Travel to Nova Scotia

Warning: arsort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 762

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 769

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 804

One of the easiest ways to get around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island is Acadien Lines buses. For many years travel throughout Nova Scotia was hampered by inefficient sub-lines that rarely corresponded with the major carriers. This scared off bus travelers because the time and money spent did not equal the expectations of the sightseer.

For example, 10 years ago ferry travelers who took the bus to Yarmouth from Halifax were subject to a wild ride in an old coach. Upon their arrival they dumped off at a gas station almost a mile from the Prince of Fundy ferry terminal.

The bus service in Nova Scotia has been dramatically changed since then and Acadien Lines has played a big part. Th company dates back to 1937 when its buses were under the name SMT (Eastern) Ltd. In 1995, SMT acquired the trans-provincial Acadien Lines Ltd. and Nova Charter Services Ltd. which enabled the bus lines to offer its customers traditional shuttle transportation, package delivery, and charters for large groups.

In March 2004, Acadien Lines joined with Quebec-based Groupe Orléans Express, allowing complete coverage of eastern Canada. This means that travelers to Montreal can be connected to Halifax in a wide variety of routing including the townships and Gaspé regions of Quebec and rural New Brunswick.

Activity Sectors

The main activities of Acadien lines now includes:

• Intercity passenger transportation throughout eastern Canada
• Specific charter transportation including sightseeing tours
• Intercity courier and baggage services
• Bus station management
• Coverage of New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia as well as Quebec
• Passport program

So if you don’t want to rent a car take the bus!

acadien lines, charter transportation, orléans express, prince edward island, prince of fundy, shuttle transportation, sightseeing tours, transportation package

Warning: arsort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 762

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 769

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 804

When train travel is all but extinct compared to what it was 50 years ago the Montreal-Halifax route is a real crowd-pleaser. ”The Ocean” is a passenger train that runs 6 times a week each way between Montreal and Halifax.

On the Montreal-to-Halifax leg, “The Ocean” leaves Montreal in the evening and the traveler gets to see the townships along the St. Lawrence before drifting off to sleep. In the very early morning Chaleur Bay comes into view as the train heads south across New Brunswick. It stops in Moncton just before noon and arrives in the historic Halifax train station in mid-afternoon.  Going back the “The Ocean” leaves Halifax in the afternoon and arrives in Montreal the next morning.

Economy Perks

Comfort Class: Economical. You can stretch out your legs, lean back into the headrest and at night, a service attendant will offer you a pillow and blanket.

Service Car: A service counter where all passengers can order refreshments, snacks and sweets. Also, there is a baggage compartment where extra or bulky items can be stored. In addition there is a special suite where persons with reduced mobility can travel in an environment specially designed to make their journey pleasant. As well, it serves as a lounge area.

Easterly Class

Passengers on Easterly Class have dinner in the evening and breakfast the next morning. Also included is entrance to the dome car for sparkling wine. Examples of the dining includes tasty Nova Scotia smoked salmon and crab appetizers as well as chicken breast with berry sauce, Prince Edward Island potatoes and Maritime vegetables. Dessert has been known to be scrumptious apple caramel cake topped with whipped cream. There is also a sleeper arrangement but it is rather spartan and this was the only part where we were disappointed.

VIA 1 Lounge: This is for 1st Class passengers. Dome Car: See the sights in a 360 degree view.

It is a great trip and many Americans can take it by first jumping the Amtrak from New York to Montreal.

baggage compartment, caramel cake, chicken breast, dome car, new brunswick, passenger train, prince edward island

Warning: arsort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 762

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 769

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 804

As I have put in other posts Canada has a deficit in rail travel compared to countries in Europe, Asia and much of the rest of the world. Only North America is rail-deprived when it comes to passenger transportation.

Via Rail Canada is Canada’s national passenger-carrying is an independent Crown corporation. The company operates 480 trains in eight Canadian provinces. Only Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island do not have the service. In all, over 8,700 miles of track criss-cross the country from east to west and from the Great Lakes to Hudson Bay.

In all Via Rail carries approximately four million passengers annually but the majority of its routes are between Windsor, Ontario and Quebec City, Quebec on the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor commonly known as “The Corridor.”

Canadian National Railway began VIA service in 1978 replacing its old lines of passenger service.  Ridership increased an it became a profitable line. However, increased passengers would not be help VIA in the eyes of the government at the time. In 1981, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s government went along with Minister of Transport Jean-Luc Pépin’s plan to cut Via Rail’s budget 40%. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater were frequently sold-out trains such as the Super Continental and this reduced Via to operating only one transcontinental train. This included the The Canadian and the popular Atlantic, among others.

Besides the military and other great traditions Trudeau’s regime wiped out the last gasp of a great supercontinental rail line.

canadian national railway, canadian provinces, crown corporation, passenger transportation, windsor corridor

Warning: arsort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 762

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 769

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 804

A few years back I took the Eurostar from London to Brussels on my way to ITB, a tourism show in Berlin. We started from Waterloo station and meandered southward to Dover along the old “clickety-clack” track of the British rail system. Once we got near the entrance of the Channel Tunnel the ride suddenly smoothed and stayed that way to Berlin.

To explain this problem, I was told, you had to go back to the years after World War II. Britain was bankrupt and great quantities of its infrastructure lay in ruins for being the “Allied front lines.” Even when Europe was invaded the Nazi V1′s and V2′s still exploded into many areas. So coming from the wealthiest country in the world in 1914 to one of the poorest in the developed world in 1945 Britain had little spare money to spend on infrastructure which was “doing its job,” as a British journalist once said of the rails.

The past twenty years has brought a robust economy to Great Britain and with that a new high-speed rail system to link up with the European speedsters. The High Speed 1 began to service from London to Brussels on November 14th, 2007 running on a new rail system that rivals anything in the world. And with the addition of the Fawkham Junction to St Pancras section you can hop on the train in London and arrive in Paris 2 hours 15 minutes later and land in Brussels in1 hour and 51 minutes.

The inauguration of HS1 meant that Britain’s rail and terminal system was equal, if not better, than the French and Belgian LGV lines, meaning that trains could run at 186mph (300km/h) in Britain. This also means that up to 8 trains an hour can leave London for Europe.

As well, the opening of a reconditioned Pancras station takes over from Waterloo Station as the British terminal for Eurostar making train travel more advantageous and time-competitive than flying to Paris. It also makes getting around during the 2012 Olympics at Stratford much easier.

So, next year I’m ready for my next go at London and the Eurostar.

2012 olympics, british rail, channel tunnel, pancras station, speedsters, terminal system, Transportation, wealthiest country in the world

Warning: arsort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 762

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 769

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/sykesa/kimkinrade.com/wpblog/wp-content/plugins/wp-affiliate-pro.php(240) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 804

The Town of Yarmouth is the regional center of South Western Nova Scotia. The Town, with a population base of approximately 7,200 people, serves the financial business and community needs of some 70,000 people who live in the tri-counties of Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne.
With regular ferry crossings to Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine, on North America’s largest catamaran, “The Cat”, and two 100 series highways, the Town is known as the International Gateway to the Province.

The local economy is supported by a broad range of business, service, and industrial employers of long standing. The Town also houses regional health, educational, and provincial government facilities, including the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, which employs in excess of 800 full and part time employees.

As the largest convention center west of Halifax, the Town annually hosts major events such as fisheries, exhibitions, lifestyle home shows, as well as the annual agricultural fair.

Yarmouth is only 2 hours south of White Point Beach and White point Manor.

No Tags