By Henri Bauholz
Train travel in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces is serviced almost completely by
Canada's national railway, VIA Rail Canada. The main route runs from Montreal to Quebec City to Moncton, New Brunswick, and on to Halifax, Nova Scotia. There are several side routes off the main line also run by VIA. Of special interest is a Native-owned railroad that runs between Sept Isle, Quebec, and Labrador City, Labrador.
Montreal to Halifax
This is the main route through eastern Canada operated by VIA. Passengers can continue west from Montreal all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Halifax, a port city in Nova Scotia, is the easternmost stop on the VIA line.
Montreal to Gaspe
This train travels overnight from Montreal through Quebec province to the town of Matapedia, where it branches north along the shore of Chaleur Bay to the town of Gaspe. The return from Gaspe to Montreal leaves at 2 in the afternoon and arrives in Montreal the next morning.
Montreal to Jonquiere
This VIA route journeys north from Montreal into the Saguenay--Lac-St-Jean region of northern Quebec. It runs year-round, and the travel time is less than 12 hours. This is primarily a daylight route.
Montreal to Senneterre
This daytime route traverses northern Quebec to the town of Senneterre, in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. Senneterre is west of Jonquiere in lake country. Travel lengths and times on this VIA line are very similar to those of the Jonquiere line.
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
This Native-owned railway connects Sept Isle and Shefferville with Labrador City. The rail hauls iron ore as well as passengers, many of whom come from the surrounding Native communities. The trains run year-round, but not every day.
About the Author:
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
