfaqrs all get to stay in the large rooms, but in reality, most of the rooms are ones I slept in.