Kamloops is approximately a 3.5 hour drive from Vancouver. Follow the Trans Canada Highway east out of the city and take the Coquihalla Freeway or, take the scenic Fraser Canyon route (add approx. 1 hour to the drive allowing for some time at vistas). Kamloops is a 2.5 hour drive from Kelowna, a 6 hour drive from Prince George, and a 7 hour drive from Banff. There are direct flights from Vancouver, Calgary and Prince George. Kamloops is serviced by Greyhound, VIA Rail and is the stopover location for the Rocky Mountaineer.
The Kamloops Heritage Railway's Ticket Office is located at Station Plaza, 510 Lorne Street, just east of Interior Savings Centre between Riverside Park and Pioneer Park. The ticket office is located in the horseshoe-shaped retail area just outside the main door of the station building (KEG Steakhouse and Bar) at Station Plaza. Parking is available to the east of the station (requires payment) and is available on Lorne Street above (some paid (meters), some free). * It is difficult to see the Station Building/KEG from Lorne Street. Passengers picking up tickets, should go to the ticket office and then proceed to the line up. Washrooms are available in the ticket office as well as souveniers in our gift shop.
Once parked, passengers that have their tickets can go directly to the line up on the platform which is in front of the CN Station building on the north side and next to the tracks. This platform area can be accessed on either the west or east side of the station through gates in the chain link fence. The line up for boarding takes place on the platform and under the covered area of the station. In summer on some of the warmer nights, passengers may be lined up on the east side of the building in the shade. Seating onboard is not reserved so it is first come, first served for the spot you would like onboard the train. Passengers that move about the train may find their seats taken upon return but the movement on board is fluid and many passengers move about the travel as we travel freeing up other seats for you.
The Backshop is where the Kamloops Heritage Railway stores and maintains passenger equipment and houses the administrative office of the operating crew. The Backshop is located at Pioneer Park and the entrance is located at the west end of the parking area; gate access is required. Watch for the large red building directly beneath the Red Bridge. This is an active railyard and visitors are welcome but are requested to check in upon arrival through the main door. Visitors can tour the facilities on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm and a volunteer will generally be available to show you around. To book a tour in advance, call 250-374-2145.
There are a number of parking options to choose from and some are paid and some are free. Some areas are better for RV Parking and others allow for close access. The parking areas described below provide equal access to the Ticket Office and the train boarding and detraining areas as they are located very close together.
Parking on Lorne Street is metered on portions of the north side and free on the south side. This is often a good option as the parking runs quite a distance down on both sides of Lorne to the east and you may have a little longer walk but their will be a spot. There are no set spaces so trucks and trailers/RVs can pick their spots for length.
There is a large paved parking area just east of the Station that can be accessed by following the KEG parking signs and turning down between the condos. A second way to enter is from 7th Ave./Access to Pioneer Park. As soon as you turn off of Lorne Street onto 7th, take a left turn into the lane before the railway tracks. Follow it under the Red Bridge and you will see the parking lot and the station building in the distance.Tickets are dispensed at machines located at the entrance by the Station and mid-way down the parking lot and they are turned on * during event nights such as Blazer games, concerts, home shows, etc. At the east end of the parking lot near the Red Bridge, parking is open and larger units can be parked in multiple spaces.
* Watch for event nights when paid parking applies.
Access is through the main driveway to Riverside Park beside Interior Savings Centre. This is paid parking during events so watch for signs when payment is required. From this parking lot, you will have about a five minute to seven minute walk to the station by walking towards the east. This is close to the active track so please use the walk way and parking area as you approach the station.
