Anyone have any experience of doing this?
I've found the via website and it looks do-able in theory, but I wondered if anyone had actually done this trip?

Any tips/advice would be gratefully received , even if the advice is don't do it !

It looks very do-able.

We're planning on doing this as a day trip when we over in Feb - with two kids. Looks like a good way to see a different bit of the area, and pretty cheap too. Only thing I haven't been able to check out yet is where the station is in Niagara, but it's not exactly a big place!

I did it in 1975.

Done it by greyhound twice in the last 8 years but we stayed overnight.

The station is quite far from the centre of things.

Via website reckons its about 4km , haven't checked on googlemaps yet

I was just looking on mapquest. The rail station is by the bus station.

There are taxis and a bus service to the centre.

We walked in the right direction from the bus station in 2004. I think we were walking for an hour or more in very hot weather. We gave up and flagged down a taxi. The remainder of the journey made us glad we got the taxi.

Last year we knew better and got straight in a taxi and the route confirmed we hadn't gone the wrong way in 2004.

Cab it is then I'm guessing February's not really going to be walking weather anyway...

We did toronto to niagara on the train - no problems at all. Found it was substantially cheaper than an organised tour and we were able to time the visit to suit us. Our visit was mid to late November so extremely cold - niagara was partly frozen - still managed plenty of walking.
Lynne

did you walk from the train station?
I'll be going somehere between the 5th and 10th of october so hopefully the weather won't be too bad

IIRC, the train station is right by that bridge that is only for people with a pass. It is a railway and road bridge going from Niagara Falls, Ont to Niagara Falls, NY.

BTW..Niagara Falls NY can be a rather dodgy place in areas.

Yes, it is by the bridge.

But it's not Rainbow Bridge which is further on again. Drag the cusor over the map and you can see it's quite a walk.

If you are only there for a few hours, that walk is a waste of time.

cheers for the info all help gratefully received

We got a taxi from the train station to the falls but decided to walk back. From memory I would say that the walk took a little over an hour without stepping it out and we enjoyed doing it.

As Lynne said, the falls were partially frozen when we went and the Maid of the Mist was closed down as were some of the passageways behind the falls . We did however take a helicopter trip instead and the aerial views were spectacular, something I would highly recommend. Overall we were disappointed with Niagara itself, very tacky (we went in the Elvis museum which was the pits) and run down in places but somewhere I think everyone should get the chance to visit at least once in their life. We intend to go there again ourselves but it will be at a warmer time of the year, although seeing plants and railings encased in ice formed by the mist from the falls freezing on contact was beautiful.

If you like the security of being part of an organised trip and having everything arranged for you I would say don't bother with the train. For us, doing it ourselves worked out far cheaper and we enjoyed the freedom of not being tied to a tour operator's schedule.

John

It certainly is that. Much of it makes me think of Las Vegas (not that I've been there) but it's all far enough away from the Falls themselves not to spoil them.

oh I've done the falls ad infinitum , all seasons etc
Unfortunately everyone who visits wants to go and I don't drive
My brother isn't really the tour group kind either