Train trip from Toronto to Nova Scotia

jserv13, no replies yet, so bumping for attention

. I did a rail trip from Toronto to Halifax almost 30 years ago. Pretty straightforward even then. I stopped in Quebec City for a few days, then took a sleeper car all the way to Halifax. I considered the Gaspe peninsula as an option. I dont see what a tour (other than a local guide in Halifax) might provide. I didnt do it, but driving around the coastal villages there would be fun. I used Lonely Planet as a guide.

That was my first acquaintance with Tim Hortons (a landmark for navigating Halifax), Bud the Spud, and Queue d'Castor (beaver tails).

This is a map of where the only train to Nova Scotia serves- https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/trains

It starts from Montreal, with connections available on the fairly frequent service from Toronto Union to Montreal service.

I did that 20 years or so ago, so when it was entirely the old and beautiful Budd Cars, as the 1st leg of trips to Churchill (Manitoba) and then separately to Vancouver BC.

Nowadays the 1950's ex Canadian Pacific Budd cars are supplemented with the modern "Renaissance" cars which were to have been the Nightstar service through the Channel Tunnel from the UK to Europe, so the trains are much longer than they were when I did it. There are rumours of the Renaissance Cars being retired, and the train reverting entirely to the Budds.

It's a great journey, for me (who has done both) superior in many respects to long distance Amtrak. My trip to Vancouver continued on Amtrak's Cascades and then the Coast Starlight (before service on the CS was downgraded).

The service on from Halifax to Sydney NS has been discontinued years ago. I just explored Halifax independently so don't know anything about tours etc.

The train also no longer conveys a Park Car (Observation Car) as it did when I was on it due to the track layout at Halifax having been simplified.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the journey to anyone. In many ways it is the less well known brother of The Canadian.

I suggest browsing YouTube to see what passengers have filmed. I know there are several descriptive commentaries.

Thank you. We have turned around and are going from Toronto to Vancouver now. Excited to see the scenery.