Planes, Trains And Automobiles: Plus A Bus and Golf Cart
by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
My destination was Montreal to attend and cover the 2007 Presidents Cup. My friends at Quebec Tourism thought it would be fun to try the First Class Via 1 train from Toronto to Montreal and it was a good idea for me. After all my last train trip was when I had a Grade 8 trip to Ottawa from my small NW Ontario town in the 70’s. My trip began with a 5 am wake up alarm which was to allow me time to catch the 630 am Westjet flight to Toronto. That was cutting it a
little fine but I made it and then after collecting my luggage at Terminal 3 in Toronto my brother in law picked me up for a quick visit with my sister. It was then off to the Panorama lounge at the Via train station on Front Street in Toronto. Loaded up with newspapers it was out a side entrance to board the Via 1 car with it’s well appointed seats like you might see on a jet aircraft. My large bag was placed in a rack in sight of my seat and I settled back in a window seat to enjoy the ride.
The train started shortly after our arrival and the scenery was great. Soon we were offered some snacks by the two attendants on each car and our choice of entree menu for lunch. After a while later a heated face cloth was provided and it was time for a great meal including your choice of wines. Sitting back, having some good food andwatching the scenery from Toronto to Montreal was fun. There wereseveral stops along the way at places like Cornwall and Kingston at which time new passengers came aboard. Later on the attendants came by with special chocolates. All in all the Via 1 experience was fun and relaxing. Many of their passengers pulled out their lap top computersand did some work. I turned up my Ipod and enjoyed some great tunes.
Arriving in Montreal I quickly found my Budget Rental counter and was off to my downtown hotel in minutes. The Toronto to Montreal trip will take about 4 to 5 hours, which is slower than a plane but gets you right downtown instead of far out at an airport. The proximity of the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto and the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal to the train stations reminded me of how travel was done in earlier days. It really is a great way to travel and I hope to try it again soon.
My trip back to Thunder Bay included the return train trip from Montreal to Toronto, and just across the street from the Toronto train station a great bus ride from the Fairmont Royal York to the Pearson Airport. For $16.95 you get a bird eyes view, higher up than in a car, from the Gardner Expressway of the growth in condos on Toronto’s waterfront. It is an interesting ride as well. My trip made watching the John Candy and Steve Martin movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles even more enjoyable!
