Majestic in vastness, with a storied past and astonishingly diverse landscapes, Canada is a fascinating travel destination. Via Rail, Canada's national passenger train service, makes touring and visiting this breathtaking country a truly memorable experience.

This wonderful guide to rail travel in Canada covers a wide range of topics: an opening section describes the many facets of  the country, useful for foreign travelers. Another section describes the historical roots of Canadian railways. Sections titled "Train Classes and Services", "Train Travel Tips" and "Canadian Railway 101" enhance an understanding of railways and rail travel. There's even a section on 'railway yoga' for anyone needing a good stretch along the way!

Most interesting, though, are the route guides which comprise the bulk of the material. Each region of Canada, from BC to the Atlantic, is detailed as a potential rail trip. Mile by mile descriptions of what one will see from the train are fascinating and accompanied by interesting sidebars relating to local aspects of geography, history and culture. In addition to to this information is an abundance of full colour photos (over 500) which illustrate everything from the sleeping accommodations on board to various types of trains and scenery along each route.

Both authors are expert: Chris Hanus has worked for Via Rail for over 10 years and is currently the Product Specialist in their Marketing department. John Shaske owns and operates his own rail tour company and has been a railway enthusiast all his life. Both authors live in the Vancouver area of BC.