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Intercity Bus Services
- Thread starter Jonny5
- Start date
EdDrass
New Member
A gent called Travellers' Aid wondering how to get to Casino Rama by transit. Using Sean's map it looks like the closest is Northland bus to Orillia.
As of now, are any casinos aside from Niagara linked by scheduled transit or dedicated coach service?
Just out of "lockdowns", I visited that new casino between Pickering and Ajax GO and was underwhelmed with the place and the access.
Merci.
As of now, are any casinos aside from Niagara linked by scheduled transit or dedicated coach service?
Just out of "lockdowns", I visited that new casino between Pickering and Ajax GO and was underwhelmed with the place and the access.
Merci.
gabe
Senior Member
it's such a short distance and no direct routes connect Hamilton to KW/Guelph. All four cities have enough people with large student populations to support some direct routes.
Bordercollie
Senior Member
I think there are some dedicated shuttles for Rama.
The new Pickering casino is walking distance from the station.
lenaitch
Senior Member
While there are some non-charter group services, I think Hammond has some service, it's a shell of what it used to be. The main attraction of the three big original commercial casinos (Rama, N. Falls and Windsor) were table games. None of the smaller so-called 'charity casinos' were allowed to have them (Blue Heron had a few under special agreement). People that wanted to play table games would travel from far and wide. Now, all of the smaller casinos have tables, so if you are in the GTA - where an awful lot of Rama's clientele came from - you can go to Pickering, Woodbine, etc. The bus bay at the back is virtually empty. If it wasn't for the entertainment complex and hotel, I'm not sure it would still be open and many are speculating that won't be enough to keep it viable.
Bus Service - Casino Rama
www.casinorama.com
Bordercollie
Senior Member
I'm sure that with some investment they could bring people back.While there are some non-charter group services, I think Hammond has some service, it's a shell of what it used to be. The main attraction of the three big original commercial casinos (Rama, N. Falls and Windsor) were table games. None of the smaller so-called 'charity casinos' were allowed to have them (Blue Heron had a few under special agreement). People that wanted to play table games would travel from far and wide. Now, all of the smaller casinos have tables, so if you are in the GTA - where an awful lot of Rama's clientele came from - you can go to Pickering, Woodbine, etc. The bus bay at the back is virtually empty. If it wasn't for the entertainment complex and hotel, I'm not sure it would still be open and many are speculating that won't be enough to keep it viable.
Bus Service - Casino Rama
Or use those reasources to build something else that may attract people, not just a casino.
How is the food there? Even the food at Niagara is not what it once was.
lenaitch
Senior Member
The original casino building (not counting the hotel and entertainment complex) was built as a temporary facility, with land identified (or actually set aside, I can't recall) for the permanent casino to be across the road on the lake. If you look around, it is little more than a warehouse. Seeing as the place became a licence to print money pretty much from day one, I guess they decided 'why bother' (pre-Covid, you would be astonished at the amount of money that flowed out of their count romm every single day). Regardless of where a casino is situation, they don't have windows and the drones inside pulling on slots or tossing chips don't care. Without the casino, it is left with the entertainment centre, and it had better be A-list if you want people to schlepp up from the GTA. Otherwise, the location has little else to recommend it. If it were on the water, I suppose it could add itself to the list of resorts chasing tourist dollars.
I don't know the current state of the restaurants. According to their website a couple have closed and some are on shorter hours.
Way back when, I think the gaming proponents had visions of Las Vegas dancing in their heads. The Entertainment Centre used to get some pretty decent acts in (no clue what it is like now) but, really, only Niagara Falls is anything approaching a 'destination venue'. Without a casino, few go to Windsor or Orillia for the culture, night life and entertainment.
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APTA-2048
Senior Member
I wouldn’t call a 40 minute walk walking distance. Bayly Street is also very pedestrian unfriendly.
EdDrass
New Member
I walked from Pickering and it was a fn hike. Don't know how I imagined it was close by -- perhaps even Ajax GO is closer.
EdDrass
New Member
Thanks for the comments, folks.While there are some non-charter group services, I think Hammond has some service, it's a shell of what it used to be.
Bus Service - Casino Rama
If there are any scheduled runs to Rama, whether Hammond or otherwise, they are not obvious online.
Cannot even see the Muskoka schedules ... https://hammondbus.com/destinations/
Sunnyside
Active Member
Sorry for the poorly cropped screenshot. Am I seeing this right?? Finally KW to Hamilton?!
reaperexpress
Senior Member
Wow. Finally!
Based on the trip planner, it seems to be 1 daily round trip daily except Tuesdays.
Southbound:
11:25 UWaterloo
11:40 Kitchener (King & Victoria)
12:40 McMaster U
Northbound:
17:50 McMaster U
18:50 Kitchener (King & Victoria)
19:10 UWaterloo
Too bad it doesn't continue to Downtown Hamilton, and doesn't run very frequently, but hopefully this service is succesful and they're able to expand the route.
ShonTron
Moderator
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This really should have been GO Transit, with at a minimum 8-10 round trips to start, but it's something.
reaperexpress
Senior Member
Yes definitely. Hopefully they will add some additional trips in September when universities are busier.