posted
My new passport arrived in the mail today so VIA Rail Canada is once again open to me!
My previous passport expired in 2007 and I hadn't bothered to do anything about it..... until hearing on the radio one morning in early July that the rates for renewing a passport would be increasing $35.00 the following day.
Because my previous passport had been issued within the past 15 years, all I needed to do was fill out a relatively short form and submit it along with two photos, my expired passport, and a check.
Sooooooo Canada. I still need the Halifax train.... and I've never crossed the border (on a train anyway) at Niagra Falls..... hmnnn.
yukon11 Member # 2997
posted
I am glad, David, that the passport renewal is not difficult. It took me 3 stops at a passport office to get the initial one (I did not know they only accept original birth certificates, not a copies). My initial charge was around $90, so the $35 does not seem too bad.
So, what are your traveling plans for Canada? Are you using a Rail Pass? I see, now, that the USA Rail Pass is not accepted for "the Canadian portion of trains operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA" . What does that mean? What portions are jointly operated? It used to be that the Amtrak rail pass required you to take the VIA at some point.
I hope crossing the border at Niagra is as easy as it is to cross the border on the Cascade, on the way to Vancouver. BC. Much more pleasant than flying over with all the security hassle.
Richard
MDRR Member # 2992
posted
Richard, I think you misunderstood what he said about passport renewal. The price was INCREASING by $35 for renewals. I can assure you he did not pay $35 for the renewal...
Also, the Maple Leaf is an example of a jointly operated train, as Amtrak crews take it to NFL and then a VIA crew, including cafe attendant with Via food board for the trip to Toronto and the opposite in morning out of Toronto. The International (Chi-Toronto) used to be an example as well.
yukon11 Member # 2997
posted
OK, thanks for the correction, MDRR. An increase of $35.
Richard
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
That is correct..... a $35.00 increase.
My renewal was $75.00 on July 12 but effective July 13 that same renewal now costs $110.00. That was for the Passport Book only. The little card is cute (and cheaper) but I didn't want to limit myself to just Canada..... ten years is a long time and the opportunity to see Switzerland and Austria may present itself before 2020.
The North American Rail Pass which required travel on VIA and Amtrak I believe is no longer available. I interpret the fine print on Amtrak's pass now to mean that they may not be used for travel on the Canadian side of the border on any of the handful of trains which operate into Canada.
I have no immediate Canada plans but may very well try to get there in 2011. The Canadian is always appealing and I've never ridden the Ocean or the Hudson Bay train..... either of those would be worthwhile destinations.
Does anyone know whether VIA is doing a Canada only rail pass like they once did?
yukon11 Member # 2997
posted
Here is some info, from the VIA web site, on the Canadian Rail Pass:
New conditions for the VIA Canrailpass - System•Each Canrailpass - System comprises 7 credits, each of which is valid for a one-way trip in Economy class between two pre-determined cities (or points between, in either direction). Upgrades to other classes of service are not permitted. •One complimentary stopover on is allowed on each trip. In the case of multiple stopovers, the stopover of longest duration will be considered to be the complimentary stopover. •The Canrailpass - System and all travel tickets issued using a Canrailpass - System must be purchased at least three (3) days prior to departure date. •The number of seats available to Canrailpass - System users is limited and must be booked in “Economy – Supersaver: fare class. •Each Canrailpass - System credit is non-transferrable and is only valid for travel by the person in whose name the Canrailpass - System has been issued. Verification is automated and the first and last names of the passenger travelling must match the first and last names given at the time of purchase of the Canrailpass - System. You are required to show photo identification at any time upon request of a VIA employee. •Canrailpass - Systems that have never been used may be refunded (less a $50 service charge) provided the refund request takes place prior to the expiration date of the Canrailpass - System. Please note that booking a trip with a Canrailpass - System credit renders the Canrailpass - System as "used", even if the booking is cancelled prior to paper ticket issuance. •Bookings or train tickets issued using a Canrailpass - System are completely refundable and exchangeable without service charges, provided the changes or the cancellation of bookings or train tickets are done prior to the scheduled departure time of the train. The credit(s) will then be applied to the original Canrailpass - System only. If changes or cancellations are not made before the scheduled departure time of the train, the bookings or the train tickets are non-refundable and the credits will not be applied to the Canrailpass - System. •Tickets issued using a Canrailpass - System may be exchanged subject to the following conditions: o For travel on a different train but on the same date as the original booking, tickets must be exchanged prior to the departure of the original train and the new ticket must be booked in "Economy – Supersaver" fare class. o For travel on a different date than the original booking, tickets must be exchanged no later than 3 days prior to departure of the new date and the new ticket must be booked in "Economy – Supersaver" fare class. Note that your original booking must be cancelled prior to departure of the train. •Remaining credits (unused) at the expiration date of the Canrailpass - System are not refundable and non-transferrable or exchangeable. •Your Canrailpass - System credits are automatically tracked. No voucher or document is required for exchange at time of ticket issuance. •Canrailpass - System credits cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Upgrades to other classes of service are not permitted.
Richard
sojourner Member # 3134
posted
VIA Rail usually has a special--if you travel with another person and either or both of you is over 60, the 2nd person is half price.
I would love to do the Ocean and also the Skeena etc. . . . but I cnanot afford it right now! I also am so sorry the ferry to Nova Scotia is gone; I was hoping to do a round robin, Amtrak to Portland, then ferry to Yarmouth, bus to Halifax, VIA to Montreal, & Adirondack home. Oh, well . . . shouldn't have waited!
FYI in case you are doing any database searching, word is spelled Niagara, not Niagra (that's Viagra you might be thinking of hahaha)
palmland Member # 4344
posted
Disappointing that apparently no first class upgrade is permitted on the Canada pass.
Notelvis-the Algoma Central and/or Ontario Northland that Eric Bowen suggested might be fun to include in a Canadian itinerary.
rresor Member # 128
posted
I've got a trip coming up in two weeks that will take me from PHL to YTZ (Toronto Island Airport) by air, thence ONR "Northlander" to Cochrane, "Polar Bear" to Moosonee, and return via reverse route to Toronto.
To enter the US from Canada by air involves $90 in "security fees" and other taxes (on top of an air fare of just more than $100) so I'm taking the "Maple Leaf" from Toronto to Depew (which is three miles from the Buffalo airport) and Southwest to BWI (for substantially less than Amtrak would charge). Should be a nice little trip.
I had hoped to wrap ACR into the same trip, but the Polar Bear returns to Cochrane too late to permit connection to the 11 PM bus for Hearst.
As for other Canada trips -- Sojourner, in 1989 I went from Montreal to the Gaspe, then to Moncton and St. John, ferry across to Digby, RDC to Yarmouth and back to Halifax, and the "Atlantic Limited" from Halifax back to Montreal via CP across Maine. Also did Halifax to Sydney. It's all gone now. I don't believe there's even rail service to St. John from Moncton any more.
David Member # 3
posted
VIA's new president is making a lot of changes. When I first saw the new particulars of travel passes, I got the impression they are on the way out. Not permitting upgrades on the Canrailpass coupled with the requirement that all trips be booked in advance, and only if there are Supersaver seats available, makes me think this pass will be useless to a lot of people, especially those who have used it in the past. There are similar restrictions on the student pass.
The seniors companion offer is gone. It provided free coach travel for the companion, 75% off in sleepers (with some restrictions) and the same discount in VIA 1 in July and August only. There have been some improvements, however, in the regular seniors' fares.
Some of VIA's employees have told me that Mr Laliberte has backed off one of his first edicts: that trains not be held for connections. In May I was on a train from Stratford to Toronto, on which there were many people going to Halifax, Gaspe, Montreal and points in between. The connection in Toronto was missed by five minutes. Passengers were put on later trains and those with connections to the Ocean and the Chaleur would be put in an Ottawa-bound train and bussed part way to Montreal. The on-time performance of VIA's trains in the "corridor" this spring and summer has been deplorable, mainly due to CN track work. I have noticed that trains are now routinely being held for connections.
sojourner Member # 3134
posted
RResor, all those services gone, it's always upsetting. And David, your news re senior discount is also very disappointing! I have noticed too that booking VIA in advance is a pain, since you get little if no money back if you make changes. They do sometimes offer discounts very close to travel time--but that is so difficult to plan when everything else I book is in advance. . .
I'd still like to go to Gaspe and Ocean some time, not to mention take Algoma/Northlander. I think doing that going up from Michigan was just an easy overnight up in the Shield, then another overnight in Toronto to catch Maple LEaf home. However, I don't want to do it myself, and I haven't found anyone very interested. Going through Michigan is hard without a car . . . the bus does go to Sault Ste marie, now, I believe, though I would like to see Mackinac Island too. Maybe next year!
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
Well......
The part about not being upgradable kind of makes the Canadian Pass a non-starter for me.
Regarding the Algoma Central, I have ridden their Agawa Canyon excursion train from the Soo roughly 90 miles up and back...... the two day full route remains on my 'to do' list though I doubt the wife would want to go along and 'rough it' on that train.
train lady Member # 3920
posted
The Agawa Canyon trip is super. We took it from Soo after spending several nights there. We took a picnic lunch along and ate it at the canyon where they do a long stop over. We were able to do some hiking in the beautiful land. I recommend the trip highly.
sojourner Member # 3134
posted
David, the rumor is that the Dome Car will be back on the Adirondack this October, though I haven't been able to get firm details. In the past, it went northbound (put on in Albany) Th, Sa, M, and southbound (removed in Albany) F, Su, and Tu. You could go up on the Maple Leaf, over on VIA Rail to Montreal, and head south on the Adirondack. Or you could go up on the Adirondack, overnight in Montreal, take the Halifax train, stay a few nights, and take it back probably in time to catch the Adirondack south without another overnight (depends if it's on time, though). Of course, Adirondack leaves NYC fairly early and gets in fairly late, but you can still make NEC connections if you don't mind odd hours; also, for coming down the Hudson in the autumn, you may want to overnight in Albany or Hudson or perhaps Rhinecliff rather than NYC, and catch a morning train back down and on to your connections south.
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
Now that's an idea..... the Adirondack all the way to Montreal..... in October.
And I do rather like dome cars!
sojourner Member # 3134
posted
Don't miss Mr Norman's post with more details about the Dome Car (Great Dome). Note it seems to be starting a little earlier (Sept 23) and ending a little earlier too, but days up and back are the same.
rresor Member # 128
posted
Did the Adirondack in the dome last October. Dome is added at Albany, so you won't have it for the Hudson River scenery, but you will for Lake Champlain. We ran late and it got dark as we sat at Canadian customs in Cantic, QC. So the last part of the trip to Montreal was in darkness, but it's still a great trip.
I then went to Ottawa, and then Ottawa -- Toronto, on VIA. Made a tight connection in TOR for a plane back to PHL -- wasn't willing to spend another LONG day on the "Maple Leaf".
sojourner Member # 3134
posted
RResor, I have not yet been on the Maple Leaf and know it's long, but I got business class tickets for us, hope that will be OK. David, note that if you do it the other way, Maple Leaf up to Toronto, then VIA to Montreal, then Adirondack south, (a) you can bring food back from Montreal (as long as not fresh fruit, dairy, meat); and (b) you can stop in the Adirondacks on the way home (Fort Edward/Glens Falls or Saratoga) and then catch a morning Ethan Allen to NYC, changing there for a Regional (or ACELA) to points south (e.g., Baltimore, DC). This provides optimum viewing on the Adirondack and then on the other side down the main part of the Hudson (south of Albany) the next morning. In fact, even if you go up and back on the Adirondack (as we often do), you may want to stop in the Adirondacks on the way back, David. But you have to leave on the Ethan Allen on a weekday--as pointed out to me here in another strand, on weekends the Ethan Allen does not leave in the morning!
I have never stopped in the Adirondacks from the train, but The Pittsburgh Gazette just has some article by a couple who did this and stopped BOTH ways; here is a link, http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10241/1082952-37.stm
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
Good call Sojourner -
An overnight stop somewhere just above Albany.
Get a direct connection to points south the next day without having to spend the night in pricier New York City.
sojourner Member # 3134
posted
As to pricier hotels in NYC, probably right; but Glens Falls & Saratoga Springs may be expensive in foliage season too, depending on where you stay. Saratoga did have some cheaper motels on a strip on Rte 9 leading into downtown, but nowhere near as nice as being right downtown. I don't know about Glens Falls; but I think you want to stay downtown if you want to see anything of these places. To my memory, Saratoga downtown is much nicer than Glens Falls btw, but it's decades since I've seen the latter, could be fixed up.
You might also look into Fort Edward itself, which seems pretty cute from the train, and might be cheaper than the other 2 (but probably won't have as good restaurants as those mentioned in the article for which I gave the link above)
And you also might consider Schenectady, which has apparently improved a bit downtown (though of course will not be nice like Adironack towns, and station itself is somewhat dumpy); a friend of mine just stayed there for the LSL-to-Adirondack switch (eastbound/northbound one has to stay overnight to make connection) and said it was fine. If there is time, you could walk a little in the Stockade. And there are hotels and several restaurants downtown pretty near the train station; the one my friend stayed in and said was fine was I believe the Parker Inn; I think there may be a Hampton Inn down there now too. Note too that on departing you could even avail yourself of an earlier train down than the Ethan Allen--i.e., leave Schenectady on #280, getting you down to NYC and parts south earlier to maximize your time. Schenectady would also be your best bet if it should be the weekend, when the Ethan Allen would be problematic.
posted