This spring I took the Canadian from Northern Ontario to Alberta. Via Rail, our national passenger service, lived up to the hype and then some.

The towns we passed are not featured on most maps. I boarded in Folyet where a tiny unmanned building sits forlornly facing the tracks, its back to the dark and shuttered houses leftover from more prosperous days.

I travelled in the economy class on the way out. I was surprised by the spacious seating, easy access plugins for charging the ever-present cell phone, and hot coffee brewing by 6:30 every morning.

I ventured up to the dome car on the first night. The beautiful view of the headlight lighting up the trees with the full moon overhead was marred only by the slightly creepy older gentleman who leaned over me to brag that he was the one who told the engineer to turn the big light on. The goosebumps weren’t all from the view.

When I returned somewhat shaken to my seat I noted that many of my fellow passengers were flexible young people sleeping peacefully curled into their chairs. I was not one of them and consoled myself with thoughts of the sleeper berth I had booked for my return journey.

About a week later, after a wonderful visit with my son and his family, I reboarded and headed home. This time, I had a berth and enjoyed it thoroughly. Included in the fare were amazing meals where we were seated with our fellow passengers. It always amazes me how random strangers find things in common.

Our trip wasn’t without its challenges. After a freight train derailment set us back several hours, a decision was made to have us leave the train to board buses to the nearest airport where most passengers were flown on to Toronto. Taxis were called for those of us heading North.

Even after that eight hour taxi ride, I would still recommend the trip. It’s a unique way to see our beautiful country. No one is in a hurry and even if you are, you better get used to the slower pace because there’s nothing you can do to hurry the train along.