  Dalangdon Member Username: Dalangdon Post Number: 59 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 66.54.213.11 |
I am thinking of taking a train trip from Chicago to Toronto, which would necessitate an overnight in either Detroit or Windsor. How much of a hassle is the border crossing? If you don't have a car, what is the best way to make the crossing? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4284 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 66.187.6.50 |
Just say Scones and Clotted cream and you're in. jjaba, eh. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4285 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 66.187.6.50 |
Just say Scones and Clotted cream and you're in. jjaba, eh. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 1244 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Dalangdon, here is some information: https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/mes sages/10041/77961.html?1154456 440 Miketoronto should be able to answer any questions you have about getting there. | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8756 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.53.98.91 |
Bring a birth certificate and driver's license and you will be all set. It is not the hassle from the Canadian side, it will be the hassle on the return. But if you are on a train, they don't bother you all that much. It should be easy...like Manrooter.  | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 150 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 24.176.20.117 |
Or a passport if you've got one. Otherwise a birth cert and a driver's license are just fine until 2008... Like Goat said, crossing in a train should be (theoretically) pretty painless. I cross fairly frequently in a commercial truck, but have also done the train crossing a couple of times; the train was effortless compared to the truck. You should be cool as ice. | ||
Dalangdon Member Username: Dalangdon Post Number: 60 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 67.171.17.254 |
Thanks for the information. Actually, unless I am mistaken, you take an Amtrak train from Chicago to Detroit, and then cross to Windsor on your own and take a VIA train from Windsor to Toronto. The schedules of the respective trains doesn't really allow for a connection. The thru train that used to run was axed due to "homeland security" concerns (don't get me started on that - the border crossing between Seattle and Vancouver is almost effortless and hardly ever delayed, but it's different in the east. The crossing on the train from Montreal to New York was right out of a Keystone Cops episode) That's why I thought I'd just plan on a night in Detroit. Since I've never been there, it would be fun. | ||
Kilgore_south Member Username: Kilgore_south Post Number: 153 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 24.176.20.117 |
Yeah that's right, there's no thru train across the border anymore. Don't get me started on "homeland security" either. Well enjoy your stay in the D. Does Amtrak provide a shuttle or anything over to Windsor or are you just dumped out on your own? | ||
Dalangdon Member Username: Dalangdon Post Number: 61 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 67.171.17.254 |
Well, I wouldn't exactly call it "dumped", but you are on your own to get across the border and to the VIA station. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 483 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76 |
Dalangdon: a couple of options for getting from Detroit to Windsor. 1. Take a taxi directly from Detroit station to Windsor. You could stay downtown in Windsor and then take a taxi or the 2 Crosstown bus (catch the bus on Wyandotte heading east). The train station is about a 5 minute taxi ride from downtown. 2. Stay in Detroit, then take a taxi to Windsor station. Detroit cabbies will drive you across but will charge you a small premium for doing so. 3. Take a taxi from Detroit station to the Detroit-Windsor tunnel entrance (Old Mariner's Church), and then catch the tunnel bus (you will see a bus shelter near the toll booths) to Windsor. The schedule for the tunnel bus can be found here: http://www.citywindsor.ca/Disp layAttach.asp?AttachID=4897 The tunnel bus is your cheapest option. It will bring you downtown (Windsor) so you will still need to take a bus or a taxi to the Windsor station. Are you planning on staying on the Windsor or Detroit side? What is your budget? Both Windsor and Detroit have plenty of downtown hotels. Are you taking the 6:00am train from Windsor to Toronto? Or a later train? Feel free to ask more questions. | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 176 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.131.176.232 |
There is a bus that goes between downtown Detroit and downtown Windsor. That or a cab maybe would be the best way to get across. | ||
Mrchills Member Username: Mrchills Post Number: 27 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 63.113.196.170 |
The Tunnel Bus operates every 20-30 minutes between Detroit and Windsor until about 1am in the morning, very relible and generally doesn't take that long to get across. | ||
Dalangdon Member Username: Dalangdon Post Number: 62 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 66.54.213.11 |
Thanks for the info on the Tunnel bus. That's exactly what I need! As far as hotels, I think I might try the Marriott at the Ren Center. That looks like fun, and I've got some Starwood points to use. Thanks again for all the good advice. And I'm thinking the early train to Detroit, and the late afternoon train to Toronto to give me a chance to do a little bit of exploring. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 484 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76 |
Dalangdon, one other thing, plan to give yourself an hours time when going from the Ren Cen to the Windsor train station. Although you probably will not need that much time, it is better to give yourself a buffer. If you arrive too early at the Windsor station, you could always take a tour at Hiram Walker's (next to the station): http://www.canadianclubwhisky. com/can/HeritageTour.asp . Also, if you stay at the Ren Cen, you can walk to the tunnel bus stop. It is right next door (west of the Ren Cen). | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 645 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Dalangdon.... .....consider Chicago to Port Huron (Amtrak), overnight and cross, then Sarnia, Ont. to Toronto? Granted, the idea of overnighting in Port Huron isn't, well...... | ||
Miketoronto Member Username: Miketoronto Post Number: 292 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 65.92.153.250 |
Don't worry about crossing the border. Have the proper papers, and you are fine. Just be honest with answering. As for crossing, take the tunnel bus. Get off at Casino Windsor, and from there you can actually take a cab to the station. It actually only took our cab like 5min to go from the Casino to the train station, and it was only like a 5 buck cab fare. There is a Transit Windsor bus that goes to the station, but it picks up about three blocks down from the Casino at Wyndotte Street, and is the CROSSTOWN 2 bus. Get off at Walker Road, the station is right there. But I would just cab it from Casino Windsor. Go into the main lobby of the hotel, and the front desk will get you a cab. |
