🇨🇦🇺🇸What's it like to Take 13hrs Amtrak Train from Toronto to New York? || The Maple Leaf

◆VIA Rail & AmtrakThe Maple Leaf, Coach Class (Toronto Union Station→New York Penn Station)
◆I'm a Japanese train enthusiast and stayed in the US🇺🇸 and Canada🇨🇦 for a month.
✔︎🇺🇸US and 🇨🇦Canada in 2023
• 🇯🇵🇺🇸Comfortable 10hrs ...
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[@tomburns7544]

The thing I envy about Japan is the courtesy and consideration for fellow travellers that seems to be standard. Very different over here, unfortunately. I am sorry you had to go through that, Kuga. But thanks again for another great video!

[@sebastianmineo1313]

Their train system is a much more smooth ride, the trains are very well maintained and CLEAN. You'd never find a door rattling like on this train. I'd always try to convince my company to give me an extra day so I could train to my final destination there rather than fly. Never did a sleeper, but often Green Car, aka first class. Very helpful, friendly staff. Just an awesome experience.

[@3506Dodge]

That's Amtrak, not all americans. Amtrak had absurdly bad passenger service.

[@adifferenttake8351]

yes Japan has a very much more polite culture and for that reason Amtrak should require folks to use air plugs when using their laptops. as it is, you can get air buds for as little as a couple of dollars.

[@vita_travel888]

12 hours for this distance is simply brutal.

[@smartrubberchicken]

This is what happens when you rent tracks from freight company.

[@WalkingAccountant]

Its a 9 hour drive. Id take the train.

[@andrewisvrycool]

@@WalkingAccountantThis train takes about 2-3 hours longer than it should because everybody onboard needs to go through customs in Niagara Falls. If I was doing this route, I would take it from Buffalo where it only takes about 8 hours from Buffalo to NY Penn

[@jamiesmith3396]

@@andrewisvrycooleven still, in the UK a train from Edinburgh to London, which is about the same distance, takes 5 hours or less and that isn’t even really a high speed train

[@Matthew-p2h]

@@jamiesmith3396 How would that help people travel from Toronto to New York City?

[@metropod]

The locomotive change in Albany is the result of New York law prohibiting diesel powered trains in Penn Station and Grand Central. The new locomotive was a GE P32-ACDM, which can take power from the third rails used by the MTA commuter trains. The State and Amtrak and looking to replace them with new dual mode versions of the Siemens “Charger” type locomotives.

[@ocshaljufrian6109]

Try it bro, you can ride the highest speed train for the first time in Southeast Asia. The highest speed is 350 kilometers per hour, the Indonesian fast train Jakarta - Bandung, the newest, most sophisticated in Southeast Asia, the first,.the way to the beautiful and comfortable and beautiful and cool and cool city of Bandung, thank you sis and bro..*,**

[@OofusTwillip]

In North America, train travel is very slow, because most of the tracks are owned by freight companies, which let passenger trains travel on them, for a fee. Freight trains take priority, so passenger trains have to wait for them to go by.

[@eottoe2001]

Despite that, the train was filled! There is a demand for rail. If it could have been non-stop and 80mph all the way it should have been only a 6-hour trip. If the rails and crossing were up to it, Amtrak could do that distance in 4.5 hours. You are right about the freight companies. TY for the comment.

[@bobmetcalfe9640]

So that's why it takes thirteen hours to go 500 miles.😁

[@eottoe2001]

@@bobmetcalfe9640 isn't that insane? A lot of this route isn't rated for anything near high speed. Road crossings and signaling are another issue. Even if those were resolved, most freight routes can only go 80 miles per hour under FRA rules. In the US we need to remember that a lot of intercity rail isn't HS but runs under 75mph or 120kph which is a doable speed and then some with current Amtrak equipment.

[@Beaverboy361]

​@@youdontknowme2915by law, yes, but in practice, no

[@adhikm1885]

Ah I see.. I am just bout to ask why the train so slow until I saw your comment. In Java island Indonesia, from Jakarta to Surabaya (700km) took about 8.5 hours with fastest regular train.

[@Hemant.s]

There is a huge demand for high speed rail in Canada and the US. I hope to one day ride those rails 🤞🏽

[@noth1ngsensible]

Public transit in the US is so grim, I’m sorry you’ve had to endure it. Visited japan last month and the ease and frequency of transit was astounding.

[@PeaceToAll-sl1db]

Joe Biden is bad for America

[@ocshaljufrian6109]

Try it bro, you can ride the highest speed train for the first time in Southeast Asia. The highest speed is 350 kilometers per hour, the Indonesian fast train Jakarta - Bandung, the newest, most sophisticated in Southeast Asia, the first,.the way to the beautiful and comfortable and beautiful and cool and cool city of Bandung, thank you sis and bro..*,**

[@OofusTwillip]

The green & white trains at Union Station are GO Trains, the local passenger trains. GO is short for "Government of Ontario", which started the service in 1967. If you come back to Toronto, you can visit the Roundhouse Museum (which has one of the original single-level GO Trains), and the Halton Radial Railway Museum (which has many old transit vehicles) in Halton.

[@ocshaljufrian6109]

Try it bro, you can ride the highest speed train for the first time in Southeast Asia. The highest speed is 350 kilometers per hour, the Indonesian fast train Jakarta - Bandung, the newest, most sophisticated in Southeast Asia, the first,.the way to the beautiful and comfortable and beautiful and cool and cool city of Bandung, thank you sis and bro..*,**

[@OofusTwillip]

Several years ago, there were plans for passengers to be able to go through U.S. Customs & Immigration at Union Station, instead of at the border. However, the plans were cancelled when the pandemic hit.

[@ozgirl45]

I have read that they are still talking about it for Montreal. It would make a lot of sense but would only work if there were no stops before the border which is the case for the Montreal-NYC route.

[@Mo.Jo.]

I took this train as a broke student in 2010 from NYC to Toronto - ever heard of the term beggars cant be choosers? I was a beggar and i still wouldn't choose it back then! I couldn't afford a tablet, laptop or an iPhone back then and i had to cut down on luggage so i didn't even think of bringing a good book. It was super noisy and i was sleep deprived already having trekked my way up from Orlando to NYC to get to Toronto, so i just sat there looking at the depressing winter terrain and being bored for 12 hours. Oh man, even then i hated travelling on this. Now looking back, i can afford first class plane tickets to Orlando and back anytime. The things you have to go through in life.

[@maxshenkwrites]

The ride south from Albany into NYC along the Hudson is pretty any time of day, but especially at twilight in a west facing seat. Hope you got to enjoy the sunset.

[@Emcedric64]

I live in Toronto and many times I visited NYC, I have a brother who lives there, but I've never take the train, just plane and bus. However now that I watched your video I really want to give it a try. I also hope to visit your country one day. Greetings!

[@FelineStorm]

Ok so when I guessed the Maple Leaf was next, I was just off by one video, ha ha. I really hope you got to see Niagara Falls on the trip! If you ever come back to the states, I would suggest you look at the Grand Canyon railroad from Williams AZ up to the canyon, it is…quite the experience. Thanks as always for a great and relaxing video! Keep it up! :)

[@LeonardAshworth-xm8zi]

They should introduce quiet cars on trains in America. Ones that always have working lights, non-schizophrenic doors, and muffins that cost less than $49.99 US. That would be nice. Cheers for the upload. 😉

[@nataliajimenez1870]

The sleeper cars tend to be much quieter

[@Beaverboy361]

Amtrak does have Quiet Cars, at least on the Northeast Regional

[@LeonardAshworth-xm8zi]

@Beaverboy361 Good to hear! Book me a ticket and 28% of a gourmet muffin - pay day's next week...😳

[@aj0d7A02e0w]

I've been watching your videos for quite awhile and this is the first time I can really relate. Unfortunately most of our public transport is crowded like this, and chaos and loud noices, etc. You would probably die from cultural shock after trying our overnight train economy class. For the context I live in Russia. Really hope someday I could visit Japan just to experience public transport of another level 😄

[@Daneelro]

The map was wrong. The route you drew would be the old Lackawanna route, but you went the old New York Central route (east to Albany then south along the Hudson River).

[@sw4692]

If I knew you were going to be in Toronto area, I would have recommended you to go to Markham area for some of the best Chinese foods in the Northeast area of North America. This is due to the Hong Kong immigrants who went there in the mid 1990's. I live in NYC and I say our restaurants don't compare.

[@JaapFilius]

Nice video!! Thank you for that. It is kid of crazy to me how slow this journey was in compare to what we are used to here in Europe. I travel a lot by trains, including international trips, and to me this is looking all very slow and the train looks very, very, basic.

[@eottoe2001]

A slow Shinkansen could cover the distance in 2 hours. LOL (BTW, when I was a kid all you needed to cross the border was a driver's license, and failing that they would ask your name,, where you were born, and where you lived. Mom usually brought our birth certificates; they were never needed. PS No barbed wire border spots either.)

[@abdoulayesyh4415]

C’etait La belle vie de l’époque

[@roger0929]

Oh say can you see, the land of barbed wire and the home of the walls! The absolute irony is that more people try to enter Canada illegally from 'murica than the other way around.

[@eottoe2001]

@@roger0929 One of your fellow Canadians told me that the border changes under Bush and the walls weren't there to keep people out but to keep us in. You're right.

[@liverpoolfanintoront]

Hope you enjoyed your time in my city. Thank you for the video

[@asan1050]

ThanksMuch! Kuga's Travel!

[@helenel4126]

You're probably back in Japan, so posting this is surely too late, but if you took the Silver Meteor or the Silver Star, my town is on the route of those trains. I would meet you, and bring you a quick lunch!

[@Mary6661]

Wow someone is a little desperate for the kuga

[@mikehibbett3301]

I hope the hotel was relaxing! Thank you

[@annie80]

Have the people never heard of headphones? Very selfish to disturb others.

[@PuFFiN.0]

So no one can ever be selfish? We can't have that moment? Not that i condone talking on speaker phone, but learn to not care about what others think sometimes

[@happycook6737]

I'm American and every.single.time I use Amtrak there are rude passengers talking all night or making noises on their devices. I absolutely hate it.

[@igorge]

@@PuFFiN.0not only selfish but illegal.

[@RoulinBrooks]

A VIA Rail train departed on time? I've just witnessed a miracle.

[@sharonsomers]

It was Amtrack.

[@sunflowerad1778]

I remember taking the Amtrak train from Memphis to Chicago, IL. It was the WORST experience ever! So I feel your pain, lol! Safe travels🤗

[@Charlie1776_]

So much great video.

[@mizu_the_floatzel]

When you do pick to fly in the u.s. and Canada try porter airlines it flies at Newark international airport terminal B the planes they use are small for the Newark to Toronto route and feel like you're being pushed around . Oh as for how Amtrak is well just say that train car your in as be refurbished multiple times over the last say couple years. Most of the rolling stock on the Northeast region of Amtrak date back to the possibly 80s. I believe they've been trying to get new rolling stock for the Northeast region for years but that's a different story

[@patriciahall2223]

Thank you great informative video will be taking this train in the Fall ....

[@danopticon]

That’s a pretty no-frills dining car … on the Lakeshore Limited (the NYC-Chicago train) there are at least lovely etched glass partitions between the bench seats; all they serve, however, are microwaved boxed meals. These days the only way to get the full experience of 40 years ago is to take a route west from Chicago, then you’ll still get the meals cooked onboard and the lovely observation cars.

[@peters1127]

Thanks for the ride.

[@merriklopez4350]

First love your videos

[@KenanTurkiye]

Interesting, don't you all enjoy railroad trams, trains etc are just so cool take a ride in my ''transportation'' folder, (folder 2 in playlists) :)

[@dcrom]

Welcome to the US of A, where chaos abounds. I hope your visit is a good one. NYC is a GREAT town, but needs time....I wish I coould have welcomed you myself....I would start with apologies! 💜

[@Garfunkels_Funky_Uncle]

Unfortunately, the coach on Amtrak is bad, that's why I always heard people saying you should get a sleeper car, they're quieter and you have an amazing view out your window.

[@happycook6737]

Sleeper cars add $200-$1000 to the one way trip and that is for the cheapest sleeper car. I don't know many that can afford it. I used to do sleeper car on a 10 hour stretch because I was taking the train to the airport city. Very expensive and run down.

[@lawrencelewis2592]

I've taken that train several times. the customs inspection was while the train sat on the bridge for almost 2 hours, you didn't have to leave the train.

[@BoBurson]

Thanks for a another cool video. Is that a Seiko Turtle on your wrist?

[@123benny4]

I've taken the train, and taken the bus to NYC, and both were brutal, especially at customs. The plane is the way to go, and land in Newark, and take the bus into Manhattan. Penn Station is a nightmare, but once you step outside, it's New York! You mentioned that you should have taken a plane. I thought you were a train enthusiast.

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. Finally you try this train.

[@littlemiss_76]

What a adventure that was.😏

[@gh0stkat440]

“Inside the train is absolute chaos” smh 😂 Can the “KarenConductor be any louder?!?”🤣

[@amandaregis313]

Hubby and I were thinking of doing this to get to our cruise port of Boston, but it would arrive so late that we'd have to spend a night in a hotel, on top of the night we'd spend in Boston before our embarkation day. Instead, we're doing Toronto to Montreal by Via and overnight Greyhound to Boston. Plenty of time for supper, and the Montreal bus station has lockers for our suitcases. Once in Boston, we can leave our luggage at the hotel and hunt down some strong coffee and breakfast, and be tourists till check in.

[@Niteskate1]

Thank you again Kuga, another great video, I wonder if Business Class would have been any better?

[@haweater1555]

Apparently not really, on this route, if you pay for business class you get a roomier seat but no meal included in fare.

[@danopticon]

The roomier seats are quite nice, though, and in business class more people seem to respect the quiet car’s rules. I do usually opt for the bump-up to business class, even if it’s a little pricier and meals aren’t included, just because i appreciate the quiet and the extra room. However, Amtrak have eliminated business class on some routes - Chicago to Milwaukee, for instance - and I do sorely miss it!

[@ИринаОрлова-о9ъ]

Интересное путешествие!

[@downunderrob]

That Karen on the PA system sounded nasty! 😅

[@roger0929]

Typical Metro NYC Italian accent. That's why everyone else in the world considers them to be rude cuz their accent is so horrible.

[@kathleenwharton2139]

Good Job..As Always! 😊❤

[@Doodlesthegreat]

It looks like what you had for your second meal was a ham & cheese submarine sandwich (depending on regional preferences, they can also be called a grinder/hoagie/etc), and $19 is typical for travel food in the US. You'll likely get a better meal out of that hot dog cart you can see at the end of your video. Not sure how long you spend in NYC, but I hope you got to go to at least one good restaurant while there, preferably a proper pizzeria or other Italian location. (There's other excellent restaurants as well, I'm just partisan for my ancestor's cuisine. 👩‍🍳)

[@GVids721]

hi, kuga. thanks for sharing the vid ❤

[@jacqudace]

Thanks!😊

[@kugastravel5180]

Wow, thank you!🤝

[@JUALIJU]

جميل اتمنى اجرب هذه الرحلة

[@cy_torrent]

Hope you went over trains on the NEC (Northeast Corridor). This is where trains in America are actually more competent and on time. If you did I’m excited to see your review and am happy you got to experience the good side of US Rail Travel lol Hope you come back another time to experience Brightline!

[@WaldoVonErich3]

Thanks for the video I enjoyed it. I did this trip twice in the 1990s to go and see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. On my first trip we didn’t get there early enough so could not get close to the ball drop, second trip went well, got a good spot except we had to stand for four hours!! Back then we were allowed to stay in our seats on the train while the customs agents came aboard and checked everyone. Can you tell me please the name of the hotel where you stayed in New York should I ever go back.

[@troykir]

For $180 bucks Canadian, a VIA Rail Turbo Train should be running this route to NYC. BS ticket prices.

[@margonaut]

This train is slow & stops often but I want to try it during autumn colours next October.

[@roachtoasties]

Not a mistake, but an experience even though slow. Coach seats on Amtrak are business class or better on a plane, and I can guarantee a plane would be more crowded, while sitting in economy with a bunch of Karens blasting their mouth's off. The Advantage of Amtrak is you go from downtown right into Manhattan. With a plane, you'll probably end up in Newark, where it's a shuttle bus or another train to get to Manhattan.

[@firehawk128]

I've done that trip by bus and I'm surprised because it's about the same time. I thought it'd be faster at least... at least it's easier than a bus!

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

10:31 what da lol funny door

[@mirzaahmed6589]

0:42 that's not the routing it takes at all. It goes all the way east to Albany, then south down to NYC.

[@bearwoody]

Early in the video you said, "Maybe I should have flown." But you never addressed that after you arrived in NYC. Was it worth it, or not?

[@winerek9695]

DONE.

[@harrygruber2302]

Let’s go , we want high speed trains already, what are you guys waiting for. Instead of thirteen hours we’ll knock it down to a hour

[@teambandicoottransit0824]

10:29 that happened once I was in Amtrak Cardinal Train from Cincinnati, OH to Philadelphia, PA

[@us1fedvet]

Brutal. You can drive it in eight hours, with ease. Unless a blizzard is cooking off Lake Erie/Ontario. And what’s with the Customs hassle? Ridiculous having to debark then get back on.

[@ropersonline]

I wonder if the lights-out thing at the end was a security measure and had to do with construction they don't want you to see?

[@foremanagriculture6108]

I am so sorry you took this train… if I had known you planned to do this, I would have talked you out of it.

[@rogeriomonteiro760]

134 USD in a coach car, in my opinion is expensive, it is also possible to reduce the travel time in about 3 hours making a better border control. In Europe, even befere the Schengen agreement, they were allready made in the train, avoiding the annoing waiting at the border. In fact 42 miles per hour is in actual standards ridiculous. Even in my country (Portugal) we make better times (62 miles per hour).

[@tbenny007]

Nice sharing, but just wonder your price CAD$183 is one way or round trip ? Thanks

[@ropersonline]

If you return to Canada, please consider taking the Tshiuetin train. Yes, seriously. I'm curious. (There is a Wikipedia article and an existing documentary short.)

[@Jasonvoorheesplace]

Wow! I can drive from Toronto to New York city in 8 hours Or I can drive to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 13 hours 12 hours seems pretty long. I'd rather drive

[@道内]

飛行機より列車での国境越えのほうが泥くさくって、 いかにも国境を跨ぎました‼️ってカンジがします。 バスならさらに感じます🤣

[@williamparker1085]

lot cheaper than the mess that flying has become and far more enjoyable

[@TMBpk]

You were better off walking out of Union Station and waiting for the shuttle bus that would take you to Toronto City Airport literally 5 minutes away from the station....you could hop on a flight and be at EWR in 1 hour. Haha.

[@CP-tq3hu]

Kuga you could try the Lapland Express, Helsinki to the Arctic Circle.

[@stevee4636]

In the US and Canada, you are hoping for "the" Best, not hoping for "My" Best. Lost in translation...

[@semyonbudyonny1895]

Who cares about your best?

[@Beaverboy361]

The noise level seems higher than what I usually experience on the Northeast Regional. Or maybe I'm just used to the noise and tuned it out.

[@sukamtibety4047]

Suasana nya indah sekali 13:19

[@coldharborsixtyfour39]

Why did everyone have to disembark at the border? They couldn't just walk through? Did you go back on the same train? Also, why did they change Engines in Albany?

[@ejdermercan]

Thnx nice video ^5s

[@marybumpass1374]

That ride looked like torture.

[@perhapsme988]

Should have the border controls at departure point either end... The journry would be 10~11 hours.

[@robertklose2140]

I'm not sure why you said that taking this train might have been "a mistake." It looks like you had a clean, comfortable ride (except for the rude people playing their movies out loud; but welcome to America). As long as you weren't in a hurry, it helps to remind oneself that the journey, and not the destination, is the reason for travel. And what was that talk about a "mental breakdown"?

[@extendedrange9755]

Amtrak's cheeseburger is quite nice, not sure if you ever tried it as part of your trip

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

woah nice kuga I recomend using NYCs Transit(MTA) as its the easier way to go to places

[@taniarossi7212]

❤❤❤❤

[@VulpisFoxfire]

Ah, people in crowded transportation, all with their videos turned up to full volume, with headphones apparently literally being a foreign concept. Welcome to the US. :-/

[@adifferenttake8351]

earphones or air buds should be required. for using laptops on Amtrak.

[@jinwang9030]

Can I bring my own food to eat on the train?

[@lazybut]

US Customs at the border are very picky and strict about meats and fruits that you taking across. Stick with the Tim Hortons donuts and muffins and you'll be fine. Buy food after you cross over.

[@kevincaldwell4707]

@03:27...might be your last time in Canada? Why so? We're the good North American neighbor...Sorry if our trains suck, that's a bane of our lives here too.

[@mrdisco1]

13 hours is completely ridiculous for that distance. Someone would have to be really afraid of flying to put up with that

[@sheismymom]

I think I would rather take the train than the bus I want to go to NYC next year

[@glennaa11]

flight is about 45 minutes in the air

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Boa tarde boa viagem trem amtrak

[@MacDKB]

Welcome to North America, where you get treated like garbage & pay for the privilege. I apologize for the crappy experience you had. And I agree: a plane would have been a better choice.

[@Charlie1776_]

Hope you enjoy New York!

[@DovidM-s4c]

America is a very backwsrds country in many ways

[@2Ensta]

I hate how people don't use headphones when they are watching movies on a train.

[@JohnLightle-c6x]

Flatley Garden

[@orangehoof]

I imagine the hotel room in New York cost more for one night than the train ride and meals.

[@maypui88]

I am come from Hong Kong I like y show thanks

[@mattm.2591]

People should not be allowed to watch, well, anything with the sound on while on any sort of public transport. Experiencing what you did would have driven me crazy. I don't understand why Amtrak allows that. Your map at the start of the video was really inaccurate unless the route has recently changed.

[@RoulinBrooks]

As you were leaving Canada and crossing over the bridge, you should have added gun shots audio as you crossed the border into the U.S.