(NEWSnet) – The CPKC Holiday Train tour is marking its 25th anniversary this year of raising money for local food banks in the communities served by the North American rail network CPKC.

Formerly known as CP Holiday Train, this holiday season tradition features decorated trains, live performances and partnerships with local communities where the official stops take place. Since its beginnings in 1999, Holiday Train has raised more than $22.5 million and more than 5 million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.

“Our railroaders take great joy in joining communities across our network as they come together in the giving spirit of the holidays," CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said in this year’s announcement.

Each train is about 1,000 feet long and includes 14 rail cars featuring decorations and lights in holiday themes. The boxcar lights lights are on or off depending on what track it is traveling at the time; and the official train stops are in locations where CPKC normally operates.

During stops along the tour, musicians will perform a mix of traditional and modern holiday songs from the train stage. There are 10 singers / music acts featured for this year, with bookings listed on the route schedule, and the performances are free to the public. The city or town where an official stop takes place makes arrangements for parking, along with any on-site entertainment and amenities. CPKC makes a donation to a local food pantry at each stop and encourages visitors to do the same.

The two main train routes are named based on where the majority of their stops are.

  • The U.S. train tour begins Nov. 21 at Hermon, Maine, and ends Dec. 16 in Kenmare, N.D., with official stops that include locations in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota.
  • The Canadian train tour begins Nov. 21 at Hermon, Maine, and ends Dec. 16 in Ascroft, British Columbia, with official stops that include locations in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

There also is a Holiday Express train tour that begins Nov. 25 in Pearl, Mississippi, and ends Dec. 14 in Victoria, Texas. The Salvation Army is the designated charity for the Holiday Express tour. Santa and his elves are traveling on this route.

For all the details, go to the CPKC Holiday Train website.

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