By Railfan & Railroad Staff

TORONTO — More than two years after it suspended service between the United States and Canada, Amtrak’s Maple Leaf returned to Toronto on June 27. The train between New York City and the Ontario capital had not gone to its northern terminus since the start of the pandemic. 

Until last month, the Maple Leaf was terminating at Niagra Falls. The train is run with VIA Rail crews in Canada.

“The return of this vital rail connection is welcome news not just for passengers who love to travel, but for countless businesses across New York State and Canada who make it possible for visitors to experience the best of what every locality has to offer,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. 

The news that the Maple Leaf was resuming its daily trips to Toronto comes as Amtrak is also preparing to resume international service to Vancouver on its Cascades route in the Pacific Northwest. Presently, Cascades trains are only running between Eugene, Ore., and Seattle. Trips to Vancouver are expected to begin in September.