by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 10:40 AM ET, Mon April 20, 2026
If money were no object, Vancouver travellers would be heading to the train station, a new poll suggests.
The recent survey conducted by Richmond News suggests trains and planes are the top two preferred modes of travel, with rail just narrowly taking the lead.
According to RN, the poll, which gathered 1,206 responses between March 29 and April 18, found that 26.45% of respondents chose train travel, compared to 26.62% for planes overall.
Among local Vancouver respondents, trains pulled slightly ahead, capturing 28.66% of the vote versus 27.84% for air travel.
The results point to a clear divide between aspiration and reality. While flying remains the most common way to travel out of Vancouver, the idea of train travel, less accessible in much of Canada compared to Europe or Asia, appears to hold a certain appeal.
The findings line up with shifts in how Canadians are thinking about travel. Recent research suggests travellers are increasingly prioritizing value, ease and meaningful experiences. At the same time, global trends point to growing demand for slower, more immersive journeys, including rail travel, which is seeing renewed interest.
Cruise ships ranked third overall at 16.25%, reinforcing their reputation as a slower but more indulgent way to travel.
Further down the list, smaller watercraft such as sailboats and private boats came in fourth (9.45%), followed by cars and road trips (9.78%). The relatively low ranking for road travel suggests that, given the choice, many travellers would skip the long drive in favour of more comfortable or experiential options.
At the bottom of the list were RVs (7.46%), bicycles (2.32%) and motorcycles (1.66%), indicating limited interest in more hands-on or physically demanding modes of travel when cost is not a factor.
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