VIA Rail Canada
Winnipeg to Churchill
Winnipeg → Churchill
- 1,694 km along the track
- 20 stops
- 15 commentary points
Two nights and 1,700 km from the prairies to Hudson Bay: through the parklands of western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, then north across the boreal forest and muskeg to the only rail line into Canada's Arctic coast.
Stop Overnight stop Commentary point
Legs
| From | To | Distance | On the train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg | The Pas | 778 km | about 13 h 40 min |
| The Pas | Thompson | 370 km | about 9 h 30 min |
| Thompson | Churchill | 547 km | about 16 h |
Approximate scheduled times. Check the timetable with the operator before you travel.
Things to know
- No road - Churchill has no road connection. The train and the plane are the only ways in and out.
- Frequency - the train leaves Winnipeg twice a week, with an extra weekly train between The Pas and Churchill. Check VIA's timetable before planning connections.
- Time zone - neither Manitoba nor Saskatchewan changes its clocks, and Saskatchewan is one hour behind all year. Clocks go back one hour on entering Saskatchewan and forward one hour on returning to Manitoba.
- Thompson - the train runs into Thompson on a branch, waits there for several hours and then comes back out the same way.
- Duration - the northern part of the line is built on muskeg and permafrost, with long stretches of reduced speed. The train is often late.
- Churchill - polar bear season is October and November, and belugas fill the Churchill River in July and August. Book a guided tour; don't walk outside town on your own.
Ride it with Rail Passages
All 15 commentary points on this route, triggered by GPS and readable offline.
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GPS may not be available everywhere. Tunnels, deep canyons and some rail cars can block the signal. The app estimates where the train is for a few minutes from its last speed, but cards may come late until the signal returns.