Hello, this is your tour guide.

Congratulations! You’ve landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ). But now comes the tough part, getting from the airport to downtown Toronto.

Here at Vand Voyage, we want to offer you the opportunity to consider multiple options before you head out. While, UP Express is by default the best option (who doesn’t love a comfortable train to take you from the airport right into downtown Union Station?) Consider some other more adventurous routes the next time you’re travelling into the city from Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto.

Here are your options for how to get from Toronto’s Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto. Whether you are taking the train from the city; an airport shuttle to the TTC Subway or ride share such as Uber or Taxi. We have you covered.

Cheapest: TTC 900 Airport Shuttle Express.

Most Private: Taxi/ Ride share

Undoubtedly, the most expensive option from our list but the most private. Uber & Lift offer transportation services from the airport, but expect to pay top-dollar for reaching that destination outside of the downtown core. And fyi, Luxury Limo service is at a premium.

Fastest: UP Express

By far the fastest and most comfortable ride to downtown Toronto. The Union Pearson Express (UP Express) whisks travellers from Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson Airport to Toronto’s intermodal Union Station. All in 25 minutes! The station at Pearson Airport’s Terminal 1 connects with Terminal Link, Pearson Airport’s rapid transit connection to Terminal 3 and Viscount Station (ALT Hotel and Value Parking Garage). So if you’re coming from Terminal 1, ride the train between terminals for a seamless connection to UP Express.

If your destination isn’t quite downtown, UP Express offers 2 intermediate stops: Weston Station and Bloor Station. The latter, Bloor Station offers a short walking connection to Dundas West Subway Station for Line 2 to travel across the city. Weston Station, located in the aforementioned up-coming neighbourhood, features scenic views of the Humber River as you roll into the Staton. It should also be worth noting that you can catch the TTC 52 Lawrence West bus from Weston Station.

Note: Prices are accurate as of April 2024.

(Cover Photo:  Destination BC/Andrew Strain)

The Weekend Warrior: Toronto to Glen Eden

Escaping Toronto for a weeknight or weekend trip is easy by car (as long as the traffic is moving), but, unfortunately, anyone interested in leaving the city by train faces a dearth of choice for winter recreational destinations. Sure, there’s existing train stops to Niagara Falls or Stratford, but nothing else. The Glen Eden Ski Area and the greater Kelso Conservation Area could be great train destinations. Nestled just west of the terminus of GO Transit’s Milton Line, the Glen Eden Ski Area is a recreational destination for skiers of all levels. While not a large ski area by any means, the vertical (elevation change from top to bottom) is only 72 metres. What makes Glen Eden a great opportunity for train travel is how the ski slopes and parking area are separated by Canadian Pacific’s mainline. To cross, riders need to either use the pedestrian bridge, or the tunnel from the parking lot to the ski area. A platform, located at the bottom of the hill, could serve as an ideal train stop to a convenient transportation line, offering an escape for urbanites interested in shredding the slopes for a couple hours.

(Destination BC/Grant Harder)

Sea to Sky By Rails: Vancouver to Whislter

While there used to be a regional train service operated by BC Rail from Vancouver, extending all the way to Prince George in the interior, this service sadly ended in 2002. It’s crazy that the largest ski resort in North America is not connected by passenger rail to the third largest city in Canada, Vancouver. There is Rocky Mountaineer’s Rainforest and Gold Rush route, which includes a night in Whistler. However, this service runs only during the summer months and guests cannot start/end their trip from Whistler. The Rainforest and Gold Rush route is primarily a luxury travel service, and is not a passenger run for travellers, hoping to hit the slopes.

Reinstating the train service from North Vancouver to Whistler with a focus on passengers transporting their ski gear to shred the slopes would be a great escape from Vancouver. Think the northern version of the Winter Park Express, but with a West Coast experience to Whistler, which would depart from North Vancouver in the morning and back in the evening.

(Stephane Groleau)

Charlevoix: Quebec to Le Massif

Editor’s note: While a ski train has run in the recent past, there is no winter train running for the 2023-24 season. There is, however, a Le Massif de Charlevoix Package during the summer, offering a weekend escape up the mountain by train and gondola. Perfect for active people, not so much for skiers and winter enthusiasts.

Le Train de Charelvoix runs a popular tourist train departing from the edge of historic Quebec City and northeast up the northern shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Popular for day trips and the weekend excursion, this train has branched off into seasonal services such as the ski train connecting to Le Massif. Situated on the southern face of an escarpment that plunges towards the Saint Lawrence River, Le Massif de Charlevoix could be mistaken for a ski resort in the Rockies, considering the vertical length of 770 metres, and an extensive network of trails.

What we really want to ski: A departure from downtown Quebec’s Palais Station to connect with VIA Rail’s Corridor service to Toronto and Montreal. No more driving to Monmonrency Falls station to catch the train. Make it a car free experience to shred the slopes. Unique to this route is North America’s first (and only) commercial hydrogen powered train.

(Destination BC/Andrew Strain)

Gateway to the Rockies: Calgary to Banff

Canada’s gateway to the Rockies is without frequent regional train service. Considering how busy and packed the Banff National Park becomes during peak season, a ski train would be a welcomed addition. Think the second Rocky Mountain verison of the Winter Park Express with trains departing in the morning from Calgary and returning in the evening every day of the week, accommodating urban weekend warriors and international tourists hoping to avoid renting a car.

Ski Resorts along the route: Lake Louise, Mount Norquay, Nikiska, and Sunshine.

Not to mention other recreational activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking, and skating. While plans are in motion and studies are funded, nothing concrete has come together, leaving the Calgary to Banff train a distant dream for now.

To qualify, the train platform must be within walking distance to the slopes. That is, you can ski right up to the platform, or it is a very short 10 minute walk to the slopes. Unfortunately, shuttle buses, while very helpful, are not included in our list.

Winter Park Express Denver to Winter Park

Starting off our list in the Rocky Mountains, the Amtrak’s Winter Park Express departs Denver’s Union Station at 7 a.m. for a trip out to Winter Park Resort. This newly renovated Union Station easily earns its title as a central hub for the city with rapid transit and regional lines, radiating out in all directions with Denver International Airport being an important endpoint.

The return train leaves the ski area at 16:30. Journey time is approximately two hours. Running primarily on weekends and holidays from January to March, this service is perfect for residents of Denver and car-free tourists looking for a car-free getaway out of the city. Heading west, you’ll witness the Great Plains give way to the Rockies and while the mountains seem impassable, the train will enter Moffatt tunnel – one of the longest mountain railroad tunnels in the United States. This tunnel spans the Centennial Divide, separating the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean watersheds. Emerging out of the tunnel’s western portal is Winter Park Resort Station, and, voila, you’re at the slopes. Ski all day to your heart’s content and enjoy the train ride back to Denver, free from the hassle of driving.

Eurostar to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, in the Alps

Leave the stress of driving through metropolitan France or the chaos at the airport behind, and consider taking the Eurostar directly to the alps. Departing from London St Pancras International on Saturdays and returning on Sundays during the winter months, this high-speed train whisks you from central London to deep into France and drops you off in the heart of the Alps, Bourg-Saint-Maurice. For travellers from Amsterdam, the Eurostar also runs a winter train directly to Bourg-Saint-Morrice.

Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a bustling intermodal hub for the area with numerous connections as passengers travel further into the mountain. In order to conform to the rules of this blog, take L’Arc-En-Ciel Funicular from the station (conveniently located within the station area via a walkway above the tracks) to Les Arcs 1600, the base of the ski area and your gateway to the massive Les Arcs ski area.

Oslo Metro Vinterpark

Not a long distance train by any means, but who doesn’t enjoy the ability to take the Metro from the centre of the city up the mountain to a ski area. Oslo sure does! At the end of Oslo Metro’s Line 1 is Frognerseteren Station and a short walk from that is Skimore Ski Resort. While far from the largest ski resort, its proximity to a large metropolitan area and accessibility via the Metro makes Skimore a perfect escape from the city. Enjoy breathtaking views of Oslo while you shred the slopes. Want some better views? At the top of the slopes is Tryvannstårnet, a communications tower with a public observatory. It offers distant views of the Swedish border.

On the way back, instead of riding the Metro, why not ride a toboggan (or GT Snowracer, if you’re set on sport mode), and race the Metro down the hill on the Korketrekkeren (The Corkscrew). This former bobsleigh track runs two kilometres long and descends 255 metres and conveniently ends at Midtstuen, also on Line 1. Perfect to ride until your heart’s content. Toboggan rentals are available from Akeforeningen.

Glacier Express to Zermatt

Sitting just below the imposing Matterhorn mountain and nestled into the end of a valley, Zermatt is a true resort town with an incredible après-ski atmosphere. This regional railway, Matterhorn Gotthard strikes a perfect balance between tourism and essential local transportation. The Glacier Express is Swiss Federal Railway’s flagship tourist service. With panoramic windows to help you take in the majestic view, savour the regional delicacies of cheese (dare we say, fondue). Pared with regional wines to let the flavours dance as your train crosses valleys from viaducts and straight into mountains. Arriving at Zermatt Station, multiple gondolas await as well as Gornergrat Railway, this mountain rack railway will bring you to the top of Gornergrat Mountain with multiple stops along the way to find your perfect ski trail.

Not only is Zermatt a great place to catch the train from, it’s also the only way to reach the village. Zermatt is car-free to prevent pollution from clouding views of the Matterhorn. Save for some exceptions, internal combustion engines are prohibited. Smaller electric vehicles are permitted, but walkability is heavily promoted in the village. While a tourist train, the Glacier Express is essential in order to reach Zermatt.

OBB to St. Anton Am Arlberg

Set in the Tyrolean section of the Alps. When you think of prestigious Austrian ski resorts, you’re thinking of St. Anton. Professional skiers over the past century have called St. Anton home. Located on the mainline between Zurich and Innsbruck/Vienna, St. Anton Station sees very frequent service with multiple intercity trains passing through everyday. You’ll have plenty of options to choose, whether coming from either larger city. Even Austrian Federal Railway’s (OBB) renaissance Nightjet – they made night trains in Europe cool again after all – makes a stop in St. Anton. So, if you’re OK with a very late night/early morning arrival, go for it.

Stepping out, make a stop at the Service Center to get your bearings and purchase any and all train and lift tickets to get yourself to the top of the mountain as soon as you arrive. Multiple gondolas are a short walk away. We suggest hopping on the Galzigbahn and making your way to the top of Valluga to soak in the 360 degree views of the Alps. After a long day shredding the slopes, heading over to  MooserWirt for the “baddest” Après-Ski bar in Alberg. Their words, not ours.