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ERA returns to Toronto for its annual convention

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ERA returns to Toronto for its annual convention
Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 9:12 PM
Upcoming ERA Trips and Conventions
Yahoo/Inbox
 
  •  
    Electric Railroaders' Association <trips@erausa.org>
    To:daveklepper@yahoo.com
     
    Wed, Apr 1 at 2:35 AM
     
     
     

    Toronto

    September 11-14 - For 2020, ERA returns to Toronto for its annual convention, an exciting four-day weekend event from Friday morning, September 11 through Monday, September 14.

    This year’s convention will feature tours of the Hillcrest Overhaul Shop and adjacent Operations Control Center, a day trip to the Halton County Radial Railway (Trolley) Museum, and a Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) streetcar charter. We will also visit to the new Kitchener ION light rail line. Our convention center (sorry, centre) will be the centrally located Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre.

    The Toronto region has seen many significant changes in transit service since our last convention there in 2003. You will not want to miss this special convention, so book today! 

    Learn more and order your tickets here!
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 4:58 PM

Sounds like a great event. I strongly advise anyone arriving at Union Station to be aware that cab drivers will take advantage of you if you aren't exactly sure of where you are going. If you're an out-of-towner they will take you on the "scenic route" to your destination. Carlton street is not that far from Union and cab drivers here don't like taking customers on short rides and will try to jack up the fare any way they can. They pretend that they don't know the area, They don't know where a street becomes one way so its round the block once or twice. Or they pretend that they don't have any change so can you go into that store and get some while the meter is rolling. They used to stop at a pay phone (back in the day) and ask you to call your destination to confirm directions all while the meter is rolling. The directions given to the College street subway are pretty easy and I don't see why anyone would need a cab. It's your choice but be warned. I've been burned too many times to ride in a taxi unless someone else is paying. 

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Posted by ghCBNS on Thursday, April 2, 2020 7:55 AM

54light15

Sounds like a great event. I strongly advise anyone arriving at Union Station to be aware that cab drivers will take advantage of you.............. It's your choice but be warned. I've been burned too many times to ride in a taxi unless someone else is paying.

Thank you for the info on taking a taxi in Toronto but I think you could replace 'Toronto' with 'Any City' !!.......  So just ride Transit!

 

 

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, April 5, 2020 5:54 AM

Toronto has the very best urban transit system in North America, and there is no excuse for anyone arriving either at Union Station or at the Pearson Airport to use anything but public transportation.  If you are staying at a hotel or with friends, just ask the hotel for directions or ask you friends, and then confirm visiting the TTC website.  At Pearson Airport you have a choice of a direct airport bus, a somewhat higher-price few-stops train, and a local bus that makes connections with a heavy-rail rapid=transit line, the slowest way to downtown but possibly better to destinations nearer the airport.  Union Station is served by commuter-rail. heavy rapid transit, a light-rail line, and buses.  One is certain to get you destination quickly and economically.

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Posted by 54light15 on Sunday, April 5, 2020 11:12 AM

Uhhh... Mr. Klepper, it's actually Pearson airport. The best way to Union is to take the UPX train. It makes two stops and you're there in about 15 minutes. Then take the Yonge st. subway four stops to College street and the hotel is 2 minutes away. When I arrive at Pearson, I take the UPX to Bloor street then walk to the King streetcar at Dundas West subway and the King car stops outside my apartment. The UPX fare is arouund $2.50 for seniors. I used to take a Lincoln town car from the airport for $50.00 and normally be sitting in heavy traffic but not anymore since the UPX started runnning. 

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Posted by ghCBNS on Monday, April 6, 2020 1:37 PM

54light15
It makes two stops and you're there in about 15 minutes....... The UPX fare is arouund $2.50 for seniors.

Actually the Senior fare is $6.20 and Adult: $12.35.....and the train take 25 minutes from the Airport to Union Station.

 

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  • From: Toronto, Canada
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Posted by 54light15 on Monday, April 6, 2020 10:32 PM

Well, I pay about $2.50 from Pearson to Bloor street. One thing, if you pay by the Presto card, it's over five bucks to Bloor but if you use your debit card, it's way cheaper. I only rode it from Union to Pearson when it first started up and the rides were free. If the powers that be had any sense, it would be electrified and there would be stops at St. Clair, Queen and Liberty Village. It is meant to be electrified as the bases for catenary poles are on the stretch from the main tracks up to the terminal station at the airport. Will I live to see that? Probably not. 

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