ghYHZ
Apr 3, 12, 1:13 pm
The past few weeks I’ve been travelling regularly between Ottawa and Toronto. Going…… depending on my schedule, it’s been a toss-up between flying and VIA……but returning, VIA wins hands-down…..just a much more relaxing experience! And it’s hard to beat the fare…..six one-way Business Class coupons for $791 + tax!
If I’m at our office on Markham Road, it’s about equal distance to Pearson or VIA Oshawa……about a half hour drive either way. (If I’m taking the evening train……Guildwood is just down the road) Someone will usually give me a ride to the station and we’ll wait in the Park & Ride until I see the headlight approaching. Then it’s a minute walk to the train and just a step aboard.
Then the service begins and IMHO the finest Business Class product in Canada……air or rail! As soon as I’m seated, I have a cold Sleemans in my hand along with a bag of munchies then just sit back, relax and watch as we’re easily overtaking everything over on parallel 401 at 95 + MPH! Shortly afterwards, there’s a hot towel to freshen up before the appetizer, dinner and wine. Here’s the menu from last week’s #46……I had the Pork and very good:
Appetizer
Corn, Edamame soybean and carrot salad
Four Cheese and Spinach Medallions
served in an Alfredo sauce and topped with Fontina cheese,
julienne sundried tomatoes and fresh spinach.
or
Breaded Wonton Shrimp
served with Shanghai noodles and siu choy (Chinese cabbage).
or
Pork Tenderloin
stuffed with Asiago cheese, spinach and roasted peppers,
served with corn fritters and long-grain rice with red kidney beans.
All meals are served with a selection of bread.
Dessert
Raspberry Chocolate Brownie
After dinner a tray of VIA’s signature Truffles is passed around then the bar cart…….. I have a Drambuie…… Nice to just mellow-out or get on the internet with the complementary Wi-Fi.
About 3 hours and 15 minutes out of Oshawa, we’re slowing for the stop in suburban Fallowfield and I gather my things……then again, it’s a quick one minute walk to the park and ride and the GF waiting in the warm car.
When I’m working downtown, Porter might have the edge time wise (and I have used them a few times) but for the service and the time to relax……I’ll take VIA’s new Express #656…..scheduled for under 4 hrs to Ottawa. Even Porter requires line-up and wait….shuttle, ferry, check-in, security, boarding etc. But on VIA, if I time it right, I just walk to Union Station, show my ticket at the bottom of the escalator and step aboard the train…..effortlessly. And if I’m a few minutes early, I have the nice new Business Class “Panorama Lounge” to wait in.
Tomorrow morning…..I’m back on VIA #41 :)
If I’m at our office on Markham Road, it’s about equal distance to Pearson or VIA Oshawa……about a half hour drive either way. (If I’m taking the evening train……Guildwood is just down the road) Someone will usually give me a ride to the station and we’ll wait in the Park & Ride until I see the headlight approaching. Then it’s a minute walk to the train and just a step aboard.
Then the service begins and IMHO the finest Business Class product in Canada……air or rail! As soon as I’m seated, I have a cold Sleemans in my hand along with a bag of munchies then just sit back, relax and watch as we’re easily overtaking everything over on parallel 401 at 95 + MPH! Shortly afterwards, there’s a hot towel to freshen up before the appetizer, dinner and wine. Here’s the menu from last week’s #46……I had the Pork and very good:
Appetizer
Corn, Edamame soybean and carrot salad
Four Cheese and Spinach Medallions
served in an Alfredo sauce and topped with Fontina cheese,
julienne sundried tomatoes and fresh spinach.
or
Breaded Wonton Shrimp
served with Shanghai noodles and siu choy (Chinese cabbage).
or
Pork Tenderloin
stuffed with Asiago cheese, spinach and roasted peppers,
served with corn fritters and long-grain rice with red kidney beans.
All meals are served with a selection of bread.
Dessert
Raspberry Chocolate Brownie
After dinner a tray of VIA’s signature Truffles is passed around then the bar cart…….. I have a Drambuie…… Nice to just mellow-out or get on the internet with the complementary Wi-Fi.
About 3 hours and 15 minutes out of Oshawa, we’re slowing for the stop in suburban Fallowfield and I gather my things……then again, it’s a quick one minute walk to the park and ride and the GF waiting in the warm car.
When I’m working downtown, Porter might have the edge time wise (and I have used them a few times) but for the service and the time to relax……I’ll take VIA’s new Express #656…..scheduled for under 4 hrs to Ottawa. Even Porter requires line-up and wait….shuttle, ferry, check-in, security, boarding etc. But on VIA, if I time it right, I just walk to Union Station, show my ticket at the bottom of the escalator and step aboard the train…..effortlessly. And if I’m a few minutes early, I have the nice new Business Class “Panorama Lounge” to wait in.
Tomorrow morning…..I’m back on VIA #41 :)