The Maple leaf could become a split train at the border(like the Lakeshore Limited)half of the train would go to Toronto and the other half would go to Ottawa.
WHy? You have to go through Toronto anyway and it's not out of the way. VIA Rail offers 8 trains each way daily, 4h 7m to 4h 49m.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
It would be much faster to go by way of Montreal, for going by way of Toronto would involve much backtracking.
Johnny
If you take Amtrak to Montreal, you get there at 7:11 pm (nearly 11 hours). There is no connection until 6:10 the next morning. The VIA train is quick, only 2h.
The Maple Leaf to Toronto has the same problem; it misses the last train to Ottawa, so you must wait until 6:40 am the next day.
Either way is problematic, requiring an overnight.
I still think the Canadians should build a Toronto sized city North of Wisconsin and name it Metropolis. It would give the North South Rail lines through Wisconsin and Michigan that connect into Canada a new purpose in freight hauling. They could back the construction bonds for the city with Superman Comic Books.
Not sure what the Canadians are waiting for.
CMStPnP I still think the Canadians should build a Toronto sized city North of Wisconsin and name it Metropolis. It would give the North South Rail lines through Wisconsin and Michigan that connect into Canada a new purpose in freight hauling. They could back the construction bonds for the city with Superman Comic Books. Not sure what the Canadians are waiting for.
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
Metropolis, IL beat them to it.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
FWIW.The Central used to go to Ottawa. ( and to Montreal. ) On their own track.http://www.railways.incanada.net/Articles/Article2003_5.htmlhttp://www.nyc-ottawadivision.com/http://www.cornwallpostcards.ca/bridge.html Twenty Eight Photoshttp://www.ourhometown.ca/images/photos/OP_Bridge_XL.jpghttps://cornwallcommunitymuseum.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/scan00303.jpghttps://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9a/68/81/9a6881536aa8e99d9bb5465ce2a4619d.jpgD&H @ Montreal. Love location of White Flags!!http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/us/DH_5008.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FAXhXU25nys/VIm9-TJPI_I/AAAAAAAAGEw/4mpTP0KokB8/s1600/D%26H%2Btrain.JPGhttp://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/us/DH_18.jpgCPR E8 Boston, B&M E7 Montreal.http://www.okthepk.ca/dataCprSiding/cprNews/cpNews10/images/50090109.jpgWe rode GNRy 510 E-7 ex Winnipeg just before the end. NP RDC with Monad Herald also in town @ Wpeg.I understand this GMD S/G Torpedo Geep No Dynamic went to the BN and may well be still around?http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/shortline/Midland_2b.jpgBlah, Blah, Blah.
NDGThe Central used to go to Ottawa. On their own track.
By way of what is now the Adirondack Scenic, through Tupper Lake, no less.
About 20? years back I was Set Up as Engineer for the Day on the job out of Thendera using the Ex L&N switcher 705.The Central RS3 8223 had just arrived, and was being painted for use. The 705 was too small for the job, and lumbered along at about 10 MPH at full throttle similar to a shuttle in a loom on it's appointed journey.I was having an Asthma Attack and Allergies and begged off. Running an SW can get boring REAL Fast @ 5-10 MPH, and went to rest in the crew room above the depot.I later wandered around the yard looking at equipment and viewed an ancient PRR Sleeper? which had a Mickey Mouse refrigeration compressor Belt Driven off an Axle for the AC??Fifty Years ago we would Pace the Rutland by Car, steel gone, and snoop into Malone and Massena looking for the Central. What Junk, oil soaked and smoking 244.Sad.We often followed the CN line South from the St. Lawrence thru St Isadore Jct and St Remi, the steel still in down to Hemmingford, gone there to Moores on the Rutland.CN and the Central crossed at Huntingdon. FAs and Bs in the grass.The Water Level Route. Of Shays in the City, and Oil-Fired Steam in the Park in the Summer.Well over half a Century ago.Not only 'The Centuries' passed in the night.Memories.Thank You.
Amtrak does not have service to Ottawa because it is outside of the United States. The "Maple Leaf" is technically a joint Amtrak-VIA operation even though VIA does not provide any equipment. The "International" between Chicago and Toronto was also a joint operation, with Amtrak and VIA each providing one set of equipment.
Even Via doesn't really go to Ottawa so why should Amtrak?
But seriously folks, Ottawa is the one American city in Canada in that they gutted the railroad out of their town for the sake of a highway future travelers be doomed. I had a higher opinion of the Dominion until I visited Ottawa. (And the station really does look like a bunker from a distance.)
D.Carleton Even Via doesn't really go to Ottawa so why should Amtrak? But seriously folks, Ottawa is the one American city in Canada in that they gutted the railroad out of their town for the sake of a highway future travelers be doomed. I had a higher opinion of the Dominion until I visited Ottawa. (And the station really does look like a bunker from a distance.)
The architecture is mediocre: functional, modern but looking like an intermodal freight terminal, very open, which must be charming in winter. Hardly a bunker. Sadly, it is not in the city center.
However, it has 28 departures/arrivals to/from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec daily.
This posts headline would have made more sense had the person used the correct nomenclature of Ottawa, ON or Ottawa, ON, CAN as opposed to Ottawa, CA(which stands for California, not Canada).
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