Shortest/Cheapest rides in Amtrak

[NS VIA Fan]

Amtrak will sell you a $10 ticket for the half-mile ride between Niagara Falls, ON and Niagara Falls NY. Schedule says 16 minutes but it actually takes about 3 minutes!





In the photos below we’re looking across the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge from the NF ON station to the NF NY station.

 

[gaspeamtrak]

That's not bad if you don't have a car, or if you take a cab across the border which could be out of the ballpark $$$ , or have to "walk" across the bridge and go through customs (not really ???) dragging your luggage !!! ???
Can you physically walk across the bridge? I can't remember?

 

[mlanoue]

Joliet to Summit is $5.50. 25 minutes. That gets you fairly close to Midway airport.

 

[Maglev]

My closest station is Mount Vernon, Washington. When I travel, I often board in Bellingham, which is 26 miles and a minimum of 29 minutes from Mount Vernon. Saver fare is $8.50, though I usually go Business Class for $20. The next station in the other direction from Mount Vernon is Stanwood, 15 miles and a minimum of 13 minutes away, also with a Saver Fare of $8.50. Business class for this shorter run is $23.

 

[StanJazz]

That's not bad if you don't have a car, or if you take a cab across the border which could be out of the ballpark $$$ , or have to "walk" across the bridge and go through customs (not really ???) dragging your luggage !!! ???
Can you physically walk across the bridge? I can't remember?

That bridge does not allow pedestrians. In a vehicle every passenger must have a Nexus card.

 

[FreeskierInVT]

Don't think it can get much cheaper than the $1.00 fare from New Haven, CT's Union Station (NHV) to State Street Station (STS). 1-2 minute ride depending on the train.

 

[Maglev]

Don't think it can get much cheaper than the $1.00 fare from New Haven, CT's Union Station (NHV) to State Street Station (STS). 1-2 minute ride depending on the train.

This is also a very high percentage increase for Business Class service ($1 vs. $17).

 

[KnightRail]

Between New Haven Union Station and New Haven State Street: $1

 

[rspenmoll]

Now that all trains on the New Haven-Springfield Line (except the Vermonter) stop at New Haven State Street, the shortest trip that is bookable is New Haven Union Station to New Haven State Street. One dollar, two miles, three minutes.

Edit: I see that somebody already posted this. Admins, please feel free to delete this post.

 

[Bob Dylan]

While technically it is a VIA operated Train between Toronto and Niagara Falls,ON, the Maple Leaf has a $1 Add-on -Fare in Business Class between Niagara Falls and Toronto.

This means you have a Ticket where the Fare is split between Amtrak on the US Portion in Business Class,and VIA in Canada as a Coach Fare.

You get to stay in the Business Class/Cafe Car on the Amtrak Equiped Train staffed by a VIA Crew between the VIA Station on the Ontario side and Toronto even though VIA technically doesn't have Business Class on this Train.

 

[NS VIA Fan]

You get to stay in the Business Class/Cafe Car on the Amtrak Equiped Train staffed by a VIA Crew between the VIA Station on the Ontario side and Toronto even though VIA technically doesn't have Business Class on this Train.

VIA would not want to call it ‘Business Class’ but perhaps they could offer ‘Premium Coach’ to anyone travelling within Canada.

Business Class on VIA is a totally different produce with hot meals, complementary beer and wine..... and closer to what Amtrak offers as Acela First Class.

 

[railiner]

Could you book BOS to BBY in a bedroom suite?

 

[MJDiAmore]

That's not bad if you don't have a car, or if you take a cab across the border which could be out of the ballpark $$$ , or have to "walk" across the bridge and go through customs (not really ???) dragging your luggage !!! ???
Can you physically walk across the bridge? I can't remember?

Fun fact, I can attest to that hike being a pain / learning that the hard way. I once configured a ticket that had me only pay for the Toronto-Niagara leg of a NYP-TOR round trip, requiring me to cross the border of my own accord. I had a voucher that got me to Toronto, and then only enough points to do Niagara Falls, NY -> NYP.

I severely underestimated the hike between Rainbow Bridge and the Amtrak Station on the US side. I got about 1/3 of the way and had to call a cab to make the remainder of the ~2mi walk because I would have missed the train otherwise (though admittedly I overstayed my intended amount of time in Casino Niagara + the Duty Free shop a little bit to cause the problem). Whoops!!

 

[Manny T]

Milwaukee Airport to Sturtevant WI -- 12 minutes, $10.

 

[Pere Flyer]

NOR-OKC on 822—30 miles, scheduled 40 minutes, $4.80 Value Fare one-way with the 20% student discount. The Heartland Flyer called at Norman at 8:47 p.m. and OKC at 9:27 p.m. It was probably delayed 20-30 minutes, as is usually the case.
I booked this ticket a couple years ago to catch a midnight Greyhound from the Reno Avenue Station to Bentonville, Ark., via Fort Smith for a weekend gig. Had I booked Greyhound from Norman, the layover would’ve been twice as long. I must be one of only a few people who’ve traveled northbound from Norman by train in the Heartland Flyer era—on a one-way ticket, no less! The conductor looked at me, a lone twenty-something carrying just a backpack, like I was a troubled youth on the lam. He gave a very serious, “take care, now,” as I disembarked.
That was the most normal part of the trip. Looking back, that’s one travelogue I need to write.

 

[daybeers]

Don't think it can get much cheaper than the $1.00 fare from New Haven, CT's Union Station (NHV) to State Street Station (STS). 1-2 minute ride depending on the train.

Which is interesting considering it is free on Shore Line East and the CTrail Hartford Line trains. Most of the other fares going one stop on that line are $3.