viarail.caPopulations are approximate. All other information was accurate at the time of printing.

TMTrademark owned by VIA Rail Canada Inc.6489 (12/2018) EN

RAILWAY SIGNS TO WATCH FOROne of the many railway traditions—the milepost—provides the key to locating a train’s current position. Mileposts may be on either side of a track, and are usually rectangular white signs with black numbers. Though Canada now uses the metric system, the original markers for railroads were in miles—and they still are today. Each line is subdivided at railway division points; these subdivisions are not a standard length, as they were based on the distance a steam locomotive could travel in a day.

MILEPOSTSMilepost numbers increase as you travel from east to west and reset to zero at the start of each subdivision. Subdivisions are 43 to 146 miles (69 to 235 km) long.

SIDING AND STATION NAME BOARDSNewer siding and station name boards are white with the name in black. Older station name boards are also white with the name in black, but the lettering is all uppercase and the signs are mounted on buildings.

YOURS TO KEEP

PIKWITONEI09 Mile: 137

Population: 98 (Northern community)Accessible only by rail, boat or winter road, Pikwitonei is a beautiful, tiny, isolated community ready to be explored by those curious enough to get on board.

ILFORD10 Mile: 137

Population: 43Home to the War Lake First Nation, Ilford was founded during the construction of the railway and today its residents survive off of hunting, trapping and government services. Accessible only by rail, air or winter road, Ilford is the epitome of remote, and is ready and waiting for those adventurous enough to explore it.

GILLAM (NELSON RIVER)11 Mile: 326.1

Population: 1,265Located in northern Manitoba, above the 56th parallel, Gillam was named after Captain Zachary Gillam and his son, whose mission led to the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company on May 2, 1670. Today, Gillam attracts travellers searching to explore Canada’s vast wilderness. It’s many untouched lakes and streams offer endless fishing and its fly-in lodges are perfect for hunters, anglers and other lovers of the great outdoors.

CHURCHILL12 Mile: 509.8

Population: 899Churchill’s history begins well before the founding of Canada (evidence of human existence in the area dates back some 4,000 years). Today, it is accessible only by air or by railway, the latter having been built on the permafrost and muskeg in 1929. Erected on the banks of Hudson Bay, Churchill is the ideal place to spot birds, belugas and polar bears, and by night it is one of the world’s premier viewing areas for gazing up at the aurora borealis.

ROUTE GUIDE WINNIPEG o—o CHURCHILL

Grandview

Ilford

146

Grandview

Ilford

146

Grandview

Ilford

146

This guide to the Winnipeg–Churchill route will introduce you to the beauty of the boreal forest and subarctic regions of northern Manitoba—the ideal place to observe belugas in summer, polar bears in autumn, and the aurora borealis in winter. Its plant and animal life is among the most distinctive and breathtaking on the planet.

Bon voyage!

382

104

Winter rd.

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

1

1

1

1

17

71

17

17

17

17

17

17

7

7

69

11

11

11

11

11

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

11

11

1117

11

11

401

104

401

417

400

117

20

40

401

402

97C

97

5

3

19

117

117

OTTAWA

IS.

HOPEWELL

IS.

FARMERI.

SLEEPER

IS.

KINGGEORGE

IS.

BAKERS

DOZEN IS.

BELCHER

ISLANDS

NASTAPOKA ISLANDS

LONGI.

BEARI.

AKIMISKII.

CHARLTON I.

NORTHTWIN I.

SOUTHTWIN I.

MICHIPICOTEN I.

ISLE ROYALE

ST. IGNACE I.

ST. JOSEPH I.

COCKBURN I.

QUEENCHARLOTTE ISLANDS

PORCHER I.

PRINCESS ROYAL I.

CALVERT I.

HUNTER I.

ARISTAZABAL ISLAND

BANKSI.

PITT ISLAND

KING I.

MANITOULIN

I

SLAND

VANCOUVER ISLAND

Pt. Louis-XIV

Pea

Lake Athabasca Riverec

Tazin L.

Bistcho L.

Williston Lake

Chincha

ga

Hay

Peac

eHay

Peace

Nass

Skeena

R.

SkeenaR.

Finlay

Muskwa R.

Prophet R.

Dauphin Lake

LAKE

WINNIPEG

Cedar Lake

Molson Lake

GodsLake

Island Lake

Hayes R

iver

Burntwood

SplitLake

Nelson

OxfordLake

KneeLake

Hayes

Waskaiowaka LakeBaldock

Lake

GauerLake

Northern IndianLake Southern

Indian Lake

Granville L.

Rat Lake

River

Nueltin

Lake

Reindeer

Lake

Tadoule Lake

BigSandLake

Nejanilini Lake

CormorantLake

Wekusko Lake

HighrockLake

Stephens Lake

SipiweskLake

Lac LaRonge

Seal River

Gods River

Rive

r

River

Churc

hill

Churchill River

River

Lake Winnipegosis

Lake Manitoba

Red

Rive

r

South

Saskatchewan River

Saskatchewan

River

North

Atta

wapis

kat

River

Big Trout Lake

SevernL.

Sachigo Lake

WiniskLake

Attawapiskat

Lake

Mameigwess

Lake

Missisa L.

N. Caribou L.SandyLake

Trout Lake

Lac SeulLake

Nipigon

Lac desMille Lacs

Dog L.

L A K E S U P E R I O R

Rainy Lake Rainy River

Lak

e o f

the W

oods

Lake St. Joseph

Sturgeon

L.

Severn

R

iver

Albany

Rive

r

River

Winisk

Albany

Rive

r

Sever n R

iver

Fawn

R

iver

Ogoki River

Ke

nogamiRive

rLittle C

urrent

River

Lon

g Lak

e

QuesnelL.

Stuar t Lake

Babine Lake

Takla Lake

Ootsa Lake

FrancoisLake

Fraser River

LakeClaire

Lesser Slave L.

R.

River

R.

R.

River

RiverR.

River

CreeLake

Black Lake

Selwyn Lake

Wollaston Lake

Pasfield L.

ScottLake

Peter Pond L.Churchill Lake

Frobisher Lake

Turnor L.

Wasekamio L.Black Birch L.

Lac Ile-a-la-Crosse

MosquitoBay

PovungnitukBay

KogalukBay

JAMES

BAY

Riv.

Riv. Kogaluk

LacCouture

LacPayne

LacFaribault

Lac

TassialoucLac la

Potherie

LacMinto

Riv. Nastapoca

Lac Guillaume

Delisle Lac à

l ’Eau Claire

Riv.

Riv.au

x

Mélèze

s

DuGué

Riv.

aux

Feuille

s

Lacaux

Feuilles

Riv.

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soak

Riv.

Caniapiscau

Riv.

à

la

Riv.

LacLe Moyne

Riv.

Riv.

du

Riv.

Sérign

y

Lac

Delorme

Lac

Caniapiscau

LacNaococane

LacPlétipi

Petite riv. de la Baleine LacBienville

Grande riv.

de la Baleine

Lac SakamiLa

R.

Grande

Riv.

Kanaa

upsco

w

Riv.

Sakami

Riv.

Opinaca

L. Temagami

Lake Nipissing

Ramsey

L. Onaping

L.

Lake Abitibi

Missinaibi L.

Kesagami

L.

Agawa Bay

Moos

e R

iver

Miss

inaibi

R

iver

Opa

satik

a

R.

Kapu

skas

ing

R

.

Mattagami River

Abitibi River

Groundhog River

H U D S O N

B A Y

Lac Kempt

Réservoir

Baskatong

Réservoir

Cabonga

Réservoir

Gouin

Lac

Nichicun

Lac

Mist

assin

i

Rivière Broadback

Rivière Harricana

Rivière Nottaway

Riv. de Rupert

Rivière Eastmain

Riv. Gatineau

Rivière des Outaouais

Rivière Coulonge

PrimroseLake Dore Lake

Montreal Lake

AmiskLake

Canoe L.

Quill

Lakes

Pemb

ina

Buffalo River Mikkwa River W

abasca River

Birch River

Atha

basc

a R

iver

Atha

basc

a

River

River

Brazeau River

Clearwater R.

Red

N. S ask

atch

ewan

R

iver

R.

Deer

Red Deer River

Little Bow R.

Bow River

Utikuma Lake

Battle

R

ive

r

Old Wives L.

Smoothstone Lake

Wathaman River

Cree

Rive

r

Kasba Lake

Maguse Lake

SnowbirdLakeWholdaia

Lake

Ennadai Lake

P A C I F I C

O C E A N

L A K E O N TA R I O

L A K E ER I E

L A K E H URON

LA

KE

M

I CH

I GA

N

LakeSakakawea

Missouri

FlatheadLake

Fort PeckLake

Missouri R.

Buffalo L.

Tazin R.

Hill Island L.

Thoa R.

Abitau

River

South Henik Lake

Edehon L.

Thlewiaza River

Tha-anne R.

Omineca R.

Bulkley R.

Kotcho L.

Murr

ay

R.

Pine R.

Halfway River

Sikanni

Chie

f River

Fontas R.

Beatton River

MoriceLake

Eutsuk Lake

Knight Inlet

Chilko L.

RedLake

Mississippi

River

R.

Red River

LakeWinnebago

Harrison Lake

QueenCharlotteSound

Dixon Entrance

Hecate Strait

Queen Charlotte Strait

ButeIn

let

Dougla

s Chan.

Dean Chan.

R.Nechako

McGregor River

Fraser River

Chilcotin River

Juan de Fuca Strait

Strait of Georgia

N. T

hompson R.

Okanagan Lake

Lower Arrow Lake

UpperArrow Lake

KootenayLake

Kinbasket Lake

Shuswap Lake

Loon

R.

Notikewin R.

Wapiti River

Smok

y

River

Little Smoky R

.

Atha

ba

sca

River

McLeod R.

Columbia

River

Adams Lake

Oldman R.

Beaver River

Christina

Rive

r

Clearwater River

Fond du Lac River

Mac

Farla

ne

Pinehouse L.

Fo

ster R

.

LastMountain Lake Lake

DiefenbakerQu’Appelle River

Souris River

Assiniboine

River

RedDeerL.

Red Deer R.

Carrot River

Saskatche

wan R

iver

Deschambault Lake

KississingLake

Geikie

R.

Phelps L.

Cochrane R.

Stony L.

NorthKnifeLake

Caribou R.

Owl Rive

r

Kaskatt

ama

R.

Black D

uck

R.

Cross Lake

Gunisao R.

Waterhen Lake

LakeSt. Martin

Poplar River

Berens River

Bloodvein River

Seine R.

English

River

Otoskwin

River Pipestone Rive

r

Sach

igo

R

iver

SuttonLake

Asheweig Rive

r

Ekwan River

Wunnummin

Lake

Kapiskau R

iver

L. Timiskaming

Ottawa River

GeorgianNorth Channel

Bay

St. L

awre

nce

R

.

B A I E D ’ H U D S O N

P A C I F I Q U E

O C É A N

QUÉBEC

ZONE HORAIRE

D’ALASKA

ZONE HORAIRE

DU PACIFIQUE

ALASKATIME ZONE

PACIFICTIME ZONE

90

90

90

7980

81

81

78

81

390

Midpoint of

TransCanada Hwy.

Ste-Marie

Among the Hurons

Upper

Canada

VillageInternationalPeace Garden

Ft. VermilionHist. Site

Head Smashed InBuffalo Jump

York FactoryHistoric Site

W.A.C. Bennett DamPeace Canyon Dam

ROADS

Trans Canada Highway

Controlled Access Highway

Toll Highway

Divided Highway

Main Highway

Main Highway Gravel

Secondary Highway

Secondary Highway Gravel

Other Roads

Seasonal Roads

U.S. Interstate

BOUNDARIES

International

Provincial/Territorial

State

Time Zone

Utica

Scranton

Syracuse

Binghamton

Buffalo

Rochester

Erie

Oshawa

Cambridge

WASHAGO

Newmarket

Peterborough

Niagara FallsSt. Catharines

Markham

Sarnia

Kingston

North Bay

SUDBURY

Sault Ste.

Marie

Thunder Bay

SASKATOON

Regina

Red Deer

Lethbridge

EDMONTON

Kelowna

Chilliwack

Victoria

Nanaimo

Prince George

Richmond

VANCOUVER

Hull

Laval

Mississauga

Calgary

Brantford

Burlington

London

Stoney Creek

CAPREOL

PARRY

SOUND

KAMLOOPS

JASPER

TORONTO

Penticton

Medicine Hat

Sherwood Park

St.Albert

Grande Prairie

FortMcMurray

Prince Albert

Moose Jaw

Brandon

Timmins

Cornwall

St.Thomas

WoodstockStratford

Chatham

Fort Erie

Belleville

Salaberry-

de-Valleyfield

Pt. Coquitlam

Gatineau

Kitchener/WaterlooGuelph

Kitimat

Prince Rupert

Terrace

FortSt. John

Dawson Creek

Williams Lake

Campbell River

CourtenayPowellRiver

Squamish

Qualicum BeachPort Alberni

Sidney

N. Cowichan

Summerland

Vernon

Salmon Arm

Cranbrook

Airdrie

Lloydminster

Cold Lake

CamroseWetaskiwin

Leduc

Fort SaskatchewanSpruce Grove

NorthBattleford

Yorkton

Swift Current

Weyburn

Estevan

Steinbach

Elliot Lake

Rouyn-Noranda

Orléans

OwenSound

Orangeville

Midland

BracebridgeHuntsville

Lindsay

TillsonburgSimcoe

Wallaceburg

Leamington

Collingwood

Cobourg

Trenton

Brockville

Pembroke

Val-d’Or

Amos

LachuteSt-Jérôme

Joliette

Dunkirk

Abbotsford

Chibougamau

Roberval

Oneonta

Rome

Watertown

Massena

GenevaAuburn

Ithaca

ElmiraCorning

Olean

Jamestown

Meadville

Williamsport

LYTTONBOSTON BAR

ASHCROFT

BLUERIVER

VALEMOUNT

MOUNT ROBSONHINTON

EDSON

WAINWRIGHT

VIKING

UNITY

BIGGAR

WATROUS

ARMSTRONG

LONGLAC

HORNEPAYNE

GOGAMA

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0203

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05

06

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0809

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1718

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ONTARIOALBERTA MANITOBA

BRITISHCOLUMBIA

WINNIPEG

DAUPHIN

PORTAGELA PRAIRIE

Lyne Lake

CHURCHILL

GILLAM

ILFORDTHOMPSON

PIKWITONEITHICKET PORTAGE

THE PAS

WEKUSKO

WABOWDEN

02 01

03

04

05

06

07

0908

10

11

12

ILFORD

WINNIPEG

DAUPHIN

PORTAGELA PRAIRIE

CHURCHILL

THOMPSON

WEKUSKO

WABOWDEN

THE PAS

GILLAM

PIKWITONEITHICKET PORTAGE

WINNIPEG01 Mile: 0.0

Population: 705,244Known as the Gateway to the West, Winnipeg sits where the Red, Assiniboine and Seine rivers meet—right where the Canadian Shield ends and the Prairies begin. Manitoba’s capital and largest city was founded in 1873 and quickly became the heart of Canada’s fur trade. It eventually grew into the home of one of the world’s major grain exchanges. A city with a distinc-tive character and rich history, modern-day Winnipeg is home to The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Exchange District, The Forks National Historic Site, Assiniboine Park Zoo, Royal Canadian Mint and the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE 02 Mile: 55.3

Population: 13,304Just 70 km west of Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie is surrounded by fertile farmland. Incorporated in 1907, the city has undergone several boom-and-bust cycles. Its rich cultural history began in 1794 when the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company began maintaining trading posts there. Today, its proximity to Winnipeg and its rich agriculture make it one of Manitoba’s most prosperous cities.

DAUPHIN03 Mile: 121.7

Population: 8,457Since its discovery in 1739, Dauphin Lake and its surrounding area have been attracting settlers. Built on the fur trade, Dauphin quickly grew from a fort into a town, and now has a population of nearly 8,500. It is bordered by Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Riding Mountain National Park, both of which offer a variety of recreational activities and help make it one of the most beautiful parts of Manitoba.

THE PAS04 Mile: 83.4

Population: 5,369Originally a Cree encampment, The Pas is located where the Pasquia and Saskatchewan rivers meet. Referred to as the Gateway to the North, The Pas is surrounded by countless lakes and endless rivers just waiting to be explored.

WEKUSKO05 Mile: 81.2

Population: 1,763Wekusko Falls Provincial Park is 88.23 hectares of historic wilderness. Shared by the neighbouring towns, aboriginal communities and logging companies, Wekusko is home to a campground, a beach and the breathtaking Wekusko Falls, which cascade 12 metres down the Grass River before emptying into Wekusko Lake.

WABOWDEN06 Mile: 137

Population: 442 (Northern community)Wabowden is not just another stop along the track—the railway played a major role in its growth. In fact, it is named after railway executive W. A. Bowden, and its Cree name, Mescanaganeek, means “steel road.”

Founded in the early 20th century as a meeting place for Hudson’s Bay Company traders, Wabowden was built on trapping, fishing, logging and, more recently, mining. A small community nestled between Bowden, Bucko and Rock Island lakes, Wabowden is home to two must-see attractions—Kwasitchewan Falls and Pisew Falls.

THICKET PORTAGE07 Mile: 137

Population: 148 (Northern community)Originally known as Franklin Portage (after the Franklin expedition), the remote community of Thicket Portage has a population of 148 and is surrounded by Canada’s northern landscape. The train provides the only year-round ground transportation connecting it to the rest of Manitoba.

THOMPSON08 Mile: 199.8

Population: 13,678Planned in 1956 by the International Nickel Company of Canada, the city of Thompson lies along the Burntwood River and is one of the largest fully planned communities in Canada. Surrounded by Manitoba’s boreal forest, Thompson’s rich culture and friendly residents help make it a destination that’s one-of-a-kind.

Our Winnipeg–Churchill train travels through 1,697 kilometres of Canadian wilderness. As you roll along the only dry land connection to many of these unique communities, you’ll enjoy 2 days and 2 nights filled with history, wildlife and unforgettable views.