Tag: Amtrak

  • Amtrak Resumes Services To Canada For The First Time Since 2020

    Amtrak Resumes Services To Canada For The First Time Since 2020

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    The American railroad company, Amtrak, announced on Monday that it will be resuming its international train services with routes to Canada, in alliance with the Canadian corporation VIA Rail Canada. The company had stopped these services since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. 

    Amtrak is now offering services with the Maple Leaf trains between New York City and Toronto. They will also resume services to Montreal and Vancouver soon but will announce details at a later time. 

    Chief Commercial Officer Roger Harris, Amtrak’s Executive Vice President, Marketing and Revenue, said: “Amtrak is delighted to welcome passengers back on board the Maple Leaf, connecting New York City and upstate New York with Toronto and Ontario.” 

    View of the Hudson River Valley

    And added: “On board the Maple Leaf, customers can experience some of the best views in the country through the beautiful Hudson River Valley, New York’s wine country, and the incredible gorges of the Finger Lakes region, before crossing the US/Canadian border near the dramatic spectacle of Niagara Falls.”

    Travelers now have more train travel options. A few weeks ago, Amtrak also announced new routes from New York, with wonderful city escapes for tourists and new yorkers.  

    About Amtrak Services And Tickets To Canada

    Amtrak ticket counter

    For the first time since 2020, the first northbound Maple Leaf train departed from New York at 7:16 am this Monday 27 and arrived in Toronto at 7:43 pm. From the other side, the first southbound Maple Leaf train departed from Canada’s Toronto Union Station (TWO) at 8:20 am and arrived at New York Penn Station (NYP) in the night, at 9:55 p.m.

    Travelers can buy the tickets at Amtrak’s website, app, desk, and kiosks, or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. Canadian travelers can also buy tickets at ViaRail.ca or by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL. 

    View of the Hudson River Valley

    The new route will take travelers through beautiful landscapes with large and comfortable seats and valuable amenities. All the international trains include free Wi-Fi, the freedom to use the phone at all times —there is no “airplane mode” limitation—, a cafe car, Business Class seats, and the possibility to travel with small pets. 

    It is an exciting opportunity, especially for new yorkers and Canadians who want to explore new destinations. Marie Therese Dominguez,  New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner, said: “The return of this vital rail connection is welcome news not just for passengers who love to travel, but for countless businesses across New York State and Canada who make it possible for visitors to experience the best of what every locality has to offer.”

    Michael Acosta, VIA Rail’s Senior Director, Commercial Affairs, also added: “After two years of pandemic, people are eager to travel again this summer, and the Maple Leaf experience allows passengers on both sides of the border to book a beautiful vacation and travel beyond Toronto on VIA Rail trains that can connect them right across Canada.”

    What Travelers Must Know About Entry Requirements

    Train travel is a great alternative for those who prefer to avoid planes or more eco-friendly options. This new route will allow Canadians and Americans to connect more and enjoy a restored service, especially during summer. However, travelers must stay up to day with their documentation and comply with all entry requirements from both nations. 

    At the moment, to enter the US, non-US citizens must be fully vaccinated with approved COVID-19 vaccines. To enter Canada, non-canadians must also be fully vaccinated, wear masks —in Canadian stations and on the train while traveling through Canada— and use the ArriveCAN app within 72 hours prior to arrival.

    Canadian Flag Flying Against Historical Heritage Building, Canada

    More details about travel and entry requirements are provided by Amtrak on its Crossing the US-Canadian Border page. Travelers should also revise Canada’s official travel site and the US Department’s Travel Advisories and Information site. Staying up to date with COVID-19 entry requirements is crucial since these are constantly changing.

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  • Worried About Canceled Flights? Amtrak Has Boosted Its Summer Rail Schedule

    Worried About Canceled Flights? Amtrak Has Boosted Its Summer Rail Schedule

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    If Memorial Day​ weekend was anything to go by, travelers hoping for a smooth air journey this summer could be set to come into some turbulence. Throw in the high gas fees that make road trips uncomfortably expensive, and travelers look likely to be stuck for a cheap and convenient way to travel around the US this summer. Fortunately for travelers however, Amtrak is boosting its summer rail schedule, giving them plenty of ways to get around and places to visit this summer. 

    Considered by many to be the most romantic form of transport, rail travel is often overlooked despite being quicker than car journeys, cheaper than air travel and providing some stunning scenery along the way. Here’s a look at how Amtrak has boosted their summer travel schedule. 

    Amtrak Boosts Summer Frequencies 

    Amtrak’s increase of its summer rail routes is already underway, with the company ramping its Northeast Regional operations to 79% of their pre-pandemic totals at the start of May. That means that travelers can now look forward to:

    • 13 roundtrips per weekday between Washington, D.C. and New York City
    • 9 roundtrips every Saturday between Washington, D.C. and New York City
    • 14 roundtrips every Sunday between Washington, D.C. and New York City

    New York and Washington D.C. are amongst the country’s most popular destinations, and so the boost in frequencies is bound to be welcomed by travelers. However, that’s not the only route getting a bump. Amtrak has also added the following:

    • 8 roundtrips per weekday and Saturdays between Boston and New York City, and 9 on Sundays. 
    • 10 roundtrips per weekday between Philadelphia and New York City, including a new early morning departure arriving in New York City by 7:15 AM
    • The full restoration of the Amtrak Hartford Line between New Haven and Springfield, with seven roundtrips per weekday

    Amtrak’s Acela train class – the company’s flagship high speed rail service that offers a more luxurious experience – will also see more frequencies resume than at any time during the pandemic. Routes include:

    • 10 roundtrips per weekday between Washington, D.C. and New York City
    • 4 roundtrips every Saturday between Washington, D.C. and New York City
    • 6 roundtrips every Sunday between Washington, D.C. and New York City
    • 9 roundtrips per weekday between Boston and New York City
    • 3 roundtrips every Saturday between Boston and New York City
    • 4 roundtrips every Sunday between Boston and New York City

    As well as ensuring travelers are highly connected along the East Coast, Amtrak has also restarted daily service for several of its long distance routes that take travelers through the length and breadth of the country. These include:

    • California Zephyr – a route between Chicago and San Francisco 
    • Empire Builder – a route between Washington state and Chicago 
    • Lake Shore Limited – a route between Chicago and New York 
    • Southwest Chief – a route between Chicago and Los Angeles 

    All this has been made possible partly due to the efforts Amtrak has gone through to hire new staff. Whilst airlines are currently going through a staffing crisis, with a lack of pilots, ground staff and flight crew causing flights to be cancelled or delayed, Amtrak – which was recently named the best company for graduates to work at – has hired more than 1,500 new staff over the last year, allowing them to boost the frequency of their journeys and add on additional routes for travelers – not to mention minimizing the risk of delays or cancellations. 

    Speaking about the boosted network, Stephen Gardner, CEO at Amtrak, said:

    “Thanks to our dedicated existing employees and newly-hired staff, we are thrilled to expand our scheduled service just in time to meet customers’ rising demand for travel this summer.”

    It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but switching out a flight for a rail journey could well save some travel related tears this summer and provide a journey to remember along the way.

    Read More:

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    ↓ Join the community ↓

    The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily! 

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    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

    Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox

    Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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