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Caption: The beginning of another cross-Canada journey starts at Toronto Union Station on this wonderful December 12, 2021 morning. Having dropped my bags in the room, completed the passenger safety briefing, and received my vestibule door opening instructions (designated back-up in case of emergency) with the sleeping car attendant, I made my way a few cars back to the tail end of the consist to a nicely refurbished VIA 88709 Laurentide Park. This pleasantly lit and comfortable dome/lounge would be my hangout for the next four days & nights as The Canadian worked its way across Canada. Sleeper Plus class was less than 1/4 full so there was never an issue finding 'the perfect seat' upstairs or down on the whole trip. I was pleasantly surprised when I ran into a friend and former CN co-worker & his wife in the dining car on the first evening of the journey which only added to the pleasure of the trip.
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Great photo and great view for watching the miles of scenery go by.
A great way to travel. Nice to see VIA has come of age and included outlets for charging phones and cameras.
Oh my gosh Paul, what happened to all the single lounge chairs ? Unfortunately haven’t been in a Park car since they were refurbished in connection with introduction of Prestige class. Certainly looks inviting, hope the seating is not too low. Do you know if the Park car used now and again on the Churchill line has been refurbished or does it have the older individual lounge chairs ? Thanks for posting, John
Hi John. The seating in Laurentide Park was just fine.
I can’t say what condition the Park car on the Churchill run is, as there wasn’t one on VIA 693 to Churchill, or VIA 692 from Churchill when I travelled July 31 through August 6. I can tell you for certain that it would not be a recently refurbished car as the Churchill run seems to get ‘the best of the worst’ equipment assigned to it.
It is great to see interior photos. There are four Prestige Park cars. When there was tri-weekly service all four were needed. Now that service is just twice a week, three are needed. This finally leaves a spare.
Hi David, thanks for info, guessing that these four Park cars are numbered in the 88000’s and the Park cars that were not refurbished for Prestige service are in their four digit numbers and older lounge seating configuration. With the Park cars not being used on the Ocean anymore, guess the only place the non-refurbished ones are being used is the occasional trip to Churchill MB and hopefully on next year’s Skeena to Prince Rupert.
Yes, the Prestige Park cars were given the extra number 8. The four are Glacier, Kootenay, Laurentide and Prince Albert. That leaves 10 non-Prestige Park cars. With the “Ocean” not having any Park car, and two needed for the train formerly known as the Skeena, that leaves eight.