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VIA
Rail’s Ocean – Montreal to the Maritimes
Initiated in 1904, The Ocean is
Canada’s longest serving passenger rail service, providing
overnight
service between Montreal, Halifax and communities in between.
It’s a
wonderful way to travel to the Maritimes. Relaxing, pleasant scenery,
comfortable accommodations, and most importantly, a friendly and
professional staff greet you for the “All Aboard”; and are
there to
ensure that your trip is enjoyable.
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Enjoy fine dining in
the elegant dining car
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We travelled with VIA this summer for the first time on their new
Renaissance cars. Wisely, the company continues to use the stainless
steel “dome car” at the rear of the train. This car is
reserved for passengers traveling in the sleeping cars, so it’s
not overly busy. It’s a great place to watch the countryside roll
by, and sip a complimentary coffee, tea or juice. You can also have a
pre-dinner cocktail or glass of wine. At various times, the car
attendant will come up and offer some interesting information on the
local area. We were also offered a complimentary glass of champagne
after boarding.
There is also a lounge car adjacent to the dining car where you can
enjoy a before dinner drink, coffee, or simply watch the world go by.
The trip on board The Ocean begins in
the very comfortable Panorama Lounge in Montreal’s Central
Station.
Reserved for First Class passengers, you can sit and relax, read a
little and wait for the pre-boarding announcement. It’s a whole
lot
more civilized than the convoluted process of flying today.
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Wearing his Nova
Scotia tartan, Gary Frenette
enjoys working in the ‘dome car’ and
meeting passengers.
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VIA
has introduced Touring, an optional all-inclusive that includes meals,
and you can make your dining car reservations can be made before
boarding. It’s a good idea that regulates the flow of passengers
to the dining car and avoids bottlenecks at peak meal times. Meal
service begins shortly after The Ocean pulls out of the station at
6:30pm.
The dining car is elegant, and the service is attentive and
professional. The three course service offers a choice of fish or meat
– and they’re delicious! (VIA can accommodate special
dietary requirement with advance notice.) It really quite amazing when
you consider that you’re rolling through the country
sidecountryside, enjoying first rate food on a train. Each dish has a
suggested fine Canadian wine to accompany and complement your
selection.
The
following morning you have a
choice of breakfasts formfrom light continental to a full blown
blueberry pancakes and sausage! In the interest of investigative
reporting – I am happy to report that the pancakes and sausage
were
delicious!
The beds fold down easily in the ‘new’ sleeper cars, (many
equipped
with in-cabin showers), and there’s a sense of a very civilized
camping
out expedition. Pillows fluffed, a good book, the odd glance at the
night sky, a river luminescent in the moonlight, and you’re soon
off in
dreamland as The Ocean gently rocks her passengers to sleep.
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All Aboard! The
sleek new Renaissance
cars offer a smooth and comfortable ride
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Morning brings the more rugged scenery of Northern New Brunswick,
before heading towards Moncton, and then crossing the border into Nova
Scotia and onward to a late afternoon arrival in Halifax. It’s a
relaxing journey, with time to read, enjoy the changing scenery,
perhaps strike up a conversation with some fellow passengers, and maybe
a nap.
VIA Rail has generous advance booking discounts and some excellent
prices for people over 60. Without a little forward planning, you
cantravellers save some money, and put it towards other aspects of
youra Maritime holiday. You can shop on their web site forFor packages
that include hotels and car rentals, visit – one stop shopping.
www.viarail.ca
To speak directly with an agent: 1-888-842-7245
(In Montreal 514-989-2626) Bon Voyage!
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