How do I get from Halifax to Boston by rail?

Question

Brother getting married next October to a girl from Toronto - we are from UK - all advice and suggestions appreciated!

Answer 1

You cannot do this as there is no rail service north of Portland, Maine.

You can take the train to Portland and then take the ferry to Nova Scotia (The Cat.) From there a bus to Halifax.

Answer 2

Yeah assuming you are talking about Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, then the only train option would be to go from Halifax-Montreal on the Canadian train, then from Montreal-NYC and NYC-Boston on the US train. This would take you at least 2 days, even if the schedule works in your favor (there is only one Montreal-NYC train a day), and would probably be very expensive. It would be a very circuitous route and not convenient at all. Although flying is very expensive it would be cheaper than the train and much faster. You could also take a train from Boston-Portland, Maine and a ferry to Canada but I'm not sure if they have a full schedule in october. Probably best bet is to fly.

Unless you're referring to Halifax, Massachusetts in the US... which is less than an hour by commuter train from Boston, and you can check that out at www.mbta.com which is the website for Boston's public transportation system - they will have schedules up there.

Answer 3

Do you have a problem flying or something? Cars and fuel are cheap, it's a day and a half easy drive along with a $300 Cat trip plus some gorgeous scenary.

Which Halifax anyway? If it's the one in Yorkshire you'll need a boat or a plane.

Sorry, I didn't notice the 3 day claim above.

At the end of September I flew in to Boston in the early AM and drove up the coast to Bar Harbor, Maine. Next day I took the cat to Yarmouth, NS and drove to Halifax, NS via as many light houses and harbors as I could find. 2 easy days with loads of stops.

Next day I drove to Prince Edward Island.

Fourth day I drove from Charlottetown, PEI to Portland, ME. I could have made Boston in one day if I hadn't needed to find a hotel. No way is Halifax to Boston a three day drive. PEI is only a couple of hours from Halifax and part of that is the wrong way.

Answer 4

Halifax? There is also a city in MA called Halifax. If that's what you're speaking of, you could just take the MBTA commuter rail for $4.50 each way, and it would take about an hour and a half. It leaves you at Boston's South Station right downtown! . .Seeing as I don't think that's what you mean, you're probably not going to be able to find public transportation, and would have to rent a car.

Answer 5

The"Downeaster" http://www.thedowneaster.com/ train from Boston to Portland, Maine is the closest you get to Halifax directly without spending 2 to 3 days and thousands of extra miles on the rails.

From Portland to N.S there is a ferry that you could take:
http://www.catferry.com/

Enjoy!

Answer 6

Unfortunately my ig 135 is correct (so is ShouldBeW, except that Halifax, Mass is a town, not a city). This is car-huggin' North America here, where trains have been allowed to practically disappear with exception of a handful of of lines (Boston-Washington is the only line that even approaches European-like frequency of service; whilst Sacramento-Oakland, Los Angeles-San Diego, New York-Schenectady, Portland-Boston (on the east coast), Salem-Portland-Seattle (on the west coast), Milwaukee-Chicago-St. Louis and Montreal-Toronto are just about the only other remaining lines with more than 2 or 3 trains per day, and there remain only 3 trains in total (!!) between USA and Canada cities).

But to answer your question specifically (for reason I'll explain
below) by train you'd go from Halifax, NS, to Quebec City to Montreal (only one train per day, but it is a long one, almost 25 carriages). It will take you almost a full day. Then from Montreal you'd either the train (one per day) to New York City and change to the train to Boston (also one per day) at Albany, or take a connecting (short trip) bus from Montreal to St. Albans to catch the Vermonter train (the Vermonter runs from St. Albans to Washington DC) and connect to the train to Boston at Springfield. But because there is no immediate connection, both of these would require you to do an overnight at a hotel in either Albany or Springfield, both places with practically nothing to see or do (Albany is a little better of teh two; as for Springfield: well, if you think you'd like something like Brixton, even more decrepit but without Muslims, then Springfield, Mass is your city!).

The thing you will have to do is to think of flying, or renting a car (left side drive of course) - both expensive propositions. Unfortunately at present there is no Ryanair or similar discount airline flying between Halifax, NS, and Boston, although one of the Canadian discounters is reported thinking of it. Beyond the fares, however, the taxes and "security" surcharges are onerous (surprisingly, the Canadian more than American). If you rent a car, you can either drive the long way, around the Bay of Fundy
(3 times the distance as is perimetering the Firth of Forth in Scotland from Linton to St. Andrews) then through Maine to Boston (at least a 3 day trip and probably more because you will pass through a lot of picturesque areas and lovely villages and small cities and historic places, unless you choose to exhaust yourselves) or rent a car only to drive to Yarmouth, NS (also scenic and historic, especially if you zig-zag across the southern NS peninsula, and take the ferry (or cateraman) from there to Maine which will cut a day but then you have to pay for the boat). Of course you can choose to mix your vehicles, perhaps renting a car in Halifax for the trek as far as Yarmouth only then taking the CAT to Portland (a beautiful and active little city!) then the train to Boston (unfortunately the Portland RR station is located about 5 or 6 km from the city centre and boat landing, however, requiring you to find a place to drop your bags whilst you explore - frankly I would recommend you get a Portland hotel and stay for a night).

The reason you MIGHT still wish to drive it or train it all the way, in spite of how long and expensive it might be, is that in October, especially the first 3 weeks, you will be going through one of the world's most spectacularly beautiful areas (at that time of year) with [the] amazing autumn foliage. Be forewarned, however,: people come to see it from all over the world and accommodations and car rentals - more so in the USA than in Canada - are usually sold out, so if your brother is getting married before - say - Oct 25 - make travel arrangements far ahead of time (or take a tent and sleeping bags). Should you wish to drive and enjoy an even fuller foliage-time experience allow yourself a couple of extra days, even, and drive from Portland northwest into the White Mountains, across New Hampshire on the Kangamangus, into Vermont, down central Vermont to about Brattleboro, thence back across New Hampshire's Monadnock region towards Boston. It will be a trip you'll never forget.