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| 1990 |
Great Canadian Railtour Company (GCRC) purchases the routes and equipment of VIA Rail's "Rocky Mountaineer" daylight service. Operation begins between Vancouver and Banff/Calgary in April. |
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| 1991 |
The International Railway Traveler magazine names the Rocky Mountaineer as one of the “20 best rail experiences in the world.” |
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| 1994 |
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours (now known as Rocky Mountaineer Vacations) introduces 12 Independent Package Tours to complement the two-day train journey. |
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| 1995 |
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours announces the introduction of its GoldLeaf Service for the Vancouver to Banff route. |
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| 1996 |
Two River Junction Dinner & Musical Revue is introduced in Kamloops, B.C. By 2000, the Two River Junction Dinner Musical Revue contracts a second venue and the show reaches an average of 30,000 guests per year.
The Rocky Mountaineer departure schedule is expanded to 72 departures from May to October and offers service along the Vancouver to Jasper route.
The Rocky Mountaineer sets the record for the longest passenger train in Canadian history, consisting of 37 cars. The record is later extended to 41 cars in 1999. |
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| 1997 |
A second Rocky Mountaineer train is introduced to service the two routes, providing 54 new departures in between June and September.
Three additional custom-built dome coaches are purchased bringing the total in the Rocky Mountaineer fleet to four.
The Rocky Mountaineer Christmas Express (now known as Winter Rail Vacations) commences operation for select December departure dates. |
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| 1998 |
Two specialty coaches are introduced for exclusive group travel. The coaches can be configured to meet the guests’ needs.
For the second time, The International Railway Traveler magazine names the Rocky Mountaineer as one of the “20 best rail experiences in the world.” |
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| 1999 |
Two additional GoldLeaf Service dome coaches are introduced, for a total of six. |
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| 2000 |
The Rocky Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service is expanded to Jasper AB, and the company commissions an additional two dome coaches to service the route. |
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| 2001 |
Two additional GoldLeaf Service dome coaches are added to the Rocky Mountaineer fleet, bringing the total dome fleet to 10. |
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| 2002 |
As the Rocky Mountaineer welcomes its 500,000th guest onboard, The International Railway Traveler magazine names Rocky Mountaineer fourth in the “10 Best Rail Experiences in the World.”
A $2 million capital program is undertaken to refurbish all GoldLeaf Service dining rooms and selected RedLeaf Service coaches. |
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| 2003 |
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours wins “Canadian Supplier of the Year” at the Canada Travel Awards (voted by agents, tour operators and wholesalers) in London, U.K.
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours wins the “Best Long Haul Rail Operator” in the 2003 Selling Long Haul Travel Awards (a trade magazine for UK travel agents).
In the UK, a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer is listed on a BBC television program entitled, “50 things to do before you die.” |
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| 2004 |
Year-round non-rail “Spectacular Canada – Discoveries and Experiences” mini-break land tour vacations are offered for the first time.
The 12th GoldLeaf Service dome arrives. Since 1994, over $40 million has been invested in these bi-level dome coaches.
GCRC wins the right to operate on two additional rail routes – The Whistler Mountaineer and Fraser Discovery Route.
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours officially becomes Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV) to reflect the company’s move towards providing year-round vacations.
GCRC purchases the Thompson Hotel in Kamloops, BC, the overnight stop for guests on the two-day Rocky Mountaineer journey. The 98-room downtown property is a favourite of Rocky Mountaineer’s RedLeaf Service guests. |
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| 2005 |
The North American Travel Journalists Association names Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, “Best Rail Tour Company.”
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations unveils its new 20,000 square foot train station for the world-renowned Rocky Mountaineer train in Vancouver, remodelled at a cost of $4 million.
Armstrong Group (formerly GCRC) acquires Gray Line West motorcoach operations based in Banff, Alberta, as well as in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations acquires an additional 18 pieces of equipment, bringing the company’s total rolling stock to over 90.
Popular North American publication, Outside Magazine lists the Rocky Mountaineer as “one of the great train rides in the world.”
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations announces 2005 as its most successful season yet, hosting over 86,000 guests from around the world onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train.
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations wins a prestigious 2005 World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Travel Experience By Train.” |
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| 2006 |
For the second year in a row, the North American Travel Journalists Association names Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, “Best Rail Tour Company.”
In the spring of 2006, two new routes are unveiled. The Whistler Mountaineer begins operation between North Vancouver and Whistler, B.C, and the Rocky Mountaineer adds a third route called the Fraser Discovery route that travels between Whistler and Jasper, Alberta with an overnight stay in Quesnel, BC. This development expands the companies’ network of rail routes to four.
Another evening entertainment show, The Great Canada LumberJack Show is introduced in Kamloops, BC.
For the second year in a row, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations wins the prestigious World Travel Award as “World’s Leading Travel Experience By Train.” |
