This past Friday, October 18th, I took VIA on a one day round-trip ride between Toronto and Windsor, Ontario, for my latest journey by rail. I hope a few of my observations will prove worthy of reading.
My leaving at 1:30am for the drive to Grimsby, Ontario, in order to make a park-n-ride connection with GO Transit wasn't too bad. The rain was steady in the darkness going across I-90, but traffic very light, as one would expect for the hour of travel. At the toll both in Buffalo, the rain actually stopped falling (part of paying the toll across New York State?...). The border crossing with the drive across the Peace Bridge to Fort Erie, ON (I'll stop with the Ontario abbreviations at this point.) was actually enjoyable, between the view and the civility of the Canada Customs officer.
During the 45 minute drive on the Q.E.W. from Fort Erie to Grimsby, my thoughts went back to all my past drives along the Niagara River on the two lane road (the name escapes me) from Fort Erie, past all the beautiful homes, through the history of the route of march and battles of the War of 1812, and the first sighting of the always awesome falls at Niagara in the night. Going past the Falls with no people walking about at night, then following the road up along the escarpment, then making a left at the underpass for the CN going across the bridge to the USA, and minute or two to the VIA station at Niagara Falls to catch the morning train to Toronto. Traffic along the Q.E.W. was even lighter than that on I-90 plus the road was smoother.
At 4:51am, I caught the GO bus for the ride to Burlington, where the boarding of the commuter train to Toronto was. Right on schedule, the headlight of the green and white locomotive rolled in. Climbing to the top level of the car, I found it interesting to read a sign on the wall of it, regarding the "quiet time" during the rush hours. (I wonder if there actually are GO "Quiet Police"?) Rolling through the eight or so stops before Toronto went quickly with a 6:38am arrival on-time there. Yes, a very efficient commute, but I still missed and prefer the VIA train from Niagara Falls to "T.O."
Walking up the ramp to main concourse of Toronto Union Station, I looked to where Ontario Northland's ticket counter was. Now it's occupied by GO Transit with no sign of the former occupant. Sad, now the O.N.R.'s "Northlander" is something of the memory and history.
Only two VIA Rail ticket booths were open. Going to one for my actual ticket to be printed, I mentioned about how strange seeing the O.N.R. counter being gone and now GO's was to me, When I asked about whether we'd see the Northlander back, her answer was with a certain finality, "It's not." Most certainly, the train scene in Canada has and is changing.
She felt that soon in the future, VIA Rail would be completely gone. What would be in it's place be in three segments: the East, Central, and West.....all privatized entities running each. I found that another sad thought, but possible. Compared to my first arrival back in 1983, the station seemed not as busy between the number of people going to and fro along with the number of trains set up ready to board with signs at each track gate.
One thing remained the same: station renovations in progress. I went to find the Business Class Lounge but it had been moved. With all the signs regarding renovations and directions, I had to ask VIA employees (harder and less to find now) twice as to where it was.
At 7:31am, with me seated in the Business Class coach behind the locomotive, the train pulled out. Another adventure by rail over VIA had began for me.
With the hope that what I've written so far hasn't bored anyone reading it, I'll sign off here to write more of this journey later.
XC
My leaving at 1:30am for the drive to Grimsby, Ontario, in order to make a park-n-ride connection with GO Transit wasn't too bad. The rain was steady in the darkness going across I-90, but traffic very light, as one would expect for the hour of travel. At the toll both in Buffalo, the rain actually stopped falling (part of paying the toll across New York State?...). The border crossing with the drive across the Peace Bridge to Fort Erie, ON (I'll stop with the Ontario abbreviations at this point.) was actually enjoyable, between the view and the civility of the Canada Customs officer.
During the 45 minute drive on the Q.E.W. from Fort Erie to Grimsby, my thoughts went back to all my past drives along the Niagara River on the two lane road (the name escapes me) from Fort Erie, past all the beautiful homes, through the history of the route of march and battles of the War of 1812, and the first sighting of the always awesome falls at Niagara in the night. Going past the Falls with no people walking about at night, then following the road up along the escarpment, then making a left at the underpass for the CN going across the bridge to the USA, and minute or two to the VIA station at Niagara Falls to catch the morning train to Toronto. Traffic along the Q.E.W. was even lighter than that on I-90 plus the road was smoother.
At 4:51am, I caught the GO bus for the ride to Burlington, where the boarding of the commuter train to Toronto was. Right on schedule, the headlight of the green and white locomotive rolled in. Climbing to the top level of the car, I found it interesting to read a sign on the wall of it, regarding the "quiet time" during the rush hours. (I wonder if there actually are GO "Quiet Police"?) Rolling through the eight or so stops before Toronto went quickly with a 6:38am arrival on-time there. Yes, a very efficient commute, but I still missed and prefer the VIA train from Niagara Falls to "T.O."
Walking up the ramp to main concourse of Toronto Union Station, I looked to where Ontario Northland's ticket counter was. Now it's occupied by GO Transit with no sign of the former occupant. Sad, now the O.N.R.'s "Northlander" is something of the memory and history.
Only two VIA Rail ticket booths were open. Going to one for my actual ticket to be printed, I mentioned about how strange seeing the O.N.R. counter being gone and now GO's was to me, When I asked about whether we'd see the Northlander back, her answer was with a certain finality, "It's not." Most certainly, the train scene in Canada has and is changing.
She felt that soon in the future, VIA Rail would be completely gone. What would be in it's place be in three segments: the East, Central, and West.....all privatized entities running each. I found that another sad thought, but possible. Compared to my first arrival back in 1983, the station seemed not as busy between the number of people going to and fro along with the number of trains set up ready to board with signs at each track gate.
One thing remained the same: station renovations in progress. I went to find the Business Class Lounge but it had been moved. With all the signs regarding renovations and directions, I had to ask VIA employees (harder and less to find now) twice as to where it was.
At 7:31am, with me seated in the Business Class coach behind the locomotive, the train pulled out. Another adventure by rail over VIA had began for me.
With the hope that what I've written so far hasn't bored anyone reading it, I'll sign off here to write more of this journey later.
XC