The Royal Canadian Pacific in North Dakota in 2012.
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Reporting mark | CP |
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Dates of operation | 2000–present |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta |
Website | royalcanadianpacific.com |
The Royal Canadian Pacific is a luxury excursion passenger train operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), inaugurated on June 7, 2000, after the CPR received the royal designation for the service from Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.
The train operates seasonally from June to September, on CPR trackage through the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia. All trains are based out of Calgary, Alberta, at the former Via Rail station near CPR's corporate headquarters. A typical excursion would be a 1,050 km (650 mi) route from Calgary through the Columbia River Valley and Crowsnest Pass, before returning to Calgary. Such a trip would take six days and five nights with no operating at night in order to preserve the sight-seeing of mountain scenery during the daylight hours. The train consists of up to eight luxury passenger cars built between 1916 and 1931, and is powered by restored first-generation diesel locomotives.