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It's a big part of the country's history; the project was a key bargaining chip to get BC to join Canada. Development started with the first prime minister and
by chrisfosterelli 3y ago
It's a big part of the country's history; the project was a key bargaining chip to get BC to join Canada. Development started with the first prime minister and the actual construction was incredibly expensive and filled with controversy over bribes and exploding construction costs, causing gov turnover and bringing the federal gov into significant financial risk a few times. But they did push onward to completion and it became the core pathway for the further settlement of western Canada, which was instrumental to the country's expansion. Nowadays it's primarily a freight railway, the passenger traffic is very minimal and tickets are very expensive; it's more of a tourism attraction than practical method of passenger transport.
- Lammy 3y agoRelevant: Canadian Pacific Railway's Rogers Pass Project (1983–1989, 1hr27m) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zepXkTPvqA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zepXkTPvqA
- jszymborski 3y agoThe cross canada rail trip is that deadly combo of exceptionally expensive and exceptionally slow.
- chrisfosterelli 3y agoNowadays for sure. But before the trans-Canada highway and before commercial flight, it was a pretty great deal!
- ghaff 3y agoThat pretty much describes long distance North American rail generally. At least in the US, I'd add that it's not only slow but could be delayed by a day or more. I've occasionally toyed with the idea of taking one of those trains for at least part of their route but I have a feeling that it's one of those things where the idea >> the reality and it would get pretty old once the novelty wore off. Later this year I'm going with a more luxurious version instead (ocean liner).