This Glass-domed Train Through the Canadian Rockies Is One of the Most Scenic Rides in the World

There’s something romantic about traveling by train. You travel quickly, but not too quickly to miss out on the views. And for visitors to Western Canada — home to iconic sites like Banff National Park — views are important. For travelers who don’t want to miss a thing, there’s nothing better than a trip on Rocky Mountaineer’s GoldLeaf Service train carriages.

The GoldLeaf rail cars have full-dome windows so guests can see above them, a feature that’s particularly handy when traveling through Western Canada’s stunning mountain ranges. The cars also have a large outdoor viewing platform so travelers can enjoy fresh mountain air and get unobstructed photos. Guests who book GoldLeaf Service will enjoy hot, chef-prepared breakfast and lunch, and afternoon wine and cheese service.

Rocky Mountaineer, a Canadian rail-tour company that’s the proud owner of GoldLeaf Service, has added four new train carriages to its fleet with another three set to be added in 2020. The first four will be added to two popular routes: the two-day journey between Vancouver and Lake Louise or Banff and the two-day trip between Vancouver and Jasper.

The luxury rail cars were engineered and built by Swiss rail car company Stadler, and marks the largest capital investment in Rocky Mountaineer’s history. Each GoldLeaf rail car accommodates 72 guests in reclining, heated seats.

Steve Sammut, president and chief executive officer of Rocky Mountaineer, said in a statement, “We were intentional in designing these new cars to offer the same exemplary guest comfort across the entire fleet, while also making numerous engineering enhancements behind the scenes that reflect our goal of constantly enhancing both the experience and efficiency of our service.”