While visiting Toronto, Canada we definitely wanted to take the opportunity to see Niagara Falls.
From Toronto, there are a few transport options to get Niagara Falls, including private transit, coach tours and public transport. However, finding an accessible coach tour was a challenge, and arranging private transit with a wheelchair accessible vehicle was expensive in comparison.
For this reason, we looked in further detail at the public transportation options available.
There were two main options VIA Rail and GO Transit.
- GO Transit
GO Transit is the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), with routes extending to communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario.
GO Transit Accessibility Information: https://www.gotransit.com/en/travelling-with-us/accessibility
From Toronto, the route to Niagara involves departing from Union Station on a commuter train in the ‘Lakeshore West’ direction towards Burlington. At Burlington, passengers then transfer onto a Niagara Falls GO bus that goes close to the tourist area.
During the summer, GO Transit runs direct train service from Toronto’s Union Station to the Niagara Falls train station on weekends (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) and holidays only. Check the GO Transit website for the schedule.
GO Transit added weekday services (in early 2019) between Union Station and Niagara Falls, which can be an additional option for travellers.
- VIA Rail
VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service, run long-distance trains to various places.
The route from Toronto to Niagara Falls is served daily by trains leaving from Union Station to Niagara falls, however there is only one direct train a day each each way.
It’s actually a train coming to and from New York and the route is served by an Amtrak trains.
The direct outward train (Union Station, Toronto to Niagara Falls) departs early in the morning around 8am and the inwardbound (Niagara Falls to Union Station, Toronto) departs around 5.30pm
VIA Rail Accessibility Information: https://www.viarail.ca/en/travel-info/special-needs/accessibility
All VIA Rail trains can accommodate wheelchairs that are no larger than 81cm by 182cm and weigh no more than 114kg.
Though GO Transit was slightly cheaper (there’s probably 10-20 dollars difference per person, depending on bookings), we opted to take the VIA rail journey simply because there was a direct journey compared to GO Transit in order to minimise any possible transfer issues or delays resulting from the changeover.
Booking tickets
To book tickets with accessible needs taken into consideration you must phone in advance or purchase tickets in person at the ticket counters. If you have any special access requirements tickets must be booked at least 48 house in advance.
We had tried earlier to phone to book the tickets, but there were some concerns that not all requirements were clear. We wanted to ensure that we understood exactly the service being provided, so we took time at the beginning of our trip to go to Union Station VIA Rail ticketing desk and book directly at the counter.
We arrived and indicated the number of tickets we wanted to book and that one of our party included passenger in a wheelchair with access needs. There are a number of key selections that the customer service assistant has to go through.
Key information that was asked in relation to booking an accessible ticket included asked about the wheelchair related to size dimensions, weight, electric manual, whether the chair needed to be tied down, what kind of assistance is required getting on the train (i.e. lift assistance), whether the passenger will be staying in the chair (so requiring a wheelchair space) etc.
Passenger names must be given for each travelling person and you are required to take identification and present it to the ticket inspector while using the service. If you require a wheelchair space, a specific wheelchair space in the train is reserved.
Once all the questions and responses are discussed, the tickets are then printed out ready for travel.
Getting on the train
We were advised when booking the tickets, that upon arrival to Union Station we should arrive at the main VIA Rail information desk, (located just in front of the VIA Rail booking counters) so that the assistance teams could be notified and get ready for the train.
We cannot remember being given a specific time to arrive, but would suggest at least arriving 30 minutes before train departure. VIA Rail website states that passengers with reduced mobility may board the train before other passengers, and as we would be using the mechanical lift to get onto the train, it was important to arrive early.
The staff directed us to the platform that the train was departing from and we made our way there and waited. Upon arrival, the staff confirmed who we were and just double checked the services required. We were then taken directly to the train carriage and coach that we would be seated on.
We waited while another passenger in a wheelchair was being loaded, then it was our turn to be navigated into the lift.
The wheelchair is driven or pushed into the mechanical lift and the door is closed behind. The lift is then moved to the carriage doors and the mechanical lift door opened/released for the wheelchair to move onto doors released. The trains are very narrow and moving from the ‘corridor’ into the actual carriage with the wheelchair space required some fine tuned manoeuvring.
It is advisable to check all information related to mobility aids before booking any tickets to determine whether they can fit on the trains.
VIA Rail Mobility Aids Dimensions: https://www.viarail.ca/en/resources/adapted-transport-aboard-via-rail
Once on board and safely in the wheelchair space, that was the only thing left to do. The wheelchair user was using automatic brakes and did not require any tie downs, to there were no additional requirements here.
There did appears to be space and hooks to tie down the chair if necessary. There were also charging points on the train in order to charge the wheelchair battery if necessary.
Arriving at Niagara Falls station
After a 2hr+ journey, the train arrives at Niagara Falls station. The train actually goes on to New York, so there are sometimes passengers at the Niagara Falls waiting to board.
Here, we were the last to depart the the train, with a similar process involving the use of a mechanical lift.
At the train station you are still a few minutes away from the main Niagara Falls tourist area.
Once you exit the train station, on the opposite side of the road is the Niagara Falls Bus Terminal.
Here you can catch the WEGO bus, that takes you directly towards the Niagara Falls area with all the main sites.
WEGO Accessibility Information: https://www.wegoniagarafalls.com/accessibility/
WEGO pass can be purchase inside the terminal and can be purchased for 24hr or 48hr validity. This means that you can travel on any of the WEGO routes during the validity time. Definitely get the route and schedule from the station to, so that you can figure your arrival time.
Arriving from the station, you want to get on the bus and the stop that is directly in-front of the bus terminal travelling in the direction GREEN SOUTH.
The WEGO buses are single deck, with doors in the middle and the back. Wheelchair users enter through the front doors and via a ramp that folds outwards from the bus. It is advisable to let the driver know which stop you’ll be getting off from. The wheelchair can be tied down if required. Otherwise, its brakes on and off we go to the falls.
At the end of the day, the same process is as boarding is done in reverse, navigating the carriage to the main door and driving onto the mechanical lift and then descending in the lift onto ground level.
Do you know of any wheelchair accessible coach tours that go from Toronto to Niagara Falls? Have you tried VIA Rail or GO Transit in travelling between Toronto and Niagara Falls?
Please share any tips, corrections, advice you have we would love to hear from you!