Rocky Mountaineer has been forced to suspend its rail services to and from the Canadian town of Jasper, from where tourists and residents have fled from wildfires.
Some 20,000 tourists were among 25,000 people evacuated from the town and the nearby Jasper National Park, which have been ravaged by the blaze.
Up to half of all the structures in the picturesque town of Jasper were destroyed when it was engulfed by what Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis described as ‘a wall of fire’ which he estimated was 100 metres high.
However, there are no reported injuries as authorities ordered a mass evacuation of the town and national park as the fire started to spread earlier this week.
Rocky Mountaineer said in a statement: “Given these devastating circumstances, we are unable to continue our rail journeys to or from Jasper for the foreseeable future.
“Our team is moving as quickly as possible to work through the impact to guest itineraries in this developing situation. We ask guests to please be patient as we address departures in sequential order.
“The safety of our guests, team members, and communities is always our priority. We remain committed to operating train journeys where it is safe and possible to do so.”
Guests booked to travel on the Journey through the Clouds route are being moved to the First Passage to the West route between Vancouver and Lake Louise and Banff, at least 140 miles from Jasper.
“We are developing an alternative itinerary for guests booked to travel on the Rainforest to Gold Rush route, intending to continue with two days on the train between Vancouver, Whistler, and Quesnel,” added Rocky Mountaineer.
“Please be aware that there may be some reduced visibility of scenery and outdoor air quality along the route due to smoke from wildfires. In areas where the air quality is affected, the health authorities recommend you reduce your exposure by staying indoors where there is air conditioning and avoid strenuous or prolonged activities outside, especially if you have underlying medical conditions.
“The train, the motorcoaches to and from your hotel, and most hotel rooms and restaurants will have air conditioning. Our team will do everything we can to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable journey for all who travel with us.”
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Some 20,000 tourists were among 25,000 people evacuated from the town and the nearby Jasper National Park, which have been ravaged by the blaze.
Up to half of all the structures in the picturesque town of Jasper were destroyed when it was engulfed by what Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis described as ‘a wall of fire’ which he estimated was 100 metres high.
However, there are no reported injuries as authorities ordered a mass evacuation of the town and national park as the fire started to spread earlier this week.
Rocky Mountaineer said in a statement: “Given these devastating circumstances, we are unable to continue our rail journeys to or from Jasper for the foreseeable future.
“Our team is moving as quickly as possible to work through the impact to guest itineraries in this developing situation. We ask guests to please be patient as we address departures in sequential order.
“The safety of our guests, team members, and communities is always our priority. We remain committed to operating train journeys where it is safe and possible to do so.”
Guests booked to travel on the Journey through the Clouds route are being moved to the First Passage to the West route between Vancouver and Lake Louise and Banff, at least 140 miles from Jasper.
“We are developing an alternative itinerary for guests booked to travel on the Rainforest to Gold Rush route, intending to continue with two days on the train between Vancouver, Whistler, and Quesnel,” added Rocky Mountaineer.
“Please be aware that there may be some reduced visibility of scenery and outdoor air quality along the route due to smoke from wildfires. In areas where the air quality is affected, the health authorities recommend you reduce your exposure by staying indoors where there is air conditioning and avoid strenuous or prolonged activities outside, especially if you have underlying medical conditions.
“The train, the motorcoaches to and from your hotel, and most hotel rooms and restaurants will have air conditioning. Our team will do everything we can to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable journey for all who travel with us.”
The post Rocky Mountaineer suspends trains as tourists in Jasper flee ‘100 metre wall of fire’ appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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