The Rocky Mountaineer is a Canadian rail-tour company based in Vancouver that operates luxury scenic trains on four rail routes in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado, and Utah.

The Rocky Mountaineer concept was created by Harry Holmes, a railroad engineer, and Pat Crowley, a tourism entrepreneur, both of Jasper, Alberta.

Originally, it began as a once-weekly Via Rail Canada daytime service between Vancouver, Calgary, and Jasper.

[3] The final summer Rocky Mountaineer (under Via Rail branding) departed Calgary and Jasper was on October 12, 1989, and arrived in Vancouver on the 13th.

Rocky Mountaineer was a tourist service, and as such the government felt the funds could be better spent on other bigger priorities.

[12] Rocky Mountaineer currently operates train journeys on four routes, with three in western Canada and one in the southwestern United States.

Guests are offered hot meals prepared on board the train, served to them in the lower level dining car.

Featuring signature cocktails, the lounge car offers additional space indoors as well as a small outdoor viewing area.

Between their origin and destination, trains only stop for overnight layovers and no passengers may begin or end their journeys at these stations.

[citation needed] Rocky Mountaineer train journeys often include bus connections between stations and hotels.