Via Rail Vancouver Island - Archive

You take another sip from your thermos and look out onto the waters of the Strait of Georgia, shining bright emerald in the morning light. Then you prop your heels up on the footrest and admire the deeply green forests on the other side, the branches of mighty trees waving ‘hello’ as the train rolls past.

Remembering that you’ll soon be arriving in Nanaimo, you smile with anticipation at the afternoon of kayaking you have planned. Maybe you’ll even spot a bald eagle soaring in the distance...

Mild skies, green landscapes, easy travel time

The Victoria-Courtenay train makes a 4½-hour journey north along the Strait of Georgia from Victoria, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, to Courtenay. You’ll be amazed by the spectacular gorge and forested coastal islands that will appear in your window!

Day trippers and serious backpackers like to hop on and off the train to experience the charm of communities like Qualicum Beach or Chemainus, or strike off into the depths of the rain forest in Pacific Rim National Park and the West Coast Trail.