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+--- Forum: Transportation and Infrastructure (https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=25)
+--- Thread: VIA Rail (/showthread.php?tid=549)
RE: VIA Rail - Rainrider22 - 10-21-2017
(10-21-2017, 10:28 AM)Canard Wrote: Frustrating. We’re visiting friends in Toronto tomorrow.I jus got back from Chicago. Stayed in the Burbs. Took the Metra train into downtown each day. Less than 5.00 one way. Weekends you can get an 8.00 pass unlimted rides. Now that is the way to go. You can't afford not to use the trains.
“Let’s take the train instead of driving!”
VIA: $160
“Oh, erm. Okay, how about the GO Bus! They have those cool double-deckers...”
GO Transit: $65
...but it’s less than $10 for us to drive.
This is so frustrating. Transit should be cheap, accessible to all, and frequent. It had to cost less than driving, and be better, or nobody is ever going to make the switch. I can’t justify spending an extra $150, as much as I might want to go for a train ride.
RE: VIA Rail - DHLawrence - 10-21-2017
Can only do that here if you're going to be on the Lakeshore or Barrie lines. And if you're on the Barrie line you're going to have a long wait if you miss your train.
RE: VIA Rail - kitborn - 10-22-2017
(10-21-2017, 06:09 PM)DHLawrence Wrote: I typically drive to Burlington and take the GO train, but that only works if you're going downtown.
Since we live close to two VIA rail lines, Kitchener and Woodstock, we find it more convenient on the Woodstock line because there are more trains.
RE: VIA Rail - DHLawrence - 10-22-2017
Same reason I go to Burlington. Far more flexible.
RE: VIA Rail - Canard - 10-22-2017
Yeah but, it takes about an hour to drive to Burlington (and then another hour on the train into Union), but it takes about an hour to drive to Toronto. So...
RE: VIA Rail - DHLawrence - 10-22-2017
Still worth it to not deal with the Gardiner or finding a parking space.
RE: VIA Rail - Canard - 10-22-2017
If you can afford the extra time and money, for sure.
RE: VIA Rail - schooner77 - 10-22-2017
$10 might be a bit low. Parking in Toronto is ridiculous and the effort to find anything downtown during the week is painful and gas return is more than $10, unless you're driving electric.
RE: VIA Rail - Canard - 10-22-2017
The fuel cost for the 200 km return trip is actually less than $10. My lifetime average consumption (over the last 230 000 km) is ~4.5 L/100 km, and in the summer on a hot day on a long trip to TO and back it's usually around 3.7-4.0 L/100 km, depending on wind direction. Parking at our friends' house is free.
RE: VIA Rail - DHLawrence - 10-22-2017
(10-22-2017, 07:30 PM)Canard Wrote: If you can afford the extra time and money, for sure.
It'll cost just as much and take just as long to GO bus it. Plus I find the upper deck of the buses makes my ears pop; I don't think they have the windows sealed well.
RE: VIA Rail - rangersfan - 12-01-2017
I didn't realize how disconnected the Via station has become from the Weber and Victoria intersection, until using the station tonight. I'm very surprised there is not a path near the intersection to get station.
RE: VIA Rail - DHLawrence - 12-01-2017
They probably didn't want to spend the money on a pedestrian connection when they're planning to replace it anyway. A case of the cheap coming out expensive.
RE: VIA Rail - rangersfan - 12-02-2017
The pedestrian access to the station is not also very easy to find once you do realize that there is no connection at the corner but need to walk 70 to 80 ft down Victoria, overall bad design.
It's kind of crazy how much bigger the London Via station is compared to the Kitchener location. We can say that the Kitchener one is going to be replaced with the transit hub but the difference between the stations has existed I am pretty sure since at least when I lived in London last 2005.
RE: VIA Rail - DHLawrence - 12-02-2017
London also gets way more trains per day, even accounting for a lack of GO service. They're also on the Toronto-Windsor mainline.
RE: VIA Rail - KevinL - 12-02-2017
London is the common point for both train routes through the area- there are two branches west (Windsor and Sarnia) and two branches east (both to Toronto, but via Kitchener or Brantford).