(VIA Rail issued the following news release on November 4.)
MONTRÉAL — As we enter the peak planning period for winter vacations and holiday getaways, VIA Rail Canada is teaming up with several partners, including the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq), the town of New Richmond, and travel agency Kilomètre Voyages, to allow its customers leaving from Montréal or Québec City a typical Gaspesian Christmas or winter frolic.
The Chaleur train will carry vacationers in comfort across the winter landscapes of the Saint-Lawrence and the Matapédia valleys before pulling in to New Richmond, where scores of sporting and cultural activities are in store, along with traditional gourmet meals.
Gaspé Christmas package
From $1,175, including transportation, meals and accommodation, this package offers truly a dream week in The Gaspé region. The Chaleur will depart from Montréal and Québec City on December 23rd, to arrive in New Richmond early the following morning. Among the distractions to be discovered is a wide array of sporting activities (downhill or cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing, skating, and more), the Gaspesian British HeritageVillage, the Parc national de la Gaspésie, as well as plenty of nearby excursions.
The evening of December 24th will offer a midnight mass (at 10 PM), followed by a traditional réveillon feast with the townsfolk of New Richmond. Finally, vacationers will return by train to Québec City or Montréal thenight of December 30th to 31st.
Mountains and Marvels package
From January 4th to April 30th, the Chaleur will be carrying outdoor enthusiasts to the Parc national de la Gaspésie. There, they will stay three or four nights in the five-star, recently expanded Gîte du Mont-Albert. À la carte packages include accommodation, full breakfasts, five-course dinners, a drink upon arrival, car rental, snowshoes, gratuities and taxes. With an abundance of snow, this spot is a paradise for any fan of cross-country, Nordic or telemark skiing, not to mention snowshoeing.
The Chaleur: ideal for its comfort and family-friendliness
VIA is proud to participate in these packages, which allow people to discover a wealth of winter resources. “These packages are not only ideal for families, couples or groups of friends, they also stimulate local businesses in Gaspésie ? we are very happy to be a part of this. And in winter, what better way than the train to avoid icy roads, and arrive at your destination safely and well rested ” declares Steve Del Bosco, Vice-President, Marketing at VIA.
The Chaleur offers two classes of service. Economy class offers reclining seats with blankets and pillows at your disposal. Snacks and drinks can beeasily purchased, or one can opt for the dining car. In Easterly class, travelers enjoy comfortable rooms with down comforters and private bathroom,as well as complementary newspapers and continental breakfast.
Families are well taken care of on board the Chaleur. Children receive an activity kit (with colouring and arts & crafts materials), and films are screened for them day and evening in the Skyline car. A special menu for kids is also offered in the dining car.
VIA Rail Canada operates Canada’s national passenger rail network. In the East, VIA operates the Ocean (Montréal to Halifax), the Bras d’Or (a seasonal tourist train from Halifax to Sydney) and the Chaleur (Montréal to Gaspé). VIA is active in the promotion of Eastern Canada as a vacation destination, and its activities in Gaspé as well as with tourist offices and travelers in Canada and abroad have contributed to the growth of tourism in the region. Major renovations have been completed or are underway in the stations of Bonaventure, New Carlisle, and Percé. Last year, VIA injected some 126 million dollars in the GDP of the Maritimes and created more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.
To get information on these winter packages or to make a reservation, customers can phone 1-877-861-8222, or visit VIA’s web site, at www.viarail.ca.