CHI to MTR

[George K]

Looking at (yes, another) trip - hey, I'm semi-retired, so bear with me.

Is there any way that I can do Amtrak to Montreal (preferably with AGR, but, I'll pay if I have to)? I've plugged in the start/end points, even with a layover in ALB, with no joy.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Looking at (yes, another) trip - hey, I'm semi-retired, so bear with me.

Is there any way that I can do Amtrak to Montreal (preferably with AGR, but, I'll pay if I have to)? I've plugged in the start/end points, even with a layover in ALB, with no joy.

No can do George since the Adirondack rolls thru Alvany,Schenectady in the AMand the Lake Shore comes thru in the PM.

You could do a Two Zone award from CHI to SCH, ALB or NYP,( 20,000 points Roomette, or pay for Coach tickets CHI- TOL, then do a one Zone AGR Room Award), probably wiethbrhe ,5000 points since the Lake Shore leaves CHI a 930pm) spend the night in SCH, then take the next days Adirondack to Montreal as a Paid Coach ticket! ( No Biz Class in this train) Beautiful along Lake Champlain on the right side of the train!

The Good News is that you CAN do a MTR-CHI One Zone AGR Award on the Adirondack and Maple Leaf with a same day connection in Schenectady! You'd be in Coach from MTL-SCH, then in Room on #49 SCH- CHI!!!

Edited: Correct AGR Point Info/ its 2_Zones CHI-SCH/ALB/NYP

 

[George K]

You could do a one Zone award from CHI to SCH, ALB or NYP,( 15,000 points Roomette) spend the night, then take the next days Adirondack to Montreal as a Paid Coach ticket! ( No Biz Class in this train) Beautiful along Lake Champlain on the right side of the train!

Ah! That's certainly doable. D4 has been jonesing for a trip to Canada, and the last time I was in Montreal was 1971 (!). I'd love to go back. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm sure I can talk her into an overnight in SCH, and the Adirondack won't be too expensive.

 

[PaulM]

The problem is the LSL arrives in ALB, as well as SDY, before the train to MTR leaves. The overnight stay in SDY or ALB would mean two AGR awards.

Because AGR discriminates against midwesterners, CHI to SDY or ALB is TWO zones (boundary = Toledo), the same as ABQ or DEN to MIA. So I would pay and save my points for something more valuable.

Have you looked into going by way of Detroit or Port Huron/Sarnia? I'm sure the transfer to VIA would take some planning and agility.

 

[George K]

Have you looked into going by way of Detroit or Port Huron/Sarnia? I'm sure the transfer to VIA would take some planning and agility.

No, as a matter of fact, I hadn't. So, CHI to Detroit, and then VIA from there?

AGR discriminates against midwesterners

Howso? I always thought I was lucky to be living in Illinois (well, not always, but at least since I've been looking at AGR). I can get anywhere in the country on 2 zones.

 

[PaulM]

Have you looked into going by way of Detroit or Port Huron/Sarnia? I'm sure the transfer to VIA would take some planning and agility.

No, as a matter of fact, I hadn't. So, CHI to Detroit, and then VIA from there?

AGR discriminates against midwesterners

Howso? I always thought I was lucky to be living in Illinois (well, not always, but at least since I've been looking at AGR). I can get anywhere in the country on 2 zones.

Yes Via from Windsor, Ont. The planning and agility part means you will need bus or taxi and possibly a hotel room to make the transfer

I also feel lucky to live in Illinois because I have two trains per day to CHI plus close proximity to the CZ and SWC.

As far as AGR discrimiating, I'm sure it's not deliberate; but CHI to CLE = 2 zones; ABQ to MIA via CHI = 2 zones.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Excellent alternative about going to Detroit/Windsor or Port Huron/ Sarnia Paul!

But VIA has cut back the schedule on the Trains from Toronto to Windsor and to Sarnia via London, so they would need to take the Early Bird Wolverine to Detroit, then a cab via the tunnel or bridge to the new Train Station in Windsor!

Not sure about the Bluewater to Port Huron and a cab to Sarnia schedule, it's been several years since I was there!

Either would require an overnight in Toronto ( pricey), then a VIA Corridor train ( Canada's NEC) from Toronto to Montreal!( worth a first class upgrade)

Overall I think they'd like the Lake Shore from CHI-SCY best,( AGR Award) overnight in SCY, then the Adirondack to Montreal( Paid Coach). Cheaper, easier and better scenery!( Lake Champlain)

As I said, they can return from MTR to CHI on a 2 Zone Award on the Adirondack and LakeShore with a same day connection in SCY!!

 

[George K]

You guys are intriguing me! I'll have to talk to D4 and perhaps we will reconsider our CHI-LAX-PDX-SEA trip next year and do this instead!

Or, perhaps, I can convince the management that it would be a fun trip for us! She loved New Orleans, and I thing Montreal would be a nice one as well!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Montreal is a great place George! Toronto is a clean New York eh?

All Canadian cities are interesting places, Ottawa is my favorite Capital City in the World!!( haven't been to all of them but alot!!)

 

[Guest]

I did a similar Chicago to Montreal round trip a few years ago and have done several chicago-toronto trips. I take the wolverine to detroit, via rail from windsor to toronto and then stay with some relatives in toronto. And then one year I took Via onto Montreal with a return trip on the Adirondack to Schenectady and the lake shore back home. Of course it would be easier if the International was still around but if you take the first wolverine of the morning to detroit you still have more than enough time to comfortably cross the border and make it to the windsor station to catch a train that will get you to toronto about 9:30pm. In fact when I have made the trip I usually have time to get something to eat at an italian place called Vitos close to the windsor station. The Taxi direct from detroit amtrak to via windsor charged 50 dollars. So that is reliable with probably the least worry. A cheaper option would be to use the tunnel bus which leaves from downtown detroit on a regular schedule for windsor. To get yourself from the Amtrak station to the tunnel bus you have to either take a detroit city bus or taxi and then once in windsor the same thing to get to the via rail station. I have done both with no problem but i was by myself and didn't have a lot of luggage. I probably would just recommend paying the cab fare so you have no worries if you choose that route. I don't think there is an overnight train from Toronto to Montreal so you would have to stay at least one night in Toronto. On the way back the connection from the Adirondack to the lake shore was easy and I also had time to grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant in between trains in Schenectady.