Rocky Mountaineer has cancelled its First Passage to the West departures up to and including 27 August due to wildfires in British Columbia.

The train operator said a government emergency order prevented guests from staying in hotels for non-essential reasons in several communities, including Kamloops, one of its overnight locations.

In an update on its website, Rocky Mountaineer said it had been unable to locate suitable alternative accommodation and, due also to intermittent closures of the rail line, it had cancelled its Banff/Lake Louise to Vancouver and Vancouver to Banff/Lake Louise departures.

Passengers will receive a future travel credit.

In a statement, Rocky Mountaineer said it was trying to seek alternative overnight accommodation for departures after 27 August on this route for the duration of the emergency order, which last until 4 September to free up beds for evacuated residents.

Trains are continuing to operate its Journey Through the Clouds route, using alternative overnight accommodation, although the operator warned that travel might be slower than usual due to temperature-related speed limitations and visibility and outdoor air quality might be affected due to the wildfires.