Getting from the Region of Waterloo Airport to Toronto

Getting from Kitchener Waterloo Airport to Toronto city centre using public transport is possible, but it requires a few transfers and some lengthy wait times. For the first part of your trip, you will need to take the Route 79 Breslau bus, run by Grand River Transit (GRT), which takes 15 minutes. This is an on-demand service where you submit your pick-up request through their GRT Flex App.

This service connects with the wider GRT network at the 7050 Victoria/Lackner bus stop. From here, you travel for 10-15 minutes to Kitchener Central Station on one of two buses; the 34 bus heading towards Central Station, or the 204 bus in the direction of The Boardwalk Station.

Once at Kitchener Central Station, you have three options to get to downtown Toronto:

• Take a short walk from Kitchener Central Station to Kitchener GO and ride the 30 – Bramalea GO bus Eastbound for about 65 minutes and then transfer to the KI GO train line to Union Station, Toronto, for a further 35 minutes. This has a total journey time of 1 hour and 40 minutes, not including transfer or wait times
• Take the direct GO train service from Kitchener GO to Union Station which takes up to 1 hour and 45 minutes, not including wait times
• Travel on the direct VIA 84 train service which takes 1 hour and 35 minutes but only runs once a day.

You can buy a transfer ticket for the GRT bus for €2.60 (CAD 3.75) per traveller which lasts 90 minutes and covers the bus trip from the airport through to Kitchener Central Station. This can be paid for on-board with cash or card but you will need to notify the driver that it is a transfer journey.

The GO bus and train service from Kitchener GO to Union Station costs €13.20 (CAD 19.40) per traveller and can be purchased at the station with cash or card, or bought online. Tickets from Kitchener Central to Union Station on the VIA Rail start at €18.30 (CAD 27) per traveller, and can be bought online or purchased at the station with cash or card.

Using the bus and train network to get from Kitchener Airport to Toronto’s downtown area is the most affordable transport option between the two, however, due to the number of transfers that you need to make, it’s not the most convenient option if you’re travelling with heavy or bulky luggage. Furthermore, some services only run on weekdays and don’t keep a regular schedule, making it difficult to plan your journey.

If you don’t want the worry or hassle of making sure your flight arrives in time to catch the bus service, especially if you experience any delays, it is better to book a private transfer in advance for a smooth and uncomplicated transit directly to your accommodation.