Transportation-Grand Forks ND to Winnipeg MB?

[bretton88]

Btw, greyhound tickets for all bus systems in the nation. So if Jefferson Lines offers the route again, Greyhound will route you on it.

 

[fairviewroad]

Thanks again,

Judy

Thanks for sharing the results of your research here! I've heard that law about Canadians not being able to take a U-S rental

car into Canada, but forgot about it since it doesn't apply to me...

BTW if Jefferson thinks winter is the only time the road from GFK to Winnipeg is closed...they'll be in for a rude shock during

flood season. In fact, I'd guess Hwy 75 has probably lost more days to flooding over the past 10 years than it has due to snowstorms.

A blizzard closure can often be measured in hours...a flood closure can last days or weeks (though there's generally a detour, albeit

a lengthy one.)

 

[Munchkinguy]

You can shuttle from Winnipeg to Grand Forks for $145 CAD on Ridebooker.com. And the shuttle gets to Grand Forks at 9:30 PM. The Empire Builder departs from Grand Forks at 12:57 AM, so it's only a 3.5 hour wait.

 

[Kit]

I travel Amtrak to GFK and also need to get to Winnipeg. I found Red, White and Blue taxi to be an excellent choice. I overnight in Grand Forks and leave the next morning to catch the train from Winnipeg. Taxi charges me about $170 and I give a $50 tip. Red,White and Blue Taxi has been SUPERB in picking me up and getting me across the border. I can't say enough about them - I also make a reservation for them to get me at the train station and bring me to my hotel. They have great drivers and great service.... just another suggestion until someone runs a bus....

 

[fairviewroad]

You can shuttle from Winnipeg to Grand Forks for $145 CAD on Ridebooker.com. And the shuttle gets to Grand Forks at 9:30 PM. The Empire Builder departs from Grand Forks at 12:57 AM, so it's only a 3.5 hour wait.

Well, that's a service I was previously unaware of. Definitely some plusses and minuses.

On the plus side it looks like they will drop you off/pick you up at the GFK train station.

On the down side...that shuttle that gets you to Grand Forks at 9:30 p.m....well, the train station doesn't open until midnight,

so have fun waiting around in the cold until then...unless you get dropped off somewhere else in town (a 24-hour McDonald's?)

and get a taxi out to the train station later, which adds to the cost and hassle of this transfer. And of course if you want to head

westbound the train doesn't leave until 5 a.m. which really makes this an inconvenient transfer.

Returning to Winnipeg, if you are coming off the #8 you will have about a 5 hour wait, but at least you can stay in the train station,

as unpleasant of a place as that is (NO food or beverages available, but at least it's heated with a bathroom). If you're coming off

the #7, then theoretically you only have a 1 hour wait but given the reliability of the EB this is an iffy proposition. If you miss the shuttle

you get to spend the day in Grand Forks, I guess since the next departure isn't until 6 p.m.

And another HUGE downside to this...this footnote:

This is a minimum occupancy service. The service operates only when there are at least 4 people confirmed. Decision on whether or not the service operates is made 48 hours before departure. If the service doesn't operate all guests receive a 100% refund.

Depending on where you are coming from, you may already be en route to Grand Forks/Winnipeg by the time your shuttle is canceled (unless you are traveling in

a party of 4 or more, in which case your shuttle trip is guaranteed.)

So this is better than Jefferson in some ways, but it still pales in comparison to what this segment really needs: a dedicated Amtrak Thruway connection.

 

[Mbguy]

My thought is tht the best way about this is to find someone from Winnipeg an catch a ride with them, many people from Winnipeg use the airport in Grand Forks or just go down to shop.

That said You mentioned doing this trip every year and in 2012 I'm considering doing the reverse trip (Winnipeg to Seattle) and would consider driving if someone was able to drive my car back.