The Maple Leaf route is operated daily by
Amtrak between
New York City and
Toronto. In addition to all-reserved
coach class,
business class is also available, and trains have a
café car which serves sandwiches and snacks. Each train is also equipped with a
bicycle rack, and a ski rack in the
baggage car. Because the route involves a
border crossing, immigration and
customs officers are required to board the train to inspect for
contraband and those travelling illegally. After leaving New York's
Penn Station, the route continues to
Yonkers, Croton-Harmon,
Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff-
Kingston,
Albany-Rensselaer,
Schenectady, Amsterdam,
Utica,
Rome,
Syracuse,
Rochester,
Buffalo (two stops), and
Niagara Falls (on the American side). After entering
Ontario, trains stop again on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, then continue to St. Catherines,
Grimsby,
Aldershot, and
Oakville before finally reaching Toronto. Scenery along the way includes the
Hudson River Valley, the
Finger Lakes region, Niagara Falls, and
Lake Ontario. Depending on departure and arrival cities, a trip on the Maple Leaf may take as little as two hours or as long as twelve hours for the full route. Amtrak Vacations packages are available to New York City and Niagara Falls, and
Hertz rents cars in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, and Rochester. Connections to
VIA Rail Canada services are also available to
passengers holding the
North America Rail Pass.
Sources: Amtrak's 2001 Travel Planner and http://www.amtrak.com/trains/mapleleaf.html