The Ocean, Canadian passenger train
The Ocean is a long-distance passenger train running between Montreal and Halifax, crossing Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The train offers both seated cars and sleeper compartments that include a bed, a private bathroom, and meals served in an onboard dining car.
The service started in 1904 under the name Ocean Limited, making it one of the oldest continuously running passenger trains in Canada. During the Second World War, the route became an important link for moving troops and supplies to the port of Halifax.
The train passes through small coastal towns in eastern Canada where life has long revolved around fishing and the sea. In the Nova Scotia section especially, the landscape and the towns along the tracks reflect this close connection to the water.
The journey lasts nearly 23 hours and the train runs three times a week in each direction. Stops at larger stations along the way, such as Moncton, are long enough to step off the train for a few minutes.
The carriages used on this route were built in the UK in the 1990s and were originally designed for European rail service. They were later converted for Canadian use, giving a North American route an unexpected European origin.
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