Passenger Trains > US - Canada Whirlpool Bridge To Close For Reconstruction

FYI...The Whirlpool Bridge over the Niagara River between Niagara Falls, NY and Niagara Falls, Ont. will be closed for a planned reconstruction of the top rail deck from September 9 though November 1. 

Amtrak's New York to Toronto 'Maple Leaf' (trains #63 & #64) will be originating & terminated at Niagara Falls, NY during this period.

There will be a dedicated bus for ticketed passengers between Niagara Falls, NY and Toronto ONLY. The bus will not serve Niagara Falls, Ont., St. Catherines, Grimsby, Aldershot or Oakville, Ont, as the train normally does. 

There will be NO Toronto to Niagara Falls, Ont. VIA Rail train during the closure period.

The Maple Leaf is the only train that uses this historic bridge. There is NO freight service across the Niagara River at this point; all current freight traffic utilizes the International Railroad Bridge which connects Buffalo, NY and Fort Erie, Ont.

The Whirlpool Bridge is owned by the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission. Amtrak assumed maintenance of the rail deck from CN several years ago.

So if you are coming from the states, and want to go to a point other than Toronto, you are on your own, as are local VIA Rail passengers within Ontario. 

Glad to know the deck will be maintained so this vital service will continue ... a few weeks of inconveniece is well worth it to ensure the continuation of Toronto service.
 

Local travelers in Ontario are being directed to the frequent GO Transit trains and connecting buses. The GO schedules are listed on VIA Rail's web site!

What are average daily loadings on 63/64 crossing the border ? 

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> What are average daily loadings on 63/64 crossing
> the border ? 

We had slightly less than two cars worth as I recall when I traveled by it recently. Both CBSA and US CBP managed to process the entire train in less than an hour. There were considerable number of folks using Visa Waiver (ESTA) and few even with paper Visas. Of course most were US or Canadian Passport, Passport Card or Green Card holders.

Lots of local service on the Canadian side. GO doubledecker buses every hour connecting to GO trains in Burlington for Toronto.

Thru GO trains from NF To Toronto daily in the morning and return from Toronto each evening plus GO just announced that the Weekend GO Trains will now run year 'round.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/19 11:19 by ghCBNS.