Got bikers as clients?  No, I don't mean the kind that wear tattoos and leather.  I mean "bicyclists".  Well, this year VIA Rail Canada has just the fix for their yen to explore.  VIA's new "bike train" is for you. VIA will mount special bicycle stands on its Toronto– Niagara trains for this new service, offered in partnership with area tourism organizations from June through September. This way your clients can leave their car at home and pedal their way through the beautiful Niagara grape growing region.

Toronto - Niagara

The train that leaves Toronto in the morning continues on to the United States, travelling through Buffalo to New York City. On the way back, it leaves New York City in the morning and arrives in Niagara Falls in late afternoon and in Toronto in the early evening.

Crossing The Border

If you reserve a ticket on a train that crosses the Canada-US border, it is very important that your clients' ticket be purchased before 8 h30 on the morning of their departure so that their name will be entered on the passenger list transmitted to the customs. Passengers whose names do not appear on the list will not be allowed to cross the border, and we all know how painful that can be.  Follow this link for advice for passengers crossing the customs on the train.

Protecting Bicycles

Bicycles require special protection. VIA Rail recommends that your clients store their bicycle in a special protective box, which they can obtain free of charge at the station. Your clients will need to turn the handlebars and remove the pedals to fit in these bike boxes. Make sure you tell them to bring the tools they need to do this, because VIA Rail DOES NOT supply them. 

Having said this, if your clients cannot remove the pedals from their bicycle, VIA can supply them with a protective bag instead of a box.  However, if their bicycle is not boxed, VIA Rail accepts no liability in the event of damage. Follow this link for information on VIA's liability.

How Much?

On this trip, your clients' bike is their travelling buddy and, yes, their traveling buddy is going to need a ticket too.  Bicycles, regardless of the number of connections cost:

Bicycles and child-carriers: $20
Tandems: $40