My routing back from Montreal took another hit a couple of days ago when a CSX freight train had 19 cars derail on the New York Central line at Amsterdam, NY, west of Schenectady.

I have now implemented a plan B, as I bought a ticket for the business car on VIA's 1656 departure from Montreal to Toronto; my fare including taxes was C$152 (approximately US$115.50), which includes dinner and non-alcoholic drinks. If this train runs to schedule I get to Toronto at 2203, and have 37 minutes to board the GO Lakeshore West 2240 departure for Niagara Falls, ON, arriving there on the stroke of 0100. I have a Presto transit fare card; the fare for seniors is roughly C$7.75. There is a Ramada Inn within two blocks of the NFS station, and I will overnight there. The Amtrak Maple Leaf shows up at NFS at 1021; I'm going to use that to cross the border and take it as far as Depew, arriving there at 1230; I paid US$19.80 for this. I have a 12 hour layover (there are a number of places I could go, so I won't get bored). The Lake Shore Limited is scheduled to depart from Depew at 0039 and arrive back in Cleveland at 0353; my fare was a paltry $15.30.

Train travel at its finest.