I Took Amtrak To Canada, Even Though It Doesn't Go There

Getting to Canada by train is a multi-step process...and not without a few setbacks! From the Keystone to the Empire Service to GO Transit, join me as I wander from Lancaster to Toronto.
Classy Whale - at-least-weekly adventures, featuring trains and more!

[@MilesinTransit]

9:12 "Caleb didn't do his research"

[@ntcrawford722]

Clearly he didn't

[@jacktattersall9457]

To be fair, WEGO is interesting. It is not the municipal transit authority for the area (NIagara Region Tranist, but they don't serve the river well) but the visitor transportation system of the Niagara Parks Commission, the provincial crown corporation which operates the parks and tourism venues on the Canadian side. Thus most of their clientele will get passes through the place they're staying at or buy it as park of a tour package or individually at a tourism centre. They also only sell day and two-day passes, no single trip tickets.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Yeah what she said about the island's castle exploding is true. I first learned about it on a show called Secrets of New York. A guy named Francis Bannerman VI purchased the island in 1900 as a storage facility for his military surplus business and built a castle in 1901 inspired by his Scottish heritage (though he was born in Northern Ireland) as a residence. He died in 1918 and the explosion happened two years later when 200 pounds of shells and powder exploded. The NY state government has owned the island since 1967. Two years after the state government purchased it, a fire destroyed the floors and roofs of the arsenal. While still state property, it's under the care of the Bannerman Castle Trust which has made the island safe to visit through tours for tourists and volunteers alike.

[@AutoGamerZ_]

It feels like almost everything that could've gone wrong here went wrong here, but just barely not bad enough to actually destroy your journey into Canada. - It did turn into a lovely video. By the way: I only discovered your channel recently, and I've got to say: You've quickly turned into one of my favourite public transport youtubers.

[@ClassyWhale]

Thanks! That really means a lot. I hope you stick around for my adventures in Toronto...rumor has it the next video has a special guest 😉

[@davidburrow5895]

This was cool to see. Probably my most interesting trip to Canada involved taking a city bus through the tunnel between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit. It's weird to cross an international border on a city bus.

[@Canleaf08]

Interesting. Very interesting! I crossed the Ontario / Quebec border with STO city busses from Gatineau a couple of times just recently and it was intersting to see what transit card works there and what doesn’t.

[@blackman7437]

Loving the unplanned Miles In Transit™ moment of taking local transit to Toronto, although I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get the Blue Night busses as a bonus

[@johnsmart964]

The night buses would have been interesting!

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

I'm not sure where he was staying, but it's possible that if he'd continued the whole way on transit he would have taken the 301 Queen Blue Night Streetcar from Long Branch to downtown. Or maybe he would have taken the 24/7 regional bus service from Mississauga to Pearson Airport, then Blue Night buses into Toronto.

[@Humulator]

I was quite sad he didn't take a toronto bus, the city i live in!

[@pr3sident_skr00b]

I'm glad that you remembered your passport!

[@stuartm6069]

Loved the Video..... had to Laugh at the Twins from Syracuse joke. seems like your trip was a Shakepeare Play "The Comedy of Errors" or was it more like the Broadway show " the Boys from Syracuse" ? lol.

[@ClassyWhale]

FINALLY. AFTER ALMOST A YEAR SOMEONE GETS THE REFERENCE!!! It was the Shakespeare one fwiw :)

[@NEC859]

I have never ridden on the Empire Service to Niagara Falls I’ve always wanted to looks beautiful great video my friend 😊

[@Token_Nerd]

In Typical Miles in Transit Fashion, everything went wrong.

[@ClassyWhale]

I feel like Miles would know to get on the platform when the train is supposed to arrive

[@Token_Nerd]

@@ClassyWhale He would most certainly stop and do some music shit tho if given the chance and we both know that.

[@MilesinTransit]

@@Token_Nerd Hey, let's remember that I've never missed a train due to a music diversion...not that I haven't come close...

[@Token_Nerd]

@@MilesinTransit to be fair Caleb didn’t miss his train, but he came close.

[@deanchapman1824]

It's the Tappan Zee Bridge. Most of us still call it the Tappan Zee Bridge. Backdoor shady shenanigans were involved. That's why it's still contentious.

[@deanchapman1824]

Wow, you absolutely ignored the Hudson Valley and Erie Canal!!!

[@history_leisure]

9:49 must have been Canada’s Wonderland

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Canada's Wonderland is over 100km from Niagara Falls

[@Maunico0809]

I was just at Niagara Falls for Memorial Day Weekend, the Amtrak Maple Leaf won’t be returning to Canada any time soon, until restrictions loosen

[@johnchambers8528]

Thanks for another interesting video. As usual you always find interesting local transit to make connections. I have been on that route many years ago. In fact Amtrak was still using Buffalo Central station which you showed from the train. At that time there was an international train that consisted of two RDC’s operated by the Tontoro, Hamilton and Buffalo Railroad which was a Canadian Pacific owned railroad. It was a nice ride into Toronto and until the service was reinstated by Amtrak there was no service to Toronto from Buffalo for a few years. You showed that there is an alternate way to get to Toronto although with many transfers. I look forward to seeing your travels in Canada in the follow up videos.

[@delibakerytravel]

Just Fabulous!! Thank You!! 💖

[@stickynorth]

Now that's an adventurous beginning to your trip to Canada!

[@johnsmart964]

Fantastic journey, very interesting and impressive. Great to see the Niagara Falls and the scenery along the journey. It was a pity that the people on the GoTrain didn't know that it went to Union, maybe it was because it was Friday!

[@jacktattersall9457]

Yeah, sure seems like a pity. All the eastbound trains on the Lakeshore West line go to Union Station (before continuing as a Lakeshore East line service to Oshawa), it is the centre of the network.

[@BCAmtrak1]

Amtrak owns the tracks from Poughkeepsie to just east of Amsterdam, therefore the speed limit is roughly the same as the Keystone and parts of the Northeast Corridor

[@2x.Zy.]

Classy whale Ik I’m late on watching the vid but you should go to nova scotica Canada and take Halifax transit for a vid

[@alimazimmer3819]

I rode on this route 4 years ago and enjoyed it very much.

[@robertcartwright4374]

Oh man, you were misdirected off the last train of the night!

[@adambuesser6264]

I wonder when Amtrak will start going to Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver? Hopefully by 2023 or sooner.

[@jessica45qt1]

Toronto they have resumed trains from dc to new york were you can take a train from NY to Toronto. Montreal There not expecting to resume that service anytime soon.That Canadian border stop that train has to go thru is closed so that also stops the train from rolling out that way unless they reroute.

[@Humulator]

VIA rail is the operator in canada, basically canada's Amtrak. Amtrak only goes to toronto so no changing of trains has to happen. Montreal is too far, any improvments would be for VIA not Amtrak The vancouver however would not be a stretch.

[@blackwatchbandstudio]

There is an Amtrak line to Vancouver, Amtrak Cascades! The last leg over the border was switched to Amtrak buses during the pandemic but as of March 2023 full round trips between Portland, OR and Vancouver, BC were made available again

[@tomfields3682]

Let's get Amtrak up to Winnipeg too!

[@andrewohare8550]

The train goes straight to Toronto now. They restarted back in September. Im actually going to NYC with Amtrak from T. O

[@ClassyWhale]

Hope you have a good trip!

[@andrewohare8550]

@@ClassyWhale I'm actually nervous. Excited yes but nervous. All the time i went to New York i went with family and friends now im going solo. Han Solo, haha, sorry i was trying to make a pun. Actually im trying to do a vlog, just for me as a hobby, because well im a happy nerd dude, but yea, oh man i hope all goes well.

[@ClassyWhale]

@@andrewohare8550 I remember my first solo trip - it was a college visit to Gordon College in Boston, and my mom treated me to a ticket on the Acela :D I think you're in for a really fun adventure! Make sure you have a solid plan and familiarize yourself with how everything works (which I'm guessing you're doing by watching this video), give yourself lots of cushion time to catch trains/buses, and be willing to embrace the slightly unpredictable nature of traveling by train! Best of luck.

[@andrewohare8550]

@@ClassyWhale wow dude. The Acela. I love those trains. I see they have new fleet. They look amazing. Like trains you see in Europe. I'm happy to see that in North America finally. Via rail got some new trains too. Sorry i love trains dude. Lol, kool thanks for the tip, oh yes i am trying to prep as best as possible with all the docs for cross border, and i memorized the lines i need to take around Manhattan. Im trying dude. Let see how good i do when the day comes. Use the force young padawan. But oh yes. I am very much looking forward to this journey

[@jimbo1637]

1:47 I used to take the Pennsylvanian on a semi regular basis when I was in college and the pitch black layover in Philly was always elite.

[@casey6556]

I was actually planning to do this in a few weeks as part of a Montreal-Washington DC trip, but (1) making the connection from Toronto *to* New York would be more annoying as far as I could tell and (2) they started selling direct tickets literally the day before I booked travel.

[@hulltim2]

That was interesting - my next train trip will probably be to Canada, though in my case I’d be catching VIA just across the border in Windsor, ON. Wish we had a pedestrian crossing from Detroit-Windsor, or at least could get the Tunnel Bus across the border restored. As of now, the only way to cross the Detroit-Windsor border is a car… Hoping you have another video about Toronto transit coming soon…

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

The real opportunity is that the Detroit's huge abandoned Michigan Central station is right next to the Detroit-Windsor rail tunnel, and the Ford Motor Company is currently renovating the station's highrise tower into a Ford office building. They are also leaving space so that the complex could be revived as a train station. The obvious opportunity would be to also build a customs facility so that VIA and Amtrak services could directly connect there.

[@dimanimatedtakes]

Wow, that's a crazy start to your Canadian Adventures! So... they told you the train wasn't going to Union, but it actually was?? Was a bit confused there.

[@ClassyWhale]

Another passenger told me it was not going to Union...GO runs a skeleton crew it seems

[@AutumnBosco]

@@ClassyWhale If it was in passenger service and was heading in the direction of Toronto and was about to leave at the time that the last train to Toronto was scheduled to leave, I would've ignored the passenger saying it wasn't going to Union. But I am glad Ontario is competent enough to have another option to get you to Toronto, but it would have been better if there was some direct GO buses after the last train.

[@dimanimatedtakes]

@@ClassyWhale Was it one of the same ones that you showcased in the video earlier?? Or did that one stay on? Also.... weird! note to self: take GO Trains after I renew my US Passport so I can experience them

[@jacktattersall9457]

@@ClassyWhale GO only has one CSA on its trains in the accessible coach (fifth car from the locomotive). Unlike US commuter rail systems which have conductors, GO operates under a European-style proof of payment system with random fare inspections by uniformed GO Transit Revenue Protection Officers and/or Special Constables.

[@ToviahBotwinik]

I'm about to do thus trip in reverse, more or less, from Toronto to Boston. Also in the middle of the night lol 🤦‍♂️

[@MeaLynk]

9:12 as a local i will never understand why the WEGO green line is the way it is WEGO is a operated by both the Niagara Parks Commission and Niagara Region Transit (formally Niagara Falls Transit before the merger) The RED and BLUE lines are operated by Niagara Region Transit, they use both WEGO passes and Niagara Region passes (and cash) The GREEN line ONLY uses the WEGO passes. and you can't buy single ride WEGO passes, only a day pass or more. On one hand it makes sense why RED and BLUE use both because they go into the city while the GREEN line goes up and down the river. But why does the GREEN line have to be nearly impossible for locals and tourists who don't do their research to ride xP I hope they fix this in the future after whatever agreement exists is up, the GREEEEEEN line would be so useful if it was actually easy and affordable to pay for.

[@transitimprover]

At the border, does it feel like a major difference between leaving the United States and entering Canada? I mean, does I feel like two separate things or one seamless thing?

[@ClassyWhale]

There's clear entry and exit facilities on either side of the bridge, but it's pretty streamlined

[@Zambi75]

Nice Video!! Though I will say as someone from upstate NY, hearing your pronunciations of cities was rough lol

[@ClassyWhale]

I guess I need to stop complaining about people who mispronounced Lancaster'

[@history_leisure]

Seriously, Pitt to Niagara is like obvious

[@thefareplayer2254]

Direct Amtrak service to Toronto Union Station from NYC would’ve been much easier for you and much less interesting for the video lol

[@theodorepeterloff9169]

You can take the maple leaf to toronto from NYC

[@ClassyWhale]

Better: I'm planning to ride it only on the Canadian side, so I can say I took the longest Amtrak journey possible outside the US

[@Josephcavagnaro]

3:30 GALAXYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[@AMPProf]

LORDY LOO YOU ALONE OMG LOLZZZ

[@deanchapman1824]

The Maple Leaf does go all the way to Toronto.

[@ClassyWhale]

it didn't when I shot this!

[@deanchapman1824]

@ClassyWhale correct. I was just on it last week. Not sure when full service was restored.

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video

[@jaygatz4335]

I took the Amtrak train from Toronto to New York, and wondered why the windows were so small. I was awed by Buffalo terminal when we passed it. BTW, The Boys From Syracuse has one of my favourite scores.

[@Jonathan-Adames-402]

10:53 Cab Car

[@seamusmckeon9109]

It does now!

[@MassbyTrain]

It’s Friday so yes I am 😂

[@BdManus]

Looks like you had a great adventure in another country. Excellent video.

[@CABOOSEBOB]

It’s the fuckin tappan zee!

[@northlanderdude]

how was the border crossing? still have to do that vax pass b.s.??

[@Steve-tj9on]

I've taken this trip( Niagara Falls NY) via Amtrak in late June,2021.

[@douganderson4568]

Amtrak goes from NYC to Toronto daily.

[@ClassyWhale]

it didn't at the time of the video

[@lewnwdc]

What grade level and subject(s) do you teach? Where does your transit interest come from?

[@ClassyWhale]

At the time of filming, I was a middle-school special education assistant. However, I have since moved on towards being an occupational therapy student :)

[@Token_Nerd]

20 hrs aint that bad tbh.

[@FalconsEye58094]

if you're interested in checking out some abandoned stations or still existing former great ones, Buffalo didn't always have an Amshack, its former terminal still exists in decent shape and a lot of work is being done to it to keep it up. I hope trains will come back because that would be a spectacle, but definitely check that one out at some point if you can Update: I only had to keep watching the video another 3 seconds before I saw you knew about it already😅

[@AMPProf]

THE ONLY GUY ON THE TRAIN!!!! UHH ERR OHH Lets joke nawww Wtf Canada just uhhuh

[@lewnwdc]

Where are you going to graduate school?

[@ClassyWhale]

Carlow University!

[@lewnwdc]

@@ClassyWhale as I learned in a subsequent video!

[@quinterofelixchidez]

Wat paper work do you need a I'd an birthcerticate ok ..

[@randomtransitadventures]

5:57 i got uh uh um idk

[@ntcrawford722]

Ummmm obviously Amtrak does and always did even back in the day so your title is incorrect and you need to correct it

[@ClassyWhale]

It didn't go there when I filmed this as explained fairly early on in the video