Toronto to Detroit by train

One of the keys to making this trip happen was working out how to get from Toronto to Detroit.  My preference is always to go by train - it may not be the quickest way to get about but usually in the USA and Canada it is quite comfortable with lots of legroom and the ability to stretch your legs with a wonder.  Today you tend to get wi-fi (ahead of the UK - and it is free!) and other amenities to make the journey go quickly.  However, there is no train link between Toronto and Detroit...

There is, though, a train link between Toronto and Windsor, a Canadian town literally across the river from Detroit.  You can then get from the train station to the bus station (or a nearer stop) either by foot (as I did) or by bus.  You can then get a bus through the tunnel to Detroit, passing through immigration when you get there. 

From my experience it all worked well, and is a good way of making the trip happen.  As ever there are not frequent trains between Toronto and Windsor (3 per day?) but the times are fairly reasonable and the trip takes 4 hours.  (Incidentally, one of the things that seems odd as a traveller is that there is huge rail infrastructure in both the US and Canada, which only see a handful of train per day - at best!)

I made the trip in business class - I wasn't sure that my case would be light enough for the discount ticket in economy (and they do weigh them at the station so it is worth being sure), so given the rice difference between standard economy and discount business was small, I took the upgrade.  This meant you got breakfast on board - the service is like an airline rather than the frequent trolley service you might get in the UK.  Interestingly, when they serve the meal they serve people holding frequent traveller cards first, and then go back for everyone else!  I guess one of the advantages they get is first dibs on the meal choice, although I had no issues when it came to my choice.

Walking from the train station you have to go past the Detroit-Windsor tunnel to get to the bus station.  However, I found out that there is a stop around the back (from talking to the tourist information office) which removes a little from the walk!  A bus turned up quickly for me - and I was the only person on it!  Rather like a very large taxi I suppose...  It was probably just as well for any other potential passengers as everyone has to get off at the border for processing, and processing me (as a tourist) probably took longer than a local would have (particularly as it wasn't very clear what you should be doing!). Still, I made it!