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The Jasper–Prince Rupert train (formerly the Skeena and Panorama,[4] now known as Trains 5/6, sometimes called The Rupert Rocket)[5] is a Canadian passenger train service operated by Via Rail between Jasper, Alberta, Prince George and Prince Rupert in British Columbia.

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Jasper–Prince Rupert train
The Skeena heading towards Prince Rupert in 2005
Overview
Service typeIntercity rail
StatusIn Service[1]
LocaleCanada
Current operator(s)Via Rail
Former operator(s)Canadian National Railway
Ridership307 weekly (FY 2019)[2]
Annual ridership16,327 (FY 2019)[3]
WebsiteVia Rail - Jasper-Prince Rupert
Route
TerminiJasper
Prince Rupert
Average journey time2 days
Service frequency3 times weekly
On-board services
Class(es)Economy, Touring
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Operating speed65mph (104 km/h)
Timetable number(s)5, 6
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Route history

In 1911, with station names selected,[6] passenger service was available for the first 100 miles (160 km) eastward from Prince Rupert to Kitselas (formerly called Vanarsdol).[7] Following the arrival of the tracks at Skeena Crossing in March 1912, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) was offering passenger service from Prince Rupert to Hazelton with a ferry across the Skeena.[8] By 1913, Rose Lake was a temporary terminal station location.[9] In October 1913, the first passenger train arrived at Smithers.[10][11]

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First passenger train leaves Prince Rupert for Mile 100, June 1911

In September 1912, an Alberta–Tête Jaune weekly passenger service began.[12] In August 1913, the first GTPR passenger arrived at Kidd.[13] From late 1913 to early 1914, immediately west of Dome Creek was a temporary terminal station location.[14] Foley, Welch and Stewart (FW&S), the prime contractors, provided passenger and freight service on completed sections of the line as the railhead advanced. FW&S ran the first such westbound train into Prince George on January 30, 1914.[15] In March 1914, GTPR passenger service coverage comprised Prince Rupert–Priestly,a[16] Prince George–McBride,b[17] and McBride–Edmontond (McBride being an overnight stop).[18] However, the track conditions west of Hansard made the initial service unreliable. The Prince Rupert–Edmonton through service,a which inaugurated that September, took 22–23 hours for Prince Rupert–Prince George, and the same for Prince George–Edmonton[19] (about 11–13 hours for Prince George–Jasper).[18] In following decades, the latter varied little, but the former decreased to 20–22 hours.[20][21] With fewer stops, this is now about 12 hours and 7–9 hours respectively.

Maintaining services, Canadian National Railway (CNR) took over the insolvent GTPR.b[22] From 1922,[23] a summer-month schedule operatedc[24][25] until the end of each halibut season, because the passenger train also carried frozen fish as fast freight.[26] Once regular passenger service ended in 1931, sleeping and dining cars were attached to the three-times-weekly way freight.[27] In addition, from 1934 to 1942, a once or twice weekly summer passenger service[28] operated with limited stops.[29][30][31] When the US Army turned Prince Rupert into a major supply base in early 1942, four or five troop trains arrived daily, carrying 75,000 soldiers bound for Alaska.[32] In 1943, the passenger service permanently expanded.c[33] With wartime demand ending, frequency reduced,b despite protests,[34] for the fish/passenger train,[35] but was restored in 1951c[36] to cater for new industrial developments at Prince Rupert and Kitimat.[37] In 1954, new sleeper and passenger cars were introduced.[38] A way freight ran on the Terrace–Kitimat branch line from January 1955, until replaced by a passenger service June 1955–November 1957.[39][40]

In 1962, although Prince George–Jasper remained unchanged,c Prince Rupert–Prince George frequency reduced,b[41] but restored during the 1965 summer and from the 1966 summer.c[42] In 1968, the whole route cut back,b[43] except for summer on Prince George–Jasper.c[44] Although CN experienced significant losses on the Prince Rupert–Jasper passenger service,[45] an application to discontinue the route was denied in 1972, but CN became eligible for an 80 percent federal subsidy.[46] Sustaining losses of $3.3m (on costs of $4.1m) in 1974 for the 25,000 passengers carried, CN's reapplication to discontinue[47] was again denied.[48] In 1977, Via Rail was launched as a CN subsidiary to gradually take over CN and CP passenger services.[49] Via maintained the CN service levels,b[50] broadening the summer schedule to the whole route.d[51]

From 1981, the lower levels applied year round.b[52] Despite losses of $6.6m in 1988 for the 26,000 passengers carried, safeguarding isolated communities gave the route a reprieve from closure.[53] However, the subsidy of $480 for every passenger carried made the route difficult to justify retaining,[54] and alternatives remained under review.[55]

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CN Prince Rupert yard in October 1979

After extensive consultation, Via proposed an overnight stop in Prince George and a daylight schedule for the Prince Rupert leg that would enable tourists to enjoy the outstanding scenery.[56] With ridership falling seven percent between 1990 and 1992, and a $9m deficit, the focus switched to possible service cuts and the daytime option was shelved in 1993.[57] Eventually implemented in 1996, the daylight schedule also provided better connections with coastal ferry services and the BC Rail Cariboo Dayliner.[58]

From the 1920s, CN promoted its "Triangle Tour".[59] Rail tour operators such as Rocky Mountaineer have included the train or rails as part of various "circle" itineraries.[60]

^a . Regular passenger service twice weekly each way.
^b . Regular passenger service three times weekly each way.
^c . Regular passenger service six times weekly each way.
^d . Regular passenger service daily each way.

Present time

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The train at the Jasper station platform

The train operates three times weekly, departing Jasper on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The return-service departs Prince Rupert on the same days of the week. The journey takes two days with an overnight stop at Prince George.

The train offers Economy Class, and twice a week in the summer, Touring Class service. Touring Class provides exclusive access to the Panoramic Dome car and the Park car. When Touring Class is available, Economy Class passengers are restricted from the dome cars; sandwiches, drinks, and other snack items are sold by the attendants at the passenger's seat. Touring Class passengers are served three meals per day in the Panoramic Dome car and staff provide commentary throughout the journey.[61]

The train offers connections at Prince Rupert between the BC Ferries service to Port Hardy and Haida Gwaii, the Alaska Marine Highway service to points in southeast Alaska, and a connection at Jasper to the Via Rail Canadian to Vancouver and Toronto.

Patronage and subsidy

More information Year, Revenue ($000) ...
Year Revenue ($000) Costs ($000) Loss ($000) Passengers/year Subsidy/passenger ($) Subsidy/passenger mile ($)
2013 [62] 1,383 11,232 9,849 18,631 528.61 1.55
2014 [63] 1,446 11,138 9,692 17,863 542.56 1.56
2015 [64] 1,495 11,071 9,576 17,365 551.40 1.66
2016 [65] 1,491 9,256 7,765 16,784 462.64 1.35
2017 [66] 1,828 9,676 7,848 18,018 435.56 1.27
2018 [67] 1,500 9,788 8,288 15,956 519.49 1.59
2019 [68] 1,405 9,816 8,411 16,327 515.16 1.62
2020 [69] 137 6,986 6,849 2,268 3,019.84 11.35
2021 [70] 208 6,344 6,136 3,387 1,811.63 7.29
2022 [71] 595 8,466 7,851 7,385 1,063.10 3.17
2023 [72] 1108 11,730 10,622 12,038 882.37 2.87
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A significant portion of the traffic on the train originates with a Jasper-based tour that offers a day-time package west to Dunster or east from McBride, with the opposite leg completed by bus.[73]

Scenery

The departure from Jasper takes the train past Moose Lake, before traversing Mount Robson Provincial Park. In the early decades, passengers could alight onto the viewing platform 4.2 km (2.6 mi) west of the station to view Mount Robson.[74] The same was true above Bulkley Gate, near Hazelton.[75][76] This section between Smithers and Terrace features mountain scenery, and the run east of Prince Rupert is beside the Skeena River.[77][78]

Stations/stops

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Via Rail Jasper–Prince Rupert
More information Station/Stop, Km. ...
Station/Stop Km. Miles Time
Zone		 Regular/
Flag stop		 Date Erectedd &
Building Design Plan		 History Archit.
Merit		 Current Facilities
CN/Via
Other
Jaspere00Mountainterminus1912 100–155; 1925 100-205[79] fgJasper, formerly Fitzhughlisted[80]counter, washrooms[81]
Harvey10666Pacificflagc.1988[82] ireplaced Tête Jaune[83]none[84]
Dunster14288flag1913 100-152[85] gh[86][87]none[88]
museum
McBridee174108regular1913 100–156; 1919 100-167[89] fg[90]listed[91]none[92]
visitor centre
Goat River217135flag1914 100–152; 1953
110-254 conv. bunkhouse		[93] hformerly Brundall, Rooneynone[94]
Loos232144flag1914 100–152; ? 100-41[95] fhformerly Crescent Islandnone[96]
Dome Creek262163flagc.1921iDome Creeknone[97]
Bend265165flag1914 100-152[95] hBendnone[98]
Penny285177flagc.1917; 1927 conv. tool shed;
1947 100-152		[93] if˸hPennynone[99]
Longworth301187flag1914 100-152[95] hLongworthnone[100]
Hutton314195flag1914 100-152[95] hHuttonnone[101]
Sinclair Mills319198flagc.1930 110-217
converted bunkhouse		[102]none[103]
McGregor331206flagc.1959iMcGregornone[104]
Upper Fraser341212flagc.1941iUpper Frasernone[105]
Aleza Lake349217flag1914 100–152; c.1960[106] h˸iAleza Lakenone[107]
Willow River378235flag1914 100-152[106] hWillow Rivernone[108]
Prince Georgee409254overnight1913; 1922[109] 100–136;
1970[110] Special		[111] iPrince George[112]counter, washrooms[113]
Vanderhoof520323regular1914 100–152; 1924 100–72;
1960 100-345		[114] h[115][116]none[117]
Fort Fraser560348flag1916 100–162; 1923 100–72;
c.1971 100-41B		[118]none[119]
Endakoe594369regular1914; 1922 100–143; 1970
trailer; 1985 hybrid b'house		[120] inone[121]
Burns Lake650404regular1914 100–152; 1952 100-332[122] h[123]none[124]
Houston734456regular1914 100–152; 1920[125]
100-168; 1971 Special		[126] fh[127]none[128]
Telkwa780485flag1914 100–162; 1922[125] 100-168[129][130][131]none[132]
Smitherse795494regular1915;[133] 1919 100-166[89] giSmitherslisted[134]shelter, washrooms[135]
New Hazelton869540flag1913 100–152; 1980[106] h˸i[136] New Hazeltonnone[137]
Kitwanga912567flag1912 100-152[95] h[138]none[139]
Cedarvale933580flag1912 100–152; 1931 100-41B[140] fh[141]none[142]
Dorreen957595flag1913 100-152[95] h[143]none[144]
Pacific967601flag1913 100–155; 1935 100-277[111] fformerly Nicholl[145][146]none[147]
Usk988614flag1912 100–152; ? conv. b'house[93] h[148]none[149]
Terracee1,007626regular1911 100–152; 1960 100-391[95] hformerly Littleton[150]shelter, washrooms[151]
Kwinitsa1,084674flag1911 100-152[95] h[152] building moved[153]none[154]
Cassiar Cannery1,136706flagc.1916[155]i[156] inactive as a stop
c.1990[82][157] to 2016		none[158]
Prince Ruperte1,160721terminus1907 140–210; 1922 100-135[159] jPrince Rupertlisted[160]shelter, washrooms[161]
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^d . Stop activation usually preceded station construction by months or longer.
^e . CN divisional point.
^f . Earliest station building destroyed by fire.
^g . Buildings owned and maintained by Parks Canada, Dunster Station Museum, the Village of McBride, and Smithers Community Services Association, respectively.
^h . GTP standard design (Bohi's Type E).
^i . Unspecified design.
^j . Opened in 1907 as the Prince Rupert Inn, the building was converted into a temporary station.

Footnotes

References

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