I have noticed that after covid, the rocky mountaineer consist appears to be quite different. The bi level domes are not all in the middle of the Consists. I'm curious as to why this is (if anyone happens to know anything)
Rocky mountaineer discussion
- Thread starter Simsuper80
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Maybe best this question referred to the RockyMountaineer folks --- but it may have something to do with access between cars.
Having a bi-level car attached to a single level car presents problems of going between cars.
The US operation of the RockyMountaineer does not use the bi-level dome cars (tunnel restrictions).
The RM bi-level cars are even higher in height than the Amtrak Superliner.
Another possibility of hooking two bi-level cars together is only using the galley of one of the cars to serve both.
It could all be due to dedicated Tour Groups having totally booked out a car(s)
Gold leaf (bi-level) passengers may be permitted full run of the train - where as Silver Leaf maybe restricted to just the single level cars.
The route of travel may have something to do with the consist - there are 3 or more different itineraries.
Reaching the end of trip - the train maybe reversed (WYEd) - but if not the locomotives can be operated either direction -
the cars and the seating may have something to do with this - - -
Just some of the possibilities - - -
The Amtrak Superliner cars have a walk thru on the upper level between cars - exception the "T" dorm car at the forward end has
lower level access to the adjacent baggage car
Having a bi-level car attached to a single level car presents problems of going between cars.
The US operation of the RockyMountaineer does not use the bi-level dome cars (tunnel restrictions).
The RM bi-level cars are even higher in height than the Amtrak Superliner.
Another possibility of hooking two bi-level cars together is only using the galley of one of the cars to serve both.
It could all be due to dedicated Tour Groups having totally booked out a car(s)
Gold leaf (bi-level) passengers may be permitted full run of the train - where as Silver Leaf maybe restricted to just the single level cars.
The route of travel may have something to do with the consist - there are 3 or more different itineraries.
Reaching the end of trip - the train maybe reversed (WYEd) - but if not the locomotives can be operated either direction -
the cars and the seating may have something to do with this - - -
Just some of the possibilities - - -
The Amtrak Superliner cars have a walk thru on the upper level between cars - exception the "T" dorm car at the forward end has
lower level access to the adjacent baggage car
Fenu S
Train Attendant
I highly doubt it's for this reason but a benefit would be being able to see out of the bi-level cars front or back windows. Unlike superliners, they have windows at the front and back on the second floor. I wonder how much you can see out them if there is another bi-level car directly attached behind/in front?
crescent-zephyr
Engineer
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More than I expected, going around curves it definitely allows some views of the train.
Rocky Mountaineer Bilevel cars have low level doors.
These railcars are true Bilevel cars.
These railcars are true Bilevel cars.
The Rocky Mountaineer is a glorified coach trip. In Silver Leaf service there's no lounge car or diner, you get served meals and drinks at your seat. I've also heard reports, unverified, that you at are restricted to your assigned car, no wandering the train.
It strikes me as vastly overpriced for what it is, worse IMHO than either Amtrak or VIA.
While I'd like to ride some of what are now its routes again, like Cheakamus Canyon on the former BC Rail or Kicking Horse Pass on the CP, I won't because of their prices.
VIA's Prestige is much more my idea of a luxury rail experience than the Rocky Mountaineer's coach seats (although I won't pay for that, either. Sleeper Plus is fine by me).
I can't really see "high profile people" riding in open seating coaches, which is all the Rocky Mountaineer offers in any of their classes.
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No doubt the Rocky Mountaineer is very expensive. However, the cost of their journeys does include overnights at premium hotels or motels. SilverLeaf service, during the summer months, is somewhere in the $ 2000 range, if I recall, for Vancouver to Banff or to Jasper. GoldLeaf is more, but the dome cars were great with the dining area below. I think the VIA Prestige class, for Toronto to Vancouver, is somewhere around $ 5700 Canadian.
I have always wondered if the RM could have an all-Pullman train. Luxury bedroom compartments and pleasure dome lounges, with gourmet diners such as the Turquoise Room on the old Super Chief. No doubt very expensive, but the Mountaineer wouldn't need to include lodging in the package, which would keep the cost down.
I took a BC Rail excursion train many years ago. I can't remember much about the journey, other than travelling through the town of Squamish which I thought interesting.
RM made a concerted behind the scenes lobbying effort to take over the Canadian a few years ago. A lot of people, including many VIA OBS crewmembers, were convinced they'd succeed (and were not happy about it). Happily, it didn't pan out and they appear to have stopped trying.
VIA's Prestige really is quite close to what you're describing. Large, well appointed staterooms, concierge service, free premium liquor, exclusive access to the Park Car (dome) during most of the day in peak season. Very high quality meals (although they share the diner with the Sleeper Plus hoi polloi).
I think Prestige is closer to $7K CAD per person Vancouver-Toronto now. While I would not pay it, I do think the product is there. Also, it is nearly 5 days onboard versus 2 days in a coach seat and a couple nights in the equivalent of a Holiday Inn (for Silver Leaf).
As to premium hotels, it doesn't sound like you've ever been to Kamloops. Even RM admits as much.
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Maybe this should split off to a new thread about how "deluxe" the Ricky Mountaineer really is, but I just wanted to mention that I recently priced the Canadian, and Prestige Class, Toronto to Vancouver, is not C$5,700, it's more like C$11=13,000 (depending on date). That ended my interest in Prestige class, as a cabin for one in Sleeper Plus at ~C$2,200 (about US$1,600) seemed to be perfectly fine.
That ~$13K CAD is for 2 people.
VIA no longer uses the traditional rail fare + accommodation charge method Amtrak still uses. All fares are per person.
Sleeper Plus has a 50% single supplement to occupy a Cabin for 2 (Double Bedroom or Compartment). So had you wanted a Cabin for 2, it would have been ~$3300 CAD.
Prestige has a 100% single supplement. So that ~$13K CAD is for one or two passengers.
Just one more thing keeping me out of Prestige, not that it interests me. Off season in a Sleeper Plus roomette with full access to the Park Car and the same meals suits me just fine.
That would go against their business model of all-daylight sightseeing, wouldn’t it?
On the Canadian, you might miss from 8-15 hours of scenery, depending on the season overnight…
And whether the beast is anywhere close to on time
