By Railfan & Railroad Magazine

CALGARY — The Canadian Pacific Railway announced Thursday that it will not be running its annual holiday train due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the railroad company vowed to run the train again in 2021. 

The railroad will still make donations to food banks in the United States and Canada like it normally does during the month-long tour. The railroad also plans on hosting a virtual Holiday Train concert. Details about that show will be released in the coming months. CP has run the Holiday Train every year since 1999 and it makes stops in various towns across the system to make donations and put on a musical performance. 

“COVID-19 has created many challenges for communities across our network and has only increased the need at local food banks and food shelves,” said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. “It is our honor to continue to donate to communities across our network this year, even if the train itself will not run. The spirit of the Holiday Train program and the Christmas spirit will carry on this year through our virtual concert. We will have the Holiday Train rolling again spreading Christmas cheer as soon as it’s safe to do so!”  

In 21 years, the train has raised $17.8 million and collected 4.8 million pounds of food for local food banks in communities across the CP’s network. 

CP is not the only railroad to cancel its annual holiday runs. Last month, CSX Transportation announced that it would not be running the Clinchfield Santa Train for the first time in 78 years.