Canadian Wildfire Updates

UPDATE: As of midnight, August 27, 2023.

On August 23, 2023, the Province of British Columbia rescinded the emergency order for Kamloops and several other communities impacted by wildfires. The Rocky Mountaineer has returned to regular operations on all routes as of August 27, 2023. They would like to thank all guests for their patience and understanding. 

VIA Rail Canada’s service is on schedule, and running as planned with no disruptions.

The status of the impacted train routes as of August 27, 2023 is listed below: 

UPDATE: As of midnight, August 22, 2023, the Province of British Columbia has rescinded the Emergency Order.

On August 19, 2023, the Province of British Columbia issued an Emergency Order restricting non-essential use of temporary accommodations including hotels. This order includes Kamloops which is the overnight stopping location for the Rocky Mountaineer two-day train routes travelling between Vancouver and Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper.

The status of the impacted train routes as of August 23, 2023 is listed below: 

This route has been suspended as Rocky Mountaineer is unable to secure overnight accommodations at a suitable halfway point due to the ongoing emergency order impacting Kamloops and other interior BC hotels.  

The following train departures are presently affected: 

• August 23: Banff / Lake Louise to Vancouver 
• August 24: Banff / Lake Louise to Vancouver 
• August 25: Vancouver to Lake Louise / Banff 

Should you still be travelling on these dates, Rocky Mountaineer will be providing bus transportation between Vancouver and Banff/Lake Louise on their scheduled departure dates. This bus ride will be done in one day instead of two on August 23/24, which will take approximately 14 hours.  *By taking this option, you will remain eligible to receive a future travel credit for the amount of your Rocky Mountaineer train ticket which will allow you to travel on any Rocky Mountaineer route in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

On August 25, bus transportation will be provided from Vancouver to Revelstoke where you will spend the night before taking the train from Revelstoke to Banff/Lake Louise the following day. Full credit may not be received for this option.

This route has returned to its regularly scheduled services as of August 21, 2023.  

*UPDATE: The overnight stay may be in Kamloops or at Sun Peaks Resort for upcoming departures. Sun Peaks is approximately a 45-minute drive from Kamloops and transportation to/from the train will be arranged with Rocky Mountaineer. Rocky Mountaineer will be making their best effort to have guests rebooked in a Kamloops hotel for convenience.

This route has not been impacted and continues to operate as scheduled. 

The following train departures are presently affected: 

August 20: Train #1 departing Toronto for Vancouver has been rerouted. This train will end in Edmonton on the evening of August 22. 

August 21: Train #2 departing Vancouver for Toronto has been rerouted. This train will leave from Edmonton on August 22 should you wish to fly there in order to connect with the train. 

If you are scheduled to travel on a rerouted departure listed above, a member of our team will be in contact with you as soon as possible to talk about your options. Please be patient in waiting to hear from us as we will be contacting everyone in order of departure.

The status of the next upcoming train departure between Vancouver and Edmonton has not yet been decided. Please check back later for more information.

This route is non-refundable but may be eligible for future travel credit on any upcoming departures prior to September 1, 2023 for those who prefer not to travel. This credit will only be available on the rail portion of your trip and may not include other items in your tour package. Should you wish to cancel any travel plans that include this route, we recommend that you reach out to your travel insurance provider to see if you are eligible for reimbursement through them before contacting us.

Please be aware that travel through some sections of the journey may be slower than usual due to temperature-related speed limitations. Also, the visibility of the scenery and outdoor air quality may be affected at some points along the routes due to the wildfires. In areas where the air quality is affected, the health authorities recommend you reduce your exposure by staying indoors where there is air conditioning and avoid strenuous or prolonged activities outside, especially if you have underlying medical conditions. The motorcoaches to and from your hotel, and most hotel rooms and restaurants will have air conditioning. Our team will do everything we can to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable journey for all who travel with us. 

Thank you for your understanding and patience while we navigate this situation. We ask that you check back here for updates before contacting us, but, if you have any questions, please contact us at 1 888 589 3777 or email us at [email protected].  

We are handling all calls on a priority basis for any guests actively travelling or travelling in the coming days. Unfortunately, this situation is out of our control, and our team members will do everything they can to provide you with as seamless of a travel experience as possible.