CPKC Holiday Train tour kicks off today!

All eyes are on the iconic CPKC Holiday Train and its holiday tour.

Each year, the CPKC train visits communities in Canada and the U.S., showcasing hundreds of free performances along the way to encourage donations to local food banks.

The train will begin its 2024 journey on November 21, starting in Beaconsfield, Quebec, and ending four weeks later on December 20 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, bringing 167 live music performances to 7 Canadian provinces and 13 U.S. states.

The full train and performance schedule is available on the CPKC website

Every event is free, but CPKC encourages attendees to donate money or a healthy food item to support a local food bank.

Since its inception in 1999, Since 1999, the initiative has raised more than $24.3 million and over 5.3 million pounds of food to support communities in Canada and the U.S.

Visit cpkcr.com/holidaytrain to learn more.

What is the CPKC network?

The CPKC network is a combination of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railways. Together, it forms the only transnational rail network in North America, covering more than 30,000 km.

To keep the rails safe no matter the weather, detectors dot the lines to monitor conditions in real time – and areas prone to severe weather have a little extra support.

Weather stations between Calgary, Alberta, and Swift Current, Saskatchewan collect wind data, helping reduce the risk of train derailments.

The busiest corridor runs through the Alberta and British Columbia mountain ranges, an area prone to heavy snow and avalanches.

Several snow and rockslide fences, along with seven snowsheds, send signals along the corridor that prevent a train from entering if dangerous snow or rocks are detected.

Crews monitor the snowpack and set off controlled avalanches when there is a high risk of a natural one occurring.

But winter isn’t the only challenge.

CPKC has plans in place for a range of events, including storms, heat, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and even volcanic activity!

Yes, you heard that right.

Many Canadians are unaware there have been at least 49 volcanic eruptions in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory during the last 10,000 years!

Regardless of the conditions, the CPKC railroad will be hard at work, spreading cheer this holiday season.

Header image: File photo courtesy CPKC.