donnawho

Thinking of taking a train from the east side of Detroit (Windsor, ON) to Montreal, sightseeing a few days, and then another train to visit Quebec. How long is the journey of each leg and are there any express trains that don't stop on Toronto? How is the scenery thru this route? This would be next summer or early next fall...

Daniel_Williams

Hi donnawho,

It's about 5 hours by train from Toronto to Montreal, depending when you take the train. I do believe to get from Windsor to Montreal, it will require a layover in Toronto. Montreal to Quebec City is 3 hours by train. The Toronto to Montreal part of the trip has some lovely lake Ontario views; Montreal to Quebec City other than leaving Montreal and arriving in Quebec City is pretty uneventful flat land by and large.

Best wishes, D. Williams

Southam

VIA Rail, which operates the passenger service, estimates its fastest service Windsor-Montreal at just slightly over 11 hours; the slowest is 12 and a half hours. That includes at least an hour and a half wait at Union Station in Toronto. Toronto is unavoidable.
There are two levels of service, with the VIA One, or business, class including a reserved seat, drinks and a quite decent three-course meal. It also provides access to the new and quite spacious lounge at Union Station, currently under a massive renovation.
The countryside from Windsor to London is rich, lush farmland but also as flat as anywhere on the planet.
http://www.viarail.ca/
The train station in Windsor, curiously, is due south of downtown Detroit. The city operates an occasional bus from Detroit to the centre of Windsor, through the connecting tunnel. Another bus, Crosstown 2, would put you near the Windsor train station. http://www.citywindsor.ca/residents/...-and-Maps.aspx

eliztravels2

Via Rail often has seat sales, so keep an eye on their website or join the loyalty program, Preference, to get regular emails updating you on the deals.

almcd

Southam has really said it all. In order to arrive in Montreal at a decent time, you really have to leave Windsor at around 6.00am and you will arrive in Montreal about 5.10pm. If you are able to afford the Via One fare, you get breakfast and lunch with wine and Chocolates thrown in and it will certainly help to pass the time. With that early train, you remain on the train while they clean it and change crews. On the return journey leaving around 10am, you have the choice of changing trains in Toronto, which is an hour faster, or staying on the same train. In the Fall, the scenery would include splendid tree colours. Both cities are great places to visit , despite the length of the train journey.

donnawho

This is all very helpful info, thanks!