Are you ready for it?! North Americas most unique feel good holiday tradition is underway and it’s coming soon to a train station stop near you! That’s right, the Holiday Train 2024 is coming soon to a stop near you and it’s already underway! But I’ve been getting a ton of questions so here’s everything you want to know about the CPKC Holiday Train 2024!

Why a Holiday Train?

This festively decorated train’s initiative is not only to bring holiday cheer but also to visit communities across North America in November and December to raise food, money and awareness for local food banks and food pantry organizations. Since 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised more than $24.3 million and more than 5.3 million pounds of food for North American food banks. There are two holiday traveling throughout North America to maximize the initiatives success and donations raised at a Holiday Train stop remain in that community.

The CPKC Holiday Train all lit up at one of it's stops

The CPKC Holiday Train all lit up at one of it’s stops looking festive!

What Happens at the Holiday Train Stops?

The excitement levels are huge as the decorated train pulls into each station. One of the trains’ boxcars opens up and the stage door lowers where the band opens with its first song. Visitors can take pictures and videos of the festivities. Next there’s a brief presentation with the local food bank officials etc. During the show volunteers are busy loading trucks with the food donations and money for their community. After the last song, the boxcar door closes and the train heads out to its next stop.

Band playing at one of the stops along the CPKC Holiday Train route

Band playing at one of the stops along the CPKC Holiday Train route

When is the Holiday Train coming?

Durham Region:

November 29th, 2024:

  • Bowmanville at 2pm at Scugog Rd railway crossing at Wellington St.
  • Oshawa at 3:15pm at 680 Laval Dr.

GTA:

November 29th, 2024:

  • Toronto at 8:30pm at 750 Runnymede Rd

Nov 30th, 2024:

  • Vaughan at 10:15 am at NW corner of CPKC railway crossing at Nachville Road
  • Barrie at 12:30pm (lunch) at Anne Street North and Wenden Court

Ontario outside of the GTA:

Nov 23rd, 2024:

  • Milton at 5pm – 5:30pm Glen Eden Ski & Snowboard Centre – 5234 Kelso Rd
  • Hamilton at 8pm – 8:40pm West Kinneary Yard Hamilton

Nov 24th, 2024:

  • Cambridge/Galt at 4:14pm – 4:45pm 10 Malcom St
  • Ayr at 5:30pm – 6pm Inglis St. & Willison St
  • Woodstock  at 6:50pm – 7:10pm 199 Winniett St
  • London at 8:30pm – 9pm Richmond St & Piccadilly St

Nov 25th, 2024:

  • Chatham at 2:45pm – 3:15pm Holiday Inn & Convention Centre -565 Richmond St
  • Windsor at 6pm – 6:30pm Erie St West & Janette Ave

Nov 28th, 2024:

  • Merrickville at 5pm – 5:30pm 103 East Broadway & County Rd 2
  • Smith Falls 6:30pm – 7pm 63 Victoria Ave
  • Perth at 8pm – 8:30pm Wilson St Railroad Crossing

Nov 29th, 2024:

  • Belleville at 9:30am – 10am Keegan Parkway
  • Trenton at 10:45am – 11:15 am Railway Crossing on R.C.A.F. Rd
  • Brighton at 11:45 am – 12:15pm Prince Edward St

Nov 30th, 2024:

  • MacTier at 3pm – 3:20pm CPKC Station, Mactier
  • Parry Sound at 4:30pm – 5pm Festival Station – 1 Avenue Rd
  • Shawanaga at 5:30pm – 6pm Village Road
  • Rutter at 7:10pm – 7:40pm Rutter Train Station
  • Sudbury at 9:15pm – 9:45pm 233 Elgin St

Dec 1st, 2024:

  • Cartier at 10:45am – 11:15am 3 Spencer Ave
  • Chapleau at 10:45am – 11:15am 50 Dufferin St
  • White River at 9pm – 9:30pm 102 Winnipeg St

Dec 2nd, 2024:

  • Robert at 9:15am-9:45am Band Office
  • Heron Bay 11:15am – 11:45am Esso Building
  • Marathon 12:30pm – 1pm Curling Club, Stevens Ave
  • Schreiber North Shore Harvest Food Cupboard Building
  • Nipigon 5:45pm – 6:15pm CPKC TMS Buildings, 60 Front St
  • Thunder Bay 8:45pm – 9:15pm 440 Syndicate Ave

Dec 3rd, 2024:

  • Ignace at 9:15am – 9:45 am CPKC Train Station
  • Dryden at 11:45am – 12:15pm Queen St and Earl Ave
  • Vermillion Bay at 1:15pm – 1:45pm Bay St Railway Crossing
  • Kenora at 3:45pm – 4:15pm Wholesale Store, 8th Avenue South
  • Ingolf at 5pm – 5:35pm Mile 31.3, Ingolf

Québec:

Nov 22nd, 2024:

  • Montreal 7pm – 7:30pm Montreal West EXO Commuter Station, Montreal
  • Beaconsfield 8:302pm – 9pm Beaconsfield, EXO Commuter Station

Nov 23rd, 2024:

  • Lac- Mégantic 12noon – 12:30pm Rue Cartier between Rue Lemieux and Rue Maisonneuvre
  • Sherbrooke 4:45pm – 5:15pm 795 Rue de la Rand, Sherbrooke
  • Farnham at 8:45pm – 9:15pm

Nov 24th, 2024:

  • Kahnawake at 5pm – 5:30pm Old Malone Rd
  • Saint Constant 6pm – 6:30pm Sainte Catherine EXO Station, Sainte Constant
  • Delson at 6:55pm -7:20pm 1 Chemin de la Gare, Delson
  • Saint- Mathieu 7:50pm – 8:15pm Ecole Jacques Barclay – 368 Rue Principal
  • Lacolle at 9pm – 9:30pm 10 Rue Saint-Marie

Fun Facts about the Holiday Train:

  • The Holiday Train began in 1999, this is it’s 25th year
  • The CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $24.3 million
  • The CPKC Holiday Train has collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S.
  • The trains cover thousands of miles in 4 weeks
  • There’s more than 160 stops

Popular questions about the holiday train:

  • Can you ride the train? No
  • How long does the train stay at a station? Half an hour
  • What items is the food bank looking for? Each area is different so pls check with your local food bank, however cash donations are always appreciate because bulk buying power makes your donation go further.
  • Do you have to go to a stop to see it? No the Holiday Train will be traveling along CPCK rail tracks in Canada and the USA…check out this example here:

So mark your calendars because now that you know that the Holiday Train 2024 is coming soon to a stop near you, it’s time to get you food donation and your festive spirit and head out to a stop near you and enjoy!