JASPER, Alberta — Two of tourist operator Rocky Mountaineer’s three Canadian itineraries that originate or terminate in Jasper have been cancelled until further notice as the western Alberta town continues to be ravaged by wildfires.
A message late today (Thursday, July 25) on the company website says, “Tragically, there are reports of significant structural damage in the town. Firefighters continue to valiantly work to combat the fires and protect the town’s critical infrastructure.”
Canadian National Railway, which briefly reopened its main line through Jasper on Wednesday, closed it again in the wake of reports that parts of the town had burned to the ground overnight [see “Wildfire devastates Jasper …,” Trains News Wire, July 25, 2024]. Parks Canada reported a wall of fire 300 to 400 feet high had advanced on the town.
Because Rocky Mountaineer excursions rely on hotels and restaurants to house passengers before and after their daytime trips, there is no way any of the trains can operate into or out of Jasper if those facilities aren’t available.
“Given this devastating information, we are unable to continue our rail journeys to or from Jasper for the foreseeable future,” the update says, adding, “Our team is moving as quickly as possible to work through the impact to guest itineraries. We ask guests to please be patient as we address departures in sequential order.”
Routes affected to and from Vancouver, British Columbia, are “Journey through the Clouds” with an overnight stop in Kamloops, B.C., and “Rainforest to Gold Rush,” with two overnight stops on Canadian National’s former BC Rail tracks through the Cariboo region, via Prince George, B.C. The two-day “First Passage to the West” trips out of Vancouver to and from Lake Louise and Banff, Alta., continue to operate as scheduled, but the company warns, “Please be aware that there may be some reduced visibility of scenery and outdoor air quality along the route due to smoke from wildfires.”
Meanwhile, VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian has been affected by the CN closure through Jasper. The twice-weekly, cross-Canada streamliner from Toronto is short-turning east of the fire at Edmonton, Alta., at least until the eastbound departure from Vancouver on Aug. 2. Because the train is not dependent on the availability of hotel accommodations in Jasper, it can resume as soon as tracks are clear and servicing facilities there are functional.
VIA’s pair of tri-weekly, two-day Jasper-Prince George-Prince Rupert, B.C. daylight trains formerly known as Skeena have been operating only on the western segment this week, but will be cancelled over the entire route July 28 and July 31.
