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Rail Tourism Traffic Could be on Track with VIA

By Elaine Macdonald

Never mind the lost Rocky Mountaineer Rail Tours, Prince George has a golden opportunity to make the best of something it already has.

That's the feeling of Matthew Wheeler an artist and photographer who calls the Robson Valley (McBride) home. He says VIA is an extraordinary gift for the people of Northern B.C,. but it's often ignored, or taken for granted.

Currently, VIA Rail operates an east-west run that has a stop in Prince George. It used to be that with only three such runs per week, the layover time in Prince George was a little too long for the average tourist, but the addition of a fourth run each week during the summer, makes it perfect to schedule activities for tourists.

The west bound VIA passenger service arrives in Prince George on Tuesday evening. Normally, it would carry on to Rupert on Wednesday morning, and certainly, travellers have that option, but with another train heading out Thursday morning, there is ample opportunity to convince travellers to step off the train for a day and enjoy some of the things the Prince George area has to offer. Wheeler says there is no shortage of possibilities;

A day trip to Huble farm, or perhaps Barkerville
River Rafting tour for a day
Mill Tours
Visit to Pacific Western Brewery
an Arts package tour with a visit to the Two Rivers Gallery and the Native Friendship Center
Linking travellers with local events like Canada Day Celebrations, local cultural or ethnic festivities
Co-ordinating Hiking, biking and fishing trips.

The possibilities are endless.

Wheeler says it would be easy for tour companies in specialty areas to develop their business. For example, a hiking tour group out of McBride would meet their pre-booked customers at the train station, and take them off to the mountains for their hiking experience.

Wheeler has already been in contact with Prince George Mayor/Fraser-Fort George Chairman Colin Kinsley. He says Kinsley is very much on side, and has already started a dialogue with him to develop ideas.

The VIA service currently runs between Jasper and Prince Rupert, but come next spring, there's another opportunity as the train will offer service from Edmonton to Rupert and back. Wheeler says with advance bookings, that will make travel to Edmonton easier, particularly in the winter, and will bring a whole new group of people to the rail line as they get off the international flights in Edmonton for their Canadian Rockies experience.

According to Wheeler, the opportunities for communities all along the line are incredible, we just have to work towards making things happen.
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