Quick Details
Lounge Car Single Seats
Children under 2 are no longer free in the lounge car
CA$ 39.99
Coach Seats • Adults
Ages 12+
CA$ 24.99
Coach Seats • Children
Ages 2-11 • Ticket Can't be Booked without choosing an Adult ticket first
CA$ 19.99
Coach • Lap Child
Under 2 years | Ticket Can't be Booked without choosing an Adult ticket first
Free
Coach Seats • Seniors
65+
CA$ 19.99
Coach • Family of 4
2 Adults and 2 Children
CA$ 74.99
Caboose Rental
1.5 Hours (Holds up to 16 passengers)
CA$ 399.99
Enjoy the picturesque countryside aboard our heritage train ride!
Hop-On/Hop-Off Service
This summer, join us and travel back in time for an authentic heritage train ride through Woolwich Township and Waterloo Regions’ famous Mennonite farm country on our historic rail line that has been in service since the 1880s.
Sit back and relax as you travel through the picturesque countryside and beautiful farming landscape, we are so proud of. Choose your preferred accommodation, either standard coach seating or first-class lounge seating.
Whether you’re a returning guest or visiting us for the first time, we look forward to you riding with us at the Waterloo Central Railway, dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of Canadian heritage railway equipment.
Our regular train rides, departing from either our Northfield Drive or Farmers Market stations, are a round trip journey, approximately 1 hour and 45-minutes in length, returning on the same track.
Hungry?
Enjoy a variety of snacks available for purchase from pop, water, chips, chocolate bars, coffee and tea. Variety may vary based on availability. All snacks are $2.
Hop on and off at our stations!
With our Heritage Hopper day pass, you can use our entire daily train schedule to plan your day along our line! For example, you may wish to board our 10:10 train at the Farmers Market station, detrain at St. Jacobs for a stroll through the village and lunch, then catch the next northbound train to Elmira before returning to the market. You can board at Northfield Drive, detrain at the Market, then catch the next train to St. Jacobs for a late lunch before returning to Northfield Drive. Your day pass gives you total flexibility and freedom to tailor your day along the communities served by the Waterloo Central Railway. See below for details on each of our stops, including our new FREE bus service in Elmira!
Visit us on one of our extra special Heritage Hopper Days and enjoy treats, additional entertainment and more!
Ride on a Heritage Hopper Fun Day!
Heritage Hopper Fun Days are special themed train rides filled with exciting giveaways, interactive trivia, and live entertainment—making every journey on the Waterloo Central Railway an unforgettable adventure!
September 6: Grandparents Day Train! Grandparents receive 50% off their fare! (Discounted ticket is available with the purchase of one adult ticket at a 1:1 ratio. Other restrictions may apply. Must be purchased in advance Click here for more details.)
September 4: Word Search Train – complete a fun word search for your chance to win fun prizes!
September 11: Ice Cream Sandwich Train – Ride the train and enjoy a free ice cream sandwich from our crew!
September 18: Trinkety Train – All children riding the train today will receive a special little toy, compliments of WCR.
September 20: DOORS OPEN! – One day only, hop off at our St. Jacobs Village station and visit our Restoration & Maintenance Facility. Learn as our volunteers show you around are current restoration projects, such as our Steam Locomotive No 9’s fire box restoration! View all of the stops along the Doors Open Waterloo Region route.
September 25: Cookie Train – Today only, even passenger can enjoy a delicious cookie baked locally by Sweet Lou’s Cookies!
October 2: Candy Train – Every child riding our train will receive a special little candy to enjoy while riding the rails!
October 9: Trivia Train – Only 11 weeks until Christmas! Let the Christmas Trivia begin!
What to Explore at Our Four Train Stations:
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90 Northfield Drive W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 5A6
Our ION Connection! Hop off the ION and hop on our heritage train to continue north to the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, Village of St. Jacobs, and Town of Elmira.
No parking available -
330 Farmers Market Road, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4G8
Visit the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market to explore hundreds of vendors selling a variety of items from food to art, collectibles, and more. You may also visit Market Road Antiques and the St. Jacobs Outlets for more deals and unique finds.
Parking available behind Value Village -
West end of Spring Street, St. Jacobs, Ontario N0B 2N0
Hop off the Heritage Hopper and take a short stroll down Spring Street to the picturesque Village of St. Jacobs. Explore unique shops, art centres, and galleries that showcase the talent of local artisans. The village is also home to a brewery, several restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, each with its own unique atmosphere and delicious offerings.
Street parking available only -
155 Howard Avenue, Elmira, Ontario N3B 2E2
Hop off the train at our Elmira Station and head to downtown Elmira, where you can enjoy vibrant local culture, unique shops, delicious local cuisine, and the Elmira Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from 8:00AM to 1:30PM).
***NEW*** There is a FREE bus that meets the train at the Elmira Station on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm until September 13, 2025. The bus will take you right downtown Elmira and will drop you off at the Wyatt Street Parking Lot (Wyatt Street East and Arthur Street South)
Please note there is no bus available on Tuesdays and it is an approximate 30 minute walk from the Elmira Station to Downtown Elmira.
Limited street parking available
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- Northbound Northfield 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
- Northbound Farmers Market: 10:10am, 12:10pm, 2:10pm
- Northbound Village of St. Jacobs: 10:25am, 12:25pm, 2:25pm
- Southbound Elmira 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm
- Southbound Village of St. Jacobs: 11:25am, 1:25pm, 3:25pm
- Southbound Farmers Market: 11:40am, 1:40pm, 3:40pm
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COACH CAR
Our standard coaches offer traditional rail seating in groups of four as depicted in the photo shown here offering a wide-open panoramic view of the countryside and Mennonite farms adjacent to our rail line. Snack bar service is available.
LOUNGE CAR
Our Lounge car features a variety of soft, upholstered chairs, as well as seating in tables of 4, all in spacious surroundings for a full view of the countryside. Passengers riding in our Lounge Car will also enjoy one complimentary non-alcoholic beverage. Snack bar service is available.
Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase in the Lounge Car only on Saturdays in July and August. More details to come. Availability subject to change.
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Parking is only available at our Farmers Market station.
While in the area please visit the St. Jacobs Farmers Market, located next to our station, which is open each Thursday and Saturday (also Tuesdays mid June-August). Be sure to check out the village of St. Jacobs, offering a wide array of shops and eateries, open 7 days a week.
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- No food or drink (except bottled water-reusable bottles encouraged) permitted to be brought onto the train. Please help keep our trains clean by disposing of your water bottles after use or taking them home and recycling them.
- No food or drink (except bottled water-reusable bottles encouraged) permitted to be brought onto the train. Please help keep our trains clean by disposing of your water bottles after use or taking them home and recycling them.
- No food or drink (except bottled water-reusable bottles encouraged) permitted to be brought onto the train. Please help keep our trains clean by disposing of your water bottles after use or taking them home and recycling them.
- No food or drink (except bottled water-reusable bottles encouraged) permitted to be brought onto the train. Please help keep our trains clean by disposing of your water bottles after use or taking them home and recycling them.
- No food or drink (except bottled water-reusable bottles encouraged) permitted to be brought onto the train. Please help keep our trains clean by disposing of your water bottles after use or taking them home and recycling them.
- Please be advised that our train cars are not currently fully accessible for those with considerable mobility challenges. However, we are actively working on improvements to enhance accessibility in the near future. In the meantime, our trainmen are stationed at all doors and are ready to assist with boarding and disembarking to ensure everyone can travel comfortably and safely.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work towards a more inclusive experience for all. - Please be advised that our train cars are not currently fully accessible for those with considerable mobility challenges. However, we are actively working on improvements to enhance accessibility in the near future. In the meantime, our trainmen are stationed at all doors and are ready to assist with boarding and disembarking to ensure everyone can travel comfortably and safely.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work towards a more inclusive experience for all. - Onboard snack bar service is available.
- No refunds