so far so good. Not even an hour in though. Amtrack cars operated by a VIA crew until the border. First time on Amtrak stock. It's comfortable. There is a cafe car at the back of the train I've yet to visit. Way better bike/baggage policy than what VIA recently implemented on corridor trains. I've got a folding bike and a carry on with me but you can actually roll on a full size bike. Cost for travel was comparable to a flight.
Approaching Niagara Falls where through the process of transmutation we stop being a VIA Rail train and become a full Amtrak train. By which I mean, they swap crews and the train gets a new numbered designation. Slow sections of track around here. Averaging 50kph right now.
Alright. Crew changed. Customs and Immigration cleared. Reboarded. The whole border dance took roughly an hour. I'd say this train is about 60% capacity at the moment. Only 9 hours to go!
ROCHESTER. The city that gave the world the Garbage Plate. Just back from the cafe car. Modest but decent selection that could accommodate most diets. Grabbed a sandwich and a drink to take back to my seat. Train feels about 80% capacity as we take on more passengers. Only 8 hours left!
SYRACUSE! The station platform is quite full here. Also, this train is loud. Loads of level crossings with no grade separation so the horns a blastin' 6 hours to go!
Just through UTICA, next stop FAKE AMSTERDAM. Grabbed a snack from the cafe car and returned to find a nice lady in the seat next to mine. She was on the horn with someone and let them know that SOME WEIRDO just came and sat down beside here. FOUR AND A HALF HOURS LEFT. Landscape is getting some rolling hills and we're crushing along at about 110kph beside the MOHAWK RIVER.
Approaching FAKE AMSTERDAM. Pulled it up on maps and turned on the bike layer. 3 bike lanes and 2 canals. PATHETIC! Do better Fake Amsterdam. Roughly 4 hours left on this train! I live here now? #Amtrak #VIARail #InterRail
GREETINGS FROM SCHENECTADY. The human train announcer is enjoying himself and throwing in some decent flourish. Also, bonus is that the station is smack dab in the centre of town. Good Jorb Electric City. Looks like a fun little town as well. #Amtrack #VIARail #InterRail
ALBANY pit stop. 30 mins in station. Discovered that the demonym for the locals is Albanian! 10 hours under my belt and 3 more to go. My seat mate decided vacate. Will they be back? #Amtrac #VIARail #InterRail
Southbound now along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. Really quite nice scenery. The sun is setting behind the Catskills. Train is pretty much full at this point. Roughly two hours left. #Amtrak #VIARail #InterRail
THE BEAVER HAS LANDED.
Got into Penn just under an hour ago. A passenger took a bad spill, backwards, down half a flight of the escalators with all her luggage. Hurt but not seriously it seemed.
And that concludes my 13+ hour #ViaRail and #Amtrak #InterRail journey from Toronto to NYC. Well. For today. I get to do the reverse in a couple days.
Addendum. It was a pretty decent journey all things considered. The time commitment is a big one. But it was a reasonably comfortable way to spend the day. Cozy and roomy enough seating, reasonable food selection, wifi, cell coverage, decent toilets and nice staff. Some really great views coming down the Hudson. For sure my favourite part of the ride.
