posted
What's the story with the Maple Leaf? I went to look up a trip to Toronto, and at a place called CBN (whatever that is) there seems to be another train, with another 4-digit number. What does it mean? Is there a train shuttle you change to or (perish the thought) a bus?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
CBN is an internal location code used by Amtrak to identify Canadian Border Niagara Falls. Others about the System coming to mind are Maintenance Facilities BEE - Beech Grove IN, HIA - Hialeah FL, and SSY - Sunnyside Yard Queens NY.
The reason that a 7XXX train number appears for the segment CBN - Toronto is that, unlike either The Adirondack or the Cascade Service, The Maple Leaf is interchanged to VIA and operated by them for their own account. The other two trains are simply Amtrak trains continuing into Canada operated by Amtrak for their account.
Rest assured, the Maple Leaf, so far as a layman passenger is concerned, is a through train not requiring any action by such passenger other than surrendering for lift a ticket coupon for the VIA segment.
Posts: 9977 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
The one thing you should be prepared for at the US/Canadian border on The Maple Leaf is the two hour delay while customs search the train and immigration officials process non-US/Canadian passengers. Bring an interesting book as the train is shunted onto a siding from where there are virtually no views!
Posts: 168 | From: uk. northumberland | Registered: Jun 2007
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Yes Gil is right -- "CBN" means "Canadian Border" -- there is no change of train; the Maple Leaf simply has a different number while it is on VIA rails in Canada, and it shows up in the VIA timetable as a different numbered train. You will get 2 separate ticket coupons if you ride the train from Toronto to New York or vice versa
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by mgt: The one thing you should be prepared for at the US/Canadian border on The Maple Leaf is the two hour delay while customs search the train and immigration officials process non-US/Canadian passengers. Bring an interesting book as the train is shunted onto a siding from where there are virtually no views!
Indeed, the U.S. bound train has a scheduled two-hour stop at the border. But the northbound train is due at the border at 4:23 p.m. and out of Niagara Falls, Ontario, station a mere hour and 22 minutes later at 5:45 p.m. The customs/immigration inspection occurs whilst the train sits in front of the VIA station. If something or someone is found that incurs the wrath of the inspectors, departure naturally will be delayed. I have seen that happen more than a few times when waiting to board the train for Toronto.
Posts: 216 | From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Thanks for all the info, everyone. I'm familiar with the customs delay from taking the Adirondack; funny one doesn't encounter anything so inefficiently long on the Cascades trains I've taken to Vancouver, though.
I don't know if we will do Toronto or not (I mean, if we do anything at all, given the economy). I was trying to do a trip involving Montreal and another place for next fall, with my husband accompanying me. He loves Montreal esp the food, and Quebec too, and would be inclined to do that again: Adirondack to Montreal, overnight, VIA to Quebec City, couple nights, back on VIA to Montreal, overnight, and Adirondack home. But we've done that before, and I like doing something new! We've also done something similar with Ottawa, but since he has never been to Toronto, and I've never been there by train (I actually flew there once!), that would be a little new for me--at least I'd see the route from Buffalo. We'd take the Maple Leaf to Toronto, then VIA back to Montreal, then back on the Adirondack. However, I'm not sure about doing it. It's a long trip for him to Toronto, and not so scenic, and it can get in really late, and the hotels are pretty pricey in Toronto. . . .
I did consider Adirondack to Montreal, overnight, VIA to Halifax, couple nights, VIA to Montreal, overnight, back on Adirondack, but it's super expensive to get a sleeper on the Ocean until late October and then gets dark so early I'm not sure I'd be interested. I was looking more to go end of September or beginning of October (trying for at least one ride with the Dome Car, if they have it, on the Adirondack) . . . and like I said, the VIA sleepers (it's called Easterly Class with food) are incredibly high. I mean, one can almost take a whole week cruise for what they cost for one overnight on the Ocean!
Of course, our trip could be somewhere other than Montreal too, though he is less interested, foodwise.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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The off-peak season for Comfort sleeping car fares on the Ocean starts on 8th Sept. Unfortunately Easterly Class fares are peak-season only, but deals are sometimes offered. My wife and I received a 45% discount coupon from VIA for this past autumn, so we saved a lot on the Easterly Class fare.
For a date in September, after the 8th, the one-way fare for two adults in a deluxe room is Can.$546.32 (including taxes) and for the same room in Easterly Class it is $1002.34. I admit that is a huge difference for three meals and use of the Park car. The difference in fare between Comfort sleepers and Easterly in peak season is much smaller: $82 plus tax for two adults!
Speaking of tax, if a trip on the Ocean starts with a connection from west of Quebec, i.e. Toronto, there is a through fare and a savings in tax as the 8% Quebec tax wouldn't apply. So a one-way trip from Toronto to Halifax travelling in coach from Toronto to Montreal and deluxe bedroom to Halifax would cost $594.30 for two as opposed to $546.32 just from Montreal. If taking Easterly Class, the saving is even greater: the fare from Toronto is $1018.50 - just $18 more than going only from Montreal.
Posts: 216 | From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Thank you for the info, David. What do you have to do to get the discount coupon--travel a lot on VIA Rail?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by sojourner: Thank you for the info, David. What do you have to do to get the discount coupon--travel a lot on VIA Rail?
David would be a member of Via Preference, and is entitled to (if he is a Premier member) to four discount coupons. I am a Premier member and I received a 35% discount coupon for a single occupancy of a drawing room from Toronto to Vancouver.
Posts: 524 | From: Toronto Ont. Canada | Registered: Mar 2001
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quote:Originally posted by sojourner: Thank you for the info, David. What do you have to do to get the discount coupon--travel a lot on VIA Rail?
As royaltrain says, VIA Preference sends out coupons to the members. The 45% discount was something special which arrived separate from the usual coupons. I can't figure out why we received it. I have checked with several friends who are also at the top (Premier) level and they didn't get it. The regular coupons offer a choice of discounted trips, one of which was 35% off the Ocean or the Canadian, so it wasn't a big difference.
Posts: 216 | From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Oh, well, I don't get to Canada that often, and I just joined after the last trip, so I don't have much in the realm of points. But I would like to make some trips. If I go myself, I don't need all the amenities; I could even go coach. So that is a more likely scenario.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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