A day trip by train to Niagara Falls?
You can easily take the train from Toronto to Niagara Falls (Ontario) either as a day trip, longer trip or as a stopover en route to New York. The Canadian side of the Falls gives great views of the Falls and features both a boat ride (the Hornblower cruise, www.niagaracruises.com) and a walk behind the Falls, www.niagaraparks.com/niagara-falls-attractions/journey-behind-the-falls.html. For trains between Niagara Falls and New York, see the Canada page.
Option 1, by once-daily VIA Rail train from CA$ 26
A daily VIA Rail train called the Maple Leaf links Toronto Union Station with Niagara Falls Ontario on its way to & from New York. Ideal for a day trip, it uses comfortable Amtrak Amfleet cars with coach class, a small business class section and a cafe car, even though it is operated by VIA Rail Canada on the section between Toronto and Niagara - an Amtrak crew take over at Niagara.
Outward: Toronto Union Station depart 08:20 every day, Niagara Falls Ontario VIA station arrive 10:20.
Inbound: Niagara Falls Ontario VIA station depart 17:45, Toronto Union arrive 19:43.
Fares from around CA$ 26 each way including taxes.
Buy tickets at www.viarail.ca in CA$) or at Omio.com (in CA$, $, £ or €).
Reservation is compulsory but it's usually possible to get tickets on the day.
Option 1: The Maple Leaf. Take the daily morning Maple Leaf train direct from Toronto to Niagara Falls. Above left, comfortable seats. Above right, the Maple Leaf has arrived at Niagara Falls (Ontario) station.
Option 2, by GO Transit direct train from CA$21.15
GO Transit operates three daily trains from Toronto to Niagara Falls (Canada) every day, including a useful morning one. The trains are distinctive green & white double-deck GO Transit trains, see the photos below.
Departures from Toronto: Weekdays at 09:10, 17:00, 22:07. Saturdays at 09:04, 11:09, 17:07, 19:22. Sundays at 09:04, 11:09, 17:07, 19:22.
Departures from Niagara Falls Canada: Weekdays at 06:37, 13:07, 20:04. Saturdays at 11:58, 16:00, 19:58. Sundays at 11:58, 16:00, 19:58.
Journey time 2h15.
Fares start at CA$21.15 each way.
If the timing of these few direct trains doesn't suit you, use the hourly train+bus combo shown in option 3 below.
Buy tickets at www.viarail.ca or www.gotransit.com.
When using www.viarail.ca, the direct GO Transit trains are shown in the search results with as green GO logo. The train+bus combo departures (option 3 below) are shown with a grey train & bus icon.
Tip: At weekends you may be able to travel round trip for just CA$10 with a Weekend Pass, see www.gotransit.com/en/partners-and-promotions/weekend-passes-with-go.
Option 3: By GO Transit train/bus combo from Ca$21.15
Roughly every hour through the day, distinctive double-decker GO trains link Toronto Union Station with Burlington station, from where a connecting bus runs to Niagara Falls Bus Terminal (located directly across the road from Niagara Falls Ontario rail station). Total journey time 2h47 - roughly 1h05 train and 1h30 bus. This is a simple turn-up-and-go service, no reservation is necessary, it cannot sell out, just buy a ticket for Ca$18 at the station (or bus terminal) immediately before departure. As it needs no pre-planning it's ideal for the return part of a day trip from Toronto, as you don't need to commit to a specific time to come back.
You can check bus-rail times at either www.viarail.ca or www.gotransit.com. When using www.viarail.ca, the train+bus combo departures are shown in the search results with a grey train & bus icon. Any direct GO Transit trains (option 2 above) will be shown with as green GO logo.
Where are the station & bus terminal? See map showing station, bus terminal & Falls
Niagara Falls (Ontario) Station & Niagara Falls Bus Terminal are just across the road from each other in the old downtown area. The falls themselves (and all the tourist attractions) are a mile or two to the south, a taxi to the Falls costs around Ca$14 + tip and take 5-10 minutes. You'll find plenty of taxis waiting at the station and bus terminal. The station is sometimes called the GO Station, but it's the same one used by VIA Rail. Map showing location of Niagara Falls VIA Rail station, Bus Terminal & the Falls.
Visiting the Falls
Niagara Falls seen from the Canadian side (left) and from the Hornblower cruise boat. The Hornblower boat trip is the classic Falls boat trip from the Canadian side, see www.niagaracruises.com.