I had heard stories of the train from Thompson to Churchill being outrun by a small butterfly. And yes, it is slow, and many of us could out sprint the swaying carriages. But there’s something special about training through the Boreal Forest between Thompson and Manitoba.

This post details all you’ll need to know to decide if catching the train Between Churchill and Thompson is the right way to go for you. From how to have the best sleep (yes, it is overnight), what to expect from the meals served, the seats, toilets and clear topped dome carriage for viewing the northern lights.

 

Catching the train from Thompson to Churchill in Manitoba

The train from to Churchill from Thompson is one of those journeys I’ve heard about and always wanted to do, and it is an experience in itself.

This is an overnight service. While you only travel 260km (161 miles) north, this train journey takes at least 16 hours, if not more. I was told of trains often being delayed, sometimes by up to 8 hours.

While this post goes into great detail about the train trip from Thompson to Churchill, this service starts much more south in the Canadian province of Manitoba.

The VIA Rail service to Churchill begins in Winnipeg, Manitoba. From Winnipeg, you’re looking at 2 full days of travel aboard the train north-bound.

Honestly, passing 16 hours abroad this train can be tough. There are some pretty basic features but there are also some pretty great things about the VIA Rail Train ride.

 

How much is this train journey to Churchill from Thompson?

This overnight journey from Thompson to Churchill in Manitoba costs at least $69 CAD ($52 USD) for a one-way, economy ticket from Thompson to Churchill. You can book your ticket online through VIA Rail. There are other options if youère look for a little more comfort.

 

What can I do on the train ride to Churchill from Thompson?

To be honest, there’s not much to do on the train from Thompson to Churchill. It’ll be up to you to provide much of your entertainment, but you’re paying for the ride itself and there are a few things the train does to help pass the time. Eat, drink and watch the scenery fly by.

Let’s start with my favorite – watching the scenery roll by. This is a slow train, so you can really focus on each tree and clump of snow, the detail in nature can be beautiful. The train has large windows and a whole top half of a carriage with a clear dome roof – great for viewing the northern lights (if you’re luckier than I am).

There is a pretty good restaurant onboard the train. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served on each of the journeys. And for train food, it’s pretty damn good and reasonably priced.

On top of that, there’s a snack bar and a range of drinks available- including beer and wine. No outside alcohol is allowed and bag searches are common.

So other than that, there isn’t much else to do. Personally, I spent hours and hours listening to music and watching each and every tree pass by. Even at night, snow clumps clinging on to trees kept my attention for a long while.

 

What facilities are on the overnight VIA Rail Train?

The facilities on the train from Thompson to Churchill are pretty basic, but they do the job.

Each carriage has toilets and a sink, and just outside the restroom door is a tap to fill a water bottle (for free).

For economy passengers, there is luggage storage running above the seats in each carriage, and a rack for larger bags at the start of the carriage.

Unless you have spent the $533 CAD ($404 USD) on a sleeper bed in a cabin, you will only have a single seat on the train. While the economy seats do recline and there is a better sleeping option (check below for a rundown on how to best sleep on the VIA Rail Train ride).

There is a little lever on the armrest of your seat, this will recline your seat. It goes back around 45°, so if you’re able to sleep easy, it may work fine for you.

Below your seat is a footrest and takes 2 positions. Either a 45° angle towards the floor or extends the horizontal part of the seat – handy if you can stretch your legs out (read on below).

 

How to have a great sleep on the train from Thompson to Churchill in the economy

If you’ve upgraded from economy to a private bed, this won’t be of value to you. But for anyone in the economy, could be the difference in having a great sleep, verse a shitty night rest – and let’s face it, you most likely want to explore as soon as you arrive in Churchill!

The image above shows a typical train carriage. There’s the center aisle, with 2 seats on either side, the whole way down till the end of the carriage.

Once upon a time, if no one was in the 2 seats in front of you, then you could swing those around to have those face you and stretch out. Recently, all seats aboard the VIA Rail train from Winnipeg to Churchill have been fused together. Meaning no chairs on the train spin. So whichever seats you choose, more than likely that’s what you’ll have.

Some pairs are facing each other and if you want to stretch out for a mostly restless sleep, these are the ones you want to get – and as long as the train isn’t full, you’ll have much more legroom.

Once you have your set of 4 chairs, those foot rests under your seat fold out. By propping all 4 foot rests up, you can create a surface to stretch out over. While not completely flat, it does give much more legroom.

I did hear from a couple that has tried both is that the beds aren’t really worthwhile, as long as you get a vacant 4 seater where you can stretch out in. I’m sure they are much more comfortable, but the price tag reflects luxury and privacy.

 

Why does the train take so long to Churchill from Thompson

When I first saw the map, with give or take 260km between Thompson and Churchill, I thought I was missing something when I found out the journey takes 16 hours (if everything runs smoothly).

So, why does such a short distance take so long? There are a few reasons.

Omni Rail owned these tracks before VIA Rail took over. Lack of maintenance over the years caused the rails to degrade. This lack of repairs limits the trains speed and weight capacity.

Since VIA Rail has taken over, regular maintenance has improved the times but other factors come into play that potentially slows the service down as well.

The freeze and thaw of the icy area cause the tracks to sag and bend. As well as heavy snowstorms can cause delays.

It all adds up to a possible huge travel day and with limited stops to get off for fresh air, it can be a long journey.

 

Want tips on the train from Thompson to Churchill?

Please note: Some links below are affiliate links. I earn a small amount through certain purchases you make, this does not increase the cost for you and helps support this site.

Everyone wants tips on travel – and I have a few that will make your trip on the train from Thompson to Churchill a little easier.

• Bring a pillow. I’m not talking a travel/airplane pillow, I’m saying a proper, fluffy pillow. I stole mine from my bed all the way back in Edmonton. It was 100% worth it!
• If you’re traveling cheap (let’s face it, I always am), I brought my own instant coffee, my girlfriend her own tea bags, and asking for hot water was a lot cheaper than constantly getting more coffee.
• Bring a thermos and water bottle. Tea and coffee in a thermos and the water bottle for water.
• Bring more movies, music and books than you think you’ll need. I heard of a train being delayed for 8 hours. That’s a whole day on a train and you can’t just jump off for a break.
• Noise-canceling headphones. A must for whenever I travel it especially so close to mother passengers – there are multiple stops throughout the night, so it’ll help you sleep better.
• If you’re prone to motion sickness, some anti-nausea medication is a great idea. The train is slow but is always a lot.
• Enjoy the ride. If there’s a delay, it is what it is. There’s nothing you can do about it but explore the natural wilderness with your eyes. It’s a great way to appreciate surroundings that you may otherwise overlook.
• Take comfy clothes. Honestly, I’m writing this is grubby pants – but they are too comfy not too!
• Bring a face mask. While the carriage lights are dimmed during the night, they are never turned off, meaning there is light in the carriage when you’re trying to sleep
• Each carriage has huge blinds that cover the large windows. You can pull these down if you’re looking for a day time nap.
• There is no shower on board for economy. Those who book a bed in the cabins on the train have access to a shower.

If you haven’t already, I suggest booking your Churchill accommodation early – there’s like 6 hotels, and they book out fast!

 

Video on the train to Churchill, Manitoba

 

So should you catch the train from Thompson to Churchill?

That answer falls onto if you’re keen to spend a little more on the 16+ hour trip. I can confidently say the 16hour journey isn’t that bad, whether or not I would feel that way on the 2-day journey from Winnipeg to Churchill is another story.

I think the train from Thompson to Churchill is one of those pre-experiences that just add to the actual experience of Churchill. It winds up the anticipation of great untouched wilderness and a colorful little town in northern Manitoba that honestly delivers.

Did you find this post on catching the train to Churchill from Thompson helpful? I’d love it if you’d share it to social media to help other travelers!

Don’t forget your free 8 page travel checklist or click the button below to get this entire post in an offline PDF!

 

Thanks for reading!

Happy and safe travels,

Ben – Horizon Unknown