Zip to Niagara and GO Biking!





Metrolinx isn’t household brand-name (yet!), much less one that’s synonymous with casual weekend getaways and bicycle touring excursions. However, through it’s operational GO Transit division, which is indeed very well known to all Commuters here in Southern Ontario, Metrolinx has provided the GO trains with a big push to surpass their trusted role as the mover of work-a-day Ontarians, and break away from the commuting pack into a much more leisurely and adventurous class of rail travel. The best part of this service expansion is that it won’t just enthuse Sightseers, but it’s also purposely geared towards the pleasure of Cyclists as well, with the provision of specially equipped trains to carry bikes down to expansive scenery that surrounds Niagara Falls!

After last Summers successful inauguration of ZIP train service into the Niagara Region, GO Transit hopes to augment last years total of over 50,000 weekend passengers by adding an additional trip on Friday evenings to facilitate longer weekend getaways both to The Falls, as well as offering a quick weekend train trip in the opposite direction back into Toronto from the Peninsula. From May 21 to September 26 passengers can not only avoid all traffic, and effortlessly get to the magnificent sights, routes, and attractions of the area in about 2 hours, but new for this season, they can also take their bikes along to tour The Falls and Vineyards of this famous wine-growing area as well at no extra charge! As such, you might be very surprised by the easy options that this service opens up to even the most average Cycling enthusiast…

The train station is about a 10 minute ride up to the Falls, and also offers quick access to the scenic route back down the Niagara River to the many Theater attractions offered at Niagara-on-the-Lake. What’s more anybody who’s ever wanted to ride their bike into the States can now do this with nothing more than their passport and some spending loot, and the clothes on their back…At the very least.

GO to GoTransit.com/Zip for fares & schedules

These “Zip Away” trains to to Niagara Falls, can all carry 4 bikes per car, and on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays they’ll also be specially equipped with 2 designated bike coaches per train that can carry up to 18 bikes each! So there’s no shortage of options to carry bicycles down to the Falls as part of your regular GO Train fare, and buses are also equipped with racks during the off-season.

While we wait to see what types of special cross-promotional offers that we can expect to take advantage of this year, you might also want to consider some of the other very ambitious plans and projects that Metrolinx is working on to better integrate Mass Transit into the daily lives of all travelers in Southern Ontario…

Click Here to see how Metrolinx is helping to transform the urban landscape, and the environment that we all live in together, by laying plans for the Future of Mass Transit

SOURCES:

GoTransit.com/Zip

416 869-3200

toll free 1 888 438-6646

Station Location:

http://maps.google.ca/local?f=q&h1=en&q=43.1088,+-79.0636+%28Niagara+Falls+VIA+station%29

Local Niagara Transit:

http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/travelling/connecting.aspx