E&N Rail Stops from Victoria to Courtenay

Duncan
Riding the rails north of Victoria brings you to Duncan, the major trading centre for the Cowichan region. The train station is located right in town for convenient shopping and sightseeing. At Duncan’s famous Quw’utsun’ Cultural and Conference Centre, visitors can experience the authentic traditions of the First Nations people of the Pacific coast. A few kilometres north of Duncan, at Hayward, you can visit the BC Forest Museum to learn the history of logging in British Columbia and ride a narrow-gauge operating railway two kilometres long.

Chemainus and the Chemainus Theatre
Take the train from Victoria to the whimsical town of Chemainus, home of over 30 hand-painted murals that grace the sides of buildings throughout the tiny town. The train station is right downtown, so visitors can step off the train and stroll this outdoor art gallery and its quaint shops. The station is also located directly across from the beautiful Chemainus Theatre. Take the train up to see a performance and stay overnight at one of many charming bed and breakfasts, or see a matinée and return the same day. In the summer, matinées usually coincide with the train schedule, but visitors are encouraged to check both the train and theatre schedules.

Nanaimo
The Harbour City is Vancouver Island’s second-largest city and is a hub for shopping, arts, culture, and outdoor adventure. The train station is located just five blocks from the harbour and downtown core. Nanaimo is known as the Harbour City and, like Victoria, boasts a picturesque harbour. Visitors can stroll the four kilometre Harbourside Walkway and watch the cannon-firing ceremony (every day at noon), complete with Scottish bagpipes and Highland dancing at the Bastion, a fortified tower erected on the waterfront in 1853.

Cassidy
All passengers destined for the Bungy Zone on the Nanaimo River will get off at Cassidy. Travelling by train may be a good idea for all bungy jumpers, as your legs may be a little shaky both before and after the jump.

Qualicum Beach
This oceanside city and neighbouring Parksville beckon you with sandy beaches, quaint shops, galleries, fine restaurants and great golfing. It is recommended that passengers only get off at Parksville if transportation has been arranged prior to arrival, as the station is a 30-minute walk from town. However, the station is open for passengers to wait, use the washroom and telephone. Tourist information, assistance, and tours of the building are available from 10am -4pm, and a pottery studio is open daily to the public.

A charming resort town, Qualicum Beach is located 10 minutes north of Parksville, along the same magnificent stretch of shoreline. Colourful flower beds and hanging baskets adorn the downtown streets which feature quaint tea rooms, reastaurants and specialty shops. Known for its gardens, Qualicum Beach was a recipient of the Four Blooms Award which is the result of a province-wide competition. Qualicum Beach is also renowned for its five impressive and scenic golf courses and for its abundance of birds. With more than 250 species of birds, it is an ideal destination for birders.

Courtney
Every afternoon the E&N Railway pulls into its northern terminus at the historic train station in Courtenay. Fruit trees and flowers greet visitors, along with mountain views and salt thick air. It’s a representative start to a visit in the Comox Valley, the coastal area that includes mountain, ocean, islands, farmland, rural communities and the towns of Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland.

A sign at the train station welcomes visitors to The Recreation Capital of Canada. World class mountain biking, golfing, hiking, horseback riding, boating, kite boarding, fishing, skimboarding, swimming, diving and camping are all found nearby.  Lift serviced skiing, mountain biking and hiking, as well as cross country skiing and mountain hiking, can be found 30-minutes from the station at Mount Washington Alpine Resort, home to the deepest snow in Canada. And nine golf courses challenge locals and visitors, all year round. In fact it’s possible to ski and golf on the same day in the Comox Valley.

The Comox Valley is not just a playground, though. It’s also a hub for arts and culture. Nearby, Hornby and Denman islands are home to more artists per capita than anywhere else in Canada and the rest of the Comox Valley is home to many more. Their wares can be found in local galleries and stores and at festivals held throughout the year.
Courtenay is the cultural heart of the area with a bustling downtown, considered one of the most vibrant and charming on Vancouver Island. In additional to unique shops, services and eateries, Courtenay is home to an incredible cultural district that includes the Sid Williams Civic Theatre, Comox Valley Art Gallery and the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre.

With the new international airport in Comox, with direct service to Calgary and Vancouver, and the E&N station in Courtenay, the Comox Valley is more than a destination, it’s a gateway to central and northern Vancouver Island, and even further a field.

Mount Washington
Enjoy a round trip on the rails from Victoria to the Comox Valley and Mt. Washington. In the summer, Mt. Washington offers excellent hiking and mountain biking and Via Rail offers an excellent package that includes round-trip rail transportation, overnight accommodation at Mt. Washington, a scenic ride on the Eagle Chairlift, a three-course dinner and breakfast. In the winter, Mount Washington becomes Vancouver Island’s premier ski resort and the second-busiest winter recreation destination in British Columbia, next to Whistler. Avoid the hassle of driving up island on winter roads by riding the train to your ski excursion.

VIA Rail allows passengers to bring ski equipment on as luggage, at no additional charge.