The return of fully vaccinated American tourists into Canada is good news to the Rocky Mountaineer, as it prepares to run a full schedule of trains until October 5.

Operations Manager Dwayne Dergousoff tells NL News they started the season in July with a lighter schedule before ramping things up on August 4, just before border restrictions were eased.

“So we haven’t had any cancellations to speak of in general terms,” he said. “Just manoeuvring around trying to get from Vancouver to Kamloops has been a challenge. We’re just watching the fire situation across both provinces, and just managing through what we can, based on what is popping up. It’s very dynamic, that situation.”

With active wildfires in the areas where Rocky Mountaineer trains travel, the company says travel through some sections may be slower than usual due to temperature-related speed limitations. People are also being told that visibility of scenery and outdoor air quality may be affected at times due to wildfire smoke.

“Regardless of the situation, our team will do everything we can to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable journey for all who travel with us,” a statement from the Rocky Mountaineer said.

A long-awaited and slightly delayed season got off to a rocky start on July 5, as train travellers had to take a bus from Vancouver to Kamloops because of the Lytton wildfire.

“Our first actual trip with guests on was on July 6 and we headed towards Banff,” Dergousoff added. “So we have been taking some international bookings and I think it’s going to start to flow. I know things are starting to open up, it’s a little slow getting across, but it’s good news for tourism and just for everyone that wants to start travelling again.”

The luxury train operations is asking people who were scheduled to travel on trains that were suspended earlier in the season to visit the rebooking page. They earlier said people affected by the delayed start to the season in Canada will be given a future travel credit equivalent to 110 per cent of the amount they paid.

In a normal year, the Rocky Mountaineer relies heavily on international tourists with an estimated economic spin-off of nearly $50 million in Kamloops.