WCR Ticket & Travel Policies

General Policies

The WCR makes every effort to provide a safe and comfortable trip for everyone with reduced mobility on our trains. We operate heritage railway equipment that was designed and built to a different standard that does not in many cases provide any way to alter the heritage railway equipment to today’s accessibility standards.

We will make every effort to assist anyone with reduced mobility, so they are able to travel with us. Despite these efforts, we do not have the ability at this time to lift a wheelchair into the vestibule of a coach with the guest still seated in it. If our guest can be assisted out of the chair and into the coach, we will be able to help with boarding and disembarking from the train

To benefit from these services, we suggest that you make a request in advance by email at least a day before the day of travel to info@waterloocentralrailway.com. If you are speech-impaired, please bring written instructions to inform our volunteers of your needs.
- We recommend purchasing tickets online prior to boarding the train. All ticket sales will remain live online until train departure time. Tickets may also be purchased onboard the train, subject to available space.
- All sales are final. There are no refunds on ticket purchases. Customers will receive a full refund if the operator cancels service due to unforeseen circumstances.
- All trains depart at the specified time – please arrive at least 10 minutes early for all trains. There are no refunds for missed trains.
- Fares are for a round trip ticket from the point of departure.
- We do not offer additional senior discounts beyond what is indicated on the ticket purchase page. We are not able to accept coupons of any type at this time or Access 2 Cards.
- WCR does not permit pets to travel on the train with the exception of guide, support and comfort dogs. For further details on booking a train trip with either, please see our Accessibility information further in the section.
- With the exception of bottled water no food or drink is permitted on the train.
- Due to the heritage nature of our rail equipment we reserve the right to substitute rail equipment without prior notification due to operational requirements.
The WCR does not permit any pets to travel in our railway cars. This policy does not apply to service and support dogs. For this policy, please see the next section.
All service and guide dogs are welcome on board. But before your trip, please read the following to make sure that both you and your dog have a smooth travel experience.

Please note that the following policy applies only to guide dogs, service and emotional support dogs.

Please contact us at info@waterloocentralrailway.com at least one day prior to the day of travel to let us know you’ll be bringing your dog on board so we can make the appropriate accommodations.

You may be required to produce documentation indicating that your dog has been certified by an accredited institution to work as a guide or service dog.
If you are travelling on a WCR train with your emotional support dog for the first time, you must do the following:
1. Provide a signed medical certificate from a licensed medical doctor or mental health professional (e.g., a psychiatrist or psychologist).
2. Ensure the medical certificate states that you cannot travel alone without an emotional support dog.
3. Ensure the medical certificate is dated no more than one year prior to the date of travel, unless it states that functional limitation is permanent and have it available at the time of travel with us.
The WCR will continue to follow all legislative and public health measures relating to COVID-19 to keep our volunteers and passengers safe.

To date we have followed the Transport Canada domestic rail travel protocols for face masks and vaccinations. At present, we no longer require proof of vaccination, nor the wearing of masks for our passengers while aboard our trains.

Updated: June 14, 2023

On Board Our Trains

Our train volunteers will seat you upon boarding and we will do everything possible to keep families together. Most coach seats are in groups of four with a very few in a group of two. First Class Lounge seats are in groups of two. There may be a chance you could be seated in a group of four with other passengers, but we will do everything possible to avoid this circumstance and seat families together.
You may ask a train crew volunteer if you can change seats. They’ll do their best to accommodate your request if space is available.
No food or drink, with the exception of bottled water, will be permitted on the train.
Each round trip on the train is slightly less than 2 hours in duration. We advise all passengers to use facilities prior to boarding. Should the need present itself while on the train, there is a washroom located in each car.
All hard surfaces in our cars, including vestibules, washrooms, tables, armrests, and doors are cleaned thoroughly every day.