In an effort to entice more tourists to one of the busiest tourist destinations in the province, the Ontario government is extending weekend GO Train service between Toronto and Niagara Falls to run throughout the year.

Trains now operate three round trips each day throughout the week and four round trips Saturday, Sunday, and select holiday Mondays.

Niagara Falls GO train weekly and weekend service is currently running year round. Ticket packages also include WEGO, a local bus service to help your move around Niagara Falls.

Taking the GO train to Niagara Falls from the GTA and abroad is a no-brainer. Save yourself the hassle and avoid driving this season and take the train or bus instead. We welcome Go Transit commuters to visit our family friendly destination of Clifton Hill: Falls, Fun, Fantastic!

Round Trip Weekly Train Service!

GO train service to Niagara Falls has continued this season, so people all over the GTA and beyond have a convenient and affordable option for traveling within Ontario to some great destinations. Tickets options include both GO train fare and the convenient WEGO hop-on, hop-off bus, which reaches the Table Rock Centre as well as accommodations and other Niagara attractions. Many of Niagara’s top attractions are now open, so if you are itching to get out of the city, this is a great time to travel.

Discount Weekend GO Transit Pass from Toronto to Niagara Falls!

There is one type of pass available:

$10 Weekend Day Pass

This pass will allow you to travel all day long on a Saturday OR a Sunday OR a Holiday.

With this pass, you pay just one low fare for unlimited travel between your origin point and your final destination!

The Weekend Pass is exclusively available as GO e-ticket options. Buy yours today!

Expanded Payment Options

The Ontario government recently expanded payment options for transit riders to make taking transit easier. Starting today, riders can tap their debit card on a PRESTO device, including debit cards on a smartphone or smartwatch, to pay fares on several transit systems. This payment option is also available on paratransit services in some areas.

GO Train Service Schedule:

Multiple trains will leave Toronto’s Union Station for Niagara each Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays this season. Counting the return trips, that leaves many options throughout the day.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY and HOLIDAY MONDAYS!

GO Train & Bus To Niagara Falls

Return GO Train/Bus To Toronto

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

GO Train & Bus To Niagara Falls

Return GO Train/Bus To Toronto

Taking the GO Train to Niagara Falls is the most efficient way to travel through the big cities. Avoid traffic, gas fees, and save valuable time!

The GO Train stops at 4267 Bridge Street in Niagara Falls (at River Road), and the GO Bus at 4555 Erie Avenue (at Bridge Street) near downtown, or at its stop at Stanley Avenue & Highway 420. The Bridge Street and Erie Avenue routes are approximately 4 km from the Falls and only 2 blocks from the downtown district. Getting to Clifton Hill is easy from there with these options:

WEGO BUS SERVICE

Your round-trip ticket includes the GO Train to Niagara Falls as well as two-day access to WEGO, the hop-on, hop-off bus service that travels throughout the city of Niagara Falls and Niagara Parks. Just order online, present your Go ticket (printed or on your mobile device) and you’ll have access to WeGo.

Routes & Schedules

“The inclusion of WEGO bus service in this ticket package connects our guests to our iconic Table Rock Centre, providing access to Niagara Parks sites and attractions as soon as they arrive in Niagara Falls, making for a smooth and enjoyable visitor experience.” said Niagara Parks CEO David Adames

WEGO features bus lines that all meet in Niagara Parks at Table Rock next to the Horseshoe Falls. This is the main transfer hub serving the city tourist areas.

While you’re visiting the destination, use your mobile device to locate the closest WEGO bus and get estimated bus arrival times.

The WEGO bus service will take you to Clifton Hill’s World Famous Street of Fun with stops in other key areas throughout the city. Clifton Hill offers the best in family-fun attractions and features Canada’s Largest Mini Golf: Dinosaur Adventure Golf!

The WEGO pass is hop on, hop off so that you can worry less and enjoy more! Use your WEGO pass to explore the Niagara Parks featuring: Journey Behind the Falls, 

Taxi

There are taxi stands located at the Niagara Falls GO Train stop for your convenience. There is no aggravation of hailing a cab with this convenient option.

Walking 

If you came to Niagara Falls for the scenery, then this is your best option. To walk from Bridge Street to Clifton Hill and/or the Falls will take approximately a half hour. Take the Legacy Trail for a safe and quiet path. The trail connects downtown near City Hall to Bender Street by running along the old Canadian Pacific Railway corridor parallel to Ontario Avenue. It is a trail made from asphalt, which makes it easy for cyclists, the mobility impaired, and parents pushing strollers to use.

You can also take the world famous Niagara Parkway (River Road) with its unmistakable stone walls protecting pedestrians from the twelve foot drop into the scenic Niagara river gorge area.

Bicycles are welcome on the Niagara GO Train, and bike route maps are made available at the GO Train Niagara Falls station.

Since the Niagara Falls GO Trains are equipped to hold between 36-54 bikes, you can bring a set of wheels with you and enjoy some of top bike trails when you arrive!  This is a great opportunity to try the Niagara Scenic Parkway bike path and cruise your way through wine country.

Safety Never Stops

And no story of GO Transit would be complete without a pause to write about safety. As more customers return to transit, the transit agency wants to reassure riders their health and safety remains a top priority. Since the pandemic began, Metrolinx has implemented more than 40 permanent safety actions to keep transit safe. That includes mandatory masks, clear plastic barriers between seats on trains and buses, and hand sanitizer dispensers on vehicles and in stations.

The post Niagara Falls Go Train Schedule for the Season appeared first on Niagara Falls Blog.

If you’ve ever driven along the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) from Toronto to Niagara Falls, you’ve likely noticed a mysterious ship resting along the shores of Jordan Harbour. This vessel, affectionately known as the “Pirate Ship” or “Ghost Ship,” has long fascinated passersby. Officially named La Grande Hermine, which translates to “The Big Weasel” in French, this iconic ship has captured imaginations for decades. Sadly, its time as a roadside curiosity has come to an end.

Originally built in 1914 in Quebec, La Grande Hermine began its journey as a ferry on the St. Lawrence River. It later became a cargo ship before being converted into a floating restaurant. However, in 1991, the ship was transformed into a replica of one of the ships used by Jacques Cartier during his 1535 exploration of the St. Lawrence River. This 140-foot-long vessel was the largest of three ships that Cartier used during his famous expedition.

In 1997, La Grande Hermine arrived at Jordan Harbour with ambitious plans to turn it into either a restaurant or casino. The ship was docked in the harbour, waiting for its new purpose. Unfortunately, the businessman behind the project passed away before these plans could come to life, and the ship remained abandoned, becoming a fixture along the highway. Over the years, the ship’s weathered and rusted appearance only added to its allure, drawing curious travelers who wondered about its story.

Then, in January 2003, tragedy struck. La Grande Hermine was set ablaze by an arsonist, leaving its hull charred but still standing. Despite the fire damage, the ship remained intact, and its haunting, half-burned frame became even more of a photographic draw for visitors. The scarred, skeletal remains of the ship gave it an even more ghostly appearance, earning it a place in local lore.

The Final Chapter: Removal of La Grande Hermine

In 2021, concerns about the ship’s stability and potential environmental hazards led to action by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Working with the Canadian Coast Guard, they removed the ship’s masts as a precautionary measure, after a technical assessment highlighted the risk of the ship collapsing into the water. While the masts were taken down to prevent further structural damage, the hull remained in place, though clearly deteriorating.

Recent reports from local Facebook groups and conversations with Niagara residents have confirmed that La Grande Hermine is now being dismantled and removed from Jordan Harbour permanently. Pieces of the ship are being taken apart as part of a final effort to mitigate environmental risks and eliminate safety concerns. This marks the end of an era for a ship that has long stood as an intriguing, if forlorn, roadside landmark.

Visiting Jordan Harbour Before It’s Gone

For those who still wish to catch a final glimpse of La Grande Hermine before it disappears completely, the ship is located at 2793 Beacon Boulevard, Jordan Station, Ontario. Though much of the ship is being dismantled, the site still offers a glimpse of its eerie, tilted frame resting just meters from the shoreline.

• From Toronto: Take the QEW to exit 55 (Jordan Road), turn left at the stop sign, and left again onto Jordan Road. Turn left on North Service Road, and the destination will be on your right.
• From Niagara: Take the QEW to exit 55 (Jordan Road), then turn left on North Service Road. The site will be on your right.

Admission to the site is free, and it remains a popular stop for those passing through. With the ship’s removal underway, this may be one of the last chances to capture a photograph of La Grande Hermine before it vanishes from the landscape forever.

Looking Back on the Legacy of La Grande Hermine

As La Grande Hermine is taken apart and removed from its decades-long resting place, its memory will live on in the stories shared by those who witnessed it. From its early days as a working ship to its later years as a historical replica and eventual abandoned landmark, the ship’s journey has been anything but ordinary.

Though the ship itself may no longer be part of the Niagara landscape, its story will continue to captivate those who remember seeing it standing proudly on the shores of Jordan Harbour. Whether you caught a glimpse of it on your drive to Clifton Hill or made a special stop to photograph its haunting frame, La Grande Hermine remains a symbol of adventure, history, and the passage of time.

As it fades into memory, La Grande Hermine will forever hold a place in the hearts of those who traveled the road to Niagara Falls, a reminder of the mysteries and stories that lie just beyond the beaten path.

The post That Abandoned Ship into Niagara: “La Grande Hermine” appeared first on Niagara Falls Blog.