VIA Rail’s Renaissance Equipment.
I had an inquiry recently about the types of sleeping cars used by VIA Rail Canada on their the long-distance trains. There isn’t a short answer because VIA has two very different kinds of sleeping cars–the classic stainless steel beauties and what they call their “Renaissance” equipment (shown above) that’s used on the Ocean, VIA’s overnight train running between Montreal and Halifax. The Renaissance equipment was introduced about a dozen years ago.
All the accommodations in the sleeping cars will sleep two passengers (with single passengers paying a modest supplement) and each room has a wash basin and an en suite toilet. Sixty percent of the rooms also have showers.
There is a dining car which half for food service and the other half configured as a lounge. I thought was very nicely laid out. There are coaches in the Ocean’s consist, of course. I rode this train several years ago and found it all quite comfortable.
Maybe it was those New England genes clanging around in me, but I loved Halifax and I would love to make a return visit and spend some additional time there. The harbor is huge and, in fact, was used as a staging area for convoys carrying sup[plies and war material to Europe in both world wars. There is a wonderful maritime museum right there on the waterfront with an entire section devoted to that part of Halifax’s history. And I do indeed recommend the Ocean as a great way to see that part of Eastern Canada.
To come: More about sleeping accommodations on VIA’s western trains.
Nothing beats the Budd stainless sleepers with real berths still on “The Canadian!” Compared to my initial trip on “The Ocean” in 1986, when it still used the more populated CP route, and offered berths in Budd and ex-CNR sleepers, when I retuned in 2007, I was in a Renaissance sleeper with shower included. Frankly, the plastic bed pads were reminiscent of what Amtrak uses; beds were not in the direction of the train but cross-wise. Plus, whoever showered first destroyed the area for anybody else, as water saturated the sink and toilet area. Knowing we carried a Budd Park car on the rear, when the EB “Ocean” reached Moncton, I jumped off and was first in the ticket line to secure the double bedrooms sold en suite in the Park car for the return WB trip to Montreal. What a difference–real berths, a bar, a dome, and a boat tail observation lounge all in one car! Food pre-prepared but still tasty and good variety on menu.
You are correct–Halifax a great city to visit; terrific seafood, lighthouses; history (e.g., 1917 ammo ship blowing up in harbor that destroyed the town; Pier 21 museum re immigration, but slyly covers up Canada’s pre-WWII refusal to rescue Europeans from the Nazis).