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CPKC Holiday Train 2025 — Schedule, Impact, and Why It Matters for Toronto & Beyond

Posted on October 11, 2025 by Sami Chowdhury

What’s happening in 2025
The CPKC Holiday Train returns November 19–December 21, 2025, sending two illuminated trains to 196 communities across Canada and the U.S. The Canadian leg launches in Montréal and ends in Gleichen, Alberta; the U.S. leg runs Hermon, Maine to Kenmare, North Dakota. Each stop features a short, free concert from the side of a railcar, with the audience encouraged to donate to the local food bank. CPKCR+2Trains+2

Toronto & GTA context
Toronto typically draws strong turnout, with prior years seeing evening crowds and west-end yard appearances. Exact 2025 stop details and times are set on the official CPKC schedule PDFs and can shift due to operations, so residents should verify the latest times before heading out. gis.cpkcr.com

The model: free shows, local impact
Holiday Train shows are free, but the program asks for food or monetary donations for local food banks. Over 26 years, the train has raised $26M+ and collected 5.4M+ pounds of food—numbers that place it among the country’s most visible seasonal corporate-community partnerships. Progressive Railroading

Why it matters

Awareness & timing: Food banks see heightened need in Q4; a marquee event in late November/December drives both donations and media visibility. 2) Local multipliers: Dollars collected stay with the local food bank partners, which can stretch cash farther than retail shoppers due to wholesale procurement. 3) Place-making: Bringing music to rail sidings creates family-friendly “micro-festivals” that activate under-used public-industrial spaces for a night. CPKCR

Operations & reliability
Trains are sensitive to weather and network conditions. CPKC publishes real-time updates and encourages checking channels the day of a show. That’s especially relevant in the GTA where yard access, safety perimeters, and strong turnout can affect crowd control and parking. CPKCR

Performers & programming
Lineups rotate by region and date; 2025 performers include American Authors among others, with CPKC’s site and rail media listing artists by stop. Families can expect 25–30 minute sets with seasonal songs and originals, plus on-car lighting displays. Trains

Best practices for attendees

Check the official schedule PDF for exact time and location; arrive early.
Bring a donation—non-perishables or cash for the partner food bank.
Dress for weather and plan your transit; parking near yards is limited. gis.cpkcr.com +1

Long-term implications
The Holiday Train’s durability suggests a template for corporate citizenship: consistent annual cadence, hyper-local partners, and tangible outcomes. For Toronto, the program functions as a seasonal civic ritual alongside the Santa Claus Parade and neighborhood light festivals, broadening the city’s holiday calendar with an all-ages, donation-first event that requires no ticket and little planning beyond warm clothing and a can of soup. Wikipedia

Key links

Sources & references

Official overview & lineup — CPKC Holiday Train page (tour dates, purpose, how donations work). CPKCR
Official media release — 2025 schedule and artists announced Oct 9, 2025. CPKCR
Trade/rail coverage — Trains.com report on 196 locations and performers. Trains
Impact totals since 1999 — CPKC stats and Progressive Railroading round-up. Progressive Railroading
FAQs & live updates — CPKC Holiday Train FAQs and social channels. CPKCR
Route PDFs — Canada and U.S. 2025 schedule maps. gis.cpkcr.com +1
Context for Toronto seasonal events — Toronto Santa Claus Parade overview. Wikipedia

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