chicago toronto, by train
 

This is but the first question of what may be several. My wife and I are thinking of the "Canadian" tour from Toronto to Vancouver next September, as part of a trip from Orlando, FL to Chicago to Toronto and from Vancouver to Seattle and back to Florida.

Can anyone give us some info on a train from Chicago, IL to Toronto?

Hi Joevainella

There is no train direct from Chicago to Toronto. The only direct train service from the USA to Toronto goes from New York City.

This said, I went from Chicago to Toronto "by train" by taking Amtrak's Lakeshore Limited overnight as far as Buffalo; from Buffalo, I cabbed to Niagara Falls, NY ($65 I think I paid), crossed the border by foot and caught one of the roughly hourly buses from the Niagara Falls, ON depot to Toronto (alternatively, you could wait for a train from Buffalo or Niagara Falls to Toronto, but they're less frequent). Another possibility would be to catch one of Amtrak's Michigan services from Chicago to Detroit, somehow (cab?) across to Windsor and catch the regular train services from Windsor-Toronto. I've never attempted the latter...

Have fun! Daniel Williams

Thanks, Daniel. I think you've just convinced me to fly.

How about a train from Vancouver to Seattle???

You could take the train from Chicago to Detroit, and then take a cab across the river to Windsor for the Via Rail train to Toronto.

However, I think I'd prefer to fly. Take Porter Airlines from Midway to Toronto City Centre airport, thus avoiding both O'Hare and Pearson airports.

I've taken VIA to Stratford, Ontario - it continues on to Sarnia which is across the river from Port Huron, Michigan - there's an Amtrak from there to Chicago.

It's been a few years but the train I caught back from Stratford had a least two Amtrak cars on it so you might want to check with Amtrak.

Hi Joe

There is a train from Vancouver-Seattle (twice daily I believe, with supplemental bus services if the times don't suit you). It's called "Cascades". I've never taken this one.

Sorry I dissuaded you there from your plan. I actually had fun crossing the border by foot, rolling my luggage behind me (with a pretty lovely view from the bridge of Niagara River & Falls, half in the USA and half in Canada) and then rolling my luggage along River Road to the bus station, but I can see how this would not appeal to a lot of people ;).

Best wishes,

Daniel

Here's what I was talking about (from wikipedia) - so it was 2003 or 2004 when I last went to Stratford:

"Blue Water is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak as part of its Michigan Services. The 319-mile (513 km) line connects Port Huron, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois.

It was inaugurated by Amtrak in 1974 to run between the two cities. Between 1982 and 2004, this route was replaced by International Limited, and was operated jointly by Canadian VIA Rail and Amtrak between Chicago and Toronto. On April 25, 2004, International Limited was discontinued by Amtrak due to long delays associated with customs inspections at the U.S./Canada border; Amtrak restored the Blue Water service between Chicago and Port Huron on that same date. VIA Rail still operates trains on the former International Limited route as far west as Sarnia, which is across the border from Port Huron. Blue Water is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Transportation."

We took the train home from NYC last time we went and it was horrible.

If you're going to fly, definitely take lavenderye's suggestion and fly Porter Airlines. There's a direct flight from Chicago to Toronto and it's a lovely way to fly -- you'll be treated like you're in first class and you'll fly into the tiny island airport which is a three-minute ferry ride (run by Porter) to downtown Toronto.

www.flyporter.com

I believe Amtrak added trains for Buffalo-Toronto last spring... also ViaRail does Niagara-Toronto... So check Chicago to Buffalo to Toronto... good luck!

Thank you all. I'll let you know how I make out.