The Transcontinental

Some time back I posted a photo of the exterior of the Canadian Pacific Station.

I walk through the station quite often but until yesterday it hadn't occurred to me to take pictures on the inside.

What can I say, I'm slow.

The murals around the top of the main hall depict scenes travellers would have seen from the Transcontinental. That route is now used by an excursion train. Passenger service now is along the original Canadian National route.

In the heyday of rail there were two passenger services leaving daily for Toronto and points east.

These days there is one Via train leaving 3 days a week.

Waterfront Station

The CP station is smack downtown whereas the CN station is just off Main St. on the edge of downtown. 

As I've mentioned in other posts the train doesn't stop here any more. But this is the terminus for the Expo Line, the West Coast Express and the SeaBus. High fliers can also access the Helijet Port from here. Helijet takes politicians, and normal people who can afford it, from Vancouver to Victoria (B.C.'s capitol) and back. There are occasional deals but a regular fare for the half hour trip is $250.00. One reason I can't afford Helijet is that I have to pay taxes so politicians can take Helijet and won't have to ride the ferry with people like me. 

Contrast Helijet with a B.C. Ferries trip to Victoria. The ferry ride costs about $10.00 as a walk on passenger. Of course you have to get to and from the ferry terminals which are miles out of town on both sides. But it's doable and very economical on public transit. The ferry ride takes about 90 minutes and offers incredible scenery (weather and daylight permitting). Here's the best part, seniors can ride for free as walk-ons Monday to Thursday. I won't be a senior for several years, but once I am I'm going to clean up. 

CP, Canadian Pacific

CN, Canadian National

Architects: Edward and William Maxwell

Completed: 1914

Tomorrow evening I'm off on a train trip to Toronto just for something to do.