Canada - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Obscure services

Alberta

Edmonton West Junction wye AB1

VIA trains reverse into their station (which is on a short dead-ended spur) from the wye at West Junction, and depart using the same leg of the wye. Thus westbound trains use the west leg and eastbound train the east leg. Reported: June 2020

See BC7 and BC8 under British Columbia

British Columbia

Coho (CN) / Nepa (CP) (near Basque) – Page (near Matsqui) BC1

Over this section, eastbound passenger trains use CP's Mission, Cascade and Thompson subdivisions (155.1 miles) while westbound trains use the CN's Ashcroft and Yale subdivisions (156.2 miles). This applies equally to VIA and Rocky Mountaineer trains. Report updated: December 2022

Lovell – Minaret BC2

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

D’Arcy – Seton Portage – Lillooet BC3

The Kaoham Shuttle operates a daily round trip Seton Portage ⇔ Lillooet, with extensions if required (by advance booking only) between D'Arcy and Seton Portage. D'Arcy - Lillooet is 56km; a round trip Lillooet - Seton Portage is possible on Fridays only. The archived shuttle timetable may not be up to date so check locally via the Lillooet website. This route is also traversed by Rocky Mountaineer trains Jasper, AB ⇔ Whistler, BC (see BC8). Report updatded: May 2022

Vancouver BC4

VIA train 1 inbound from Toronto uses the wye (CN Junction - CN Main Yard - Burrard Inlet Junction [- Vancouver Pacific Central station]) to turn train prior to arrival at Vancouver; VIA train 2 outbound runs direct [Vancouver Pacific Central station -] Burrard Inlet Junction - CN Junction. Rocky Mountaineer train 103 inbound from Jasper/Banff runs direct CN Junction - CN Main Yard west end, then setting back into their Cottrell Street station; loaded Rocky Mountaineer train 104 outbound for Jasper/Banff draws forward from their Cottrell Street station to CN Main Yard west end, then uses the wye (CN Main Yard - Burrard Inlet Junction - CN Junction) to turn the train and depart. Report updated: December 2022

Charles – Tete Jaune – Redpass BC5

Trains usually work anti-clockwise - see sketch of the area. For example, eastbound VIA train 2 and Rocky Mountaineer train 104 from Vancouver use CN's Albreda subdivision (27.9 miles) while their westbound equivalents use CN's Robson subdivision (29.8 miles). Similarly for VIA and RM trains between Jasper and the Prince George line, although the 20.2 mile section of the Robson subdivision between Taverna and Redpass may be used in both directions by such trains. Report updated: December 2022

Kamloops BC6

VIA trains use the CN main line through Kamloops North (formerly Kamloops Junction) - in effect, the north-west arm of the wye there. Rocky Mountaineer trains use the following routes:

• Vancouver - Kamloops: CN main line, south-west leg of wye at Kamloops North and branch to Kamloops CN Lorne St station;
• Jasper - Kamloops: CN main line, north-south leg of wye at Kamloops North and branch to Kamloops CN Lorne St station;
• Banff - Kamloops: CP main line to CP/CN Junction and branch to Kamloops CN Lorne St station.

Kamloops Heritage Railway would use Kamloops CN Lorne St station and the branch to Kamloops North for its Spirit of Kamloops trips but these are suspended until further notice. Note that there is no regular passenger service on the CP main line between Kamloops CP/CN Junction and Nepa (near Basque). Report updated: December 2022

Royal Canadian Pacific BC7

This inclusive tour train - based at Calgary - covers, on an occasional basis, a number of Canadian Pacific lines in western Canada (principally western Albert and British Columbia) not used by other passenger service. Publicly advertised journeys for individuals are advertised on a limited basis. Report updated: December 2022

Rocky Mountaineer BC8

These inclusive tour trains cover on a regular, seasonal basis the following lines (also into Alberta) not used by other passenger service: Kamloops, West Junction (CN) and Kamloops North (a.k.a. Junction or VIA) station - Kamloops Lorne Street (CN) station - Kamloops CN/CP Junction - Connaught tunnel - Banff, AB; Prince George, CN/ex-BCR junction - Pemberton/Whistler - Lillooet (no freight traffic over this long section - see this press report); D'Arcy - North Vancouver. On the Kamloops - Banff route, the following sections of line observe directional running, with eastbound and westbound routes following noticeably separate alignments: in British Columbia: Notch Hill - Tappen (Shuswap) (8.9 miles); Tum Tum - Begbie (4.6 miles); in Alberta: Divide - Lake Louise (5.3 miles). Pasenger trains generally (but not invariably) follow the directional running (except that trains calling at Lake Louise in either direction have to use the eastbound track). Although Ross Peak - Fraine is also "directional", passenger trains in both directions normally use the Connaught Tunnel, not the longer Mount MacDonald Tunnel. Report updated: May 2022

Squamish - Squamish Terminals branch BC9

West Coast Railway Association operate pre-Christmas excursions from their Squamish West Coast Railway Heritage Park via the Canadian National (former Pacific Great Eastern/BCRail) line. Some use the former PGE line northwards, but others go southwards, down the branch towards Squamish Terminals ("the shipping port"). In 2024 Trains ran November 23-24 & 30; December 1, 7-8, 14-15 & 21. Report updated: December 2024

Fraser balloon loop BC10

If there are more than three White Pass & Yukon Route trains just to the summit running one behind the other, the fourth train uses this balloon loop south of Fraser to return to Skagway. This is because the summit balloon loop can hold only three trains. Report Updated: July 2025

White Pass summit balloon loop BC11

White Pass & Yukon Railway trains running only to the summit (at mile post 20.4) use a balloon loop at mile post 21.4 to return to Skagway. The summit itself is at the border but the balloon loop is inside British Columbia.
The balloon loop is ca.3000 ft (0.6 mile) long and can hold three trains. Report Updated: July 2025

Fruitvale - Columbia Corner BC12

Nelson & Ft.Sheppard Railway operate a Sunday service (plus some public holiday Mondays), dates as advertised, May - October, diesel service Barrington ⇔ Des Bouleaux (shown as 'Delson station' on their site plan), over a short (ca. 1 mile) section of former CPR Candiac spur and a newer build diversion at the Des Bouleaux end. In normal circumstances, to avoid crossing the internal tramway service route in public running, public service trains use a platform at Barrington outside the tram route. Thus, the Hays - IPR Junction section (ca. ¼ mile) is used only by empty stock at beginning (prior to first train 1030) and end of service when, subject to the agreement of the conductor, it may be possible to ride this section. However, whenever the tramway is not running, the diesel service usually runs instead the whole length from Hays via Barrington to Des Bouleaux in public service (but does not use the short section from IPR Junction to the normal Barrington platform). Such extended working from/to Hays applies 19, 20, 26, 27 October, 30 November, 7 and 8 December 2024 - and may be expected at future Halloween/Christmas periods - enquire locally. Report updated: October 2024

Manitoba

Thompson MB1

VIA trains 690 to 693 Winnipeg or The Pas ⇔ Churchill use the wye to turn train at Thompson - southbound trains between arrival and departure (with through passengers aboard), northbound trains after departure. Thompson is at the end of a 30.5 mile branch. Report updated: December 2022

Thompson Junction MB2

VIA trains 690 to 693 Winnipeg or The Pas ⇔ Churchill use the north and south legs of the wye to reach Thompson and so do not use the north-south main leg. Report updated: December 2022

Churchill MB3

VIA trains from the south use the wye before arrival in Churchill. Report updated: December 2022

The Pas, Flin Flon Junction - Pukatawagan MB4

This 251 km section of the Lynn Lake line continues to appear on VIA's network map but not in their timetable. Passenger service is now operated by Keewatin Railway Co., on a twice weekly schedule. There is no overnight accommodation at Pukatawagan. Report updated: May 2023

New Brunswick

McAdam – St.Stephen NB1

Each autumn (fall) a charity fund raising trip has run over this 33.9 km New Brunswick Southern Railway (former Canadian Pacific) line. Suspended from 2020, the trip resumes for 2024 (date: 4 October). Check McAdam Station's (date: 4 October). Also check McAdam Station's website or Facebook page. Report updated: September 2024

Saint John area NB2

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

Newfoundland and Labrador

See QC6 under Québec

Ontario

Hearst : wye at junction between former Algoma Central and Ontario Northland lines ON1

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

London Junction, wye ON2

Entry deleted - no longer used in passenger service

Niagara Falls : wye at Clifton ON3

Entry deleted - no longer used in passenger service

[Toronto] Snider – Doncaster ON4

VIA train 1 outbound to Vancouver uses this 5.2 mile section of the Canadian National York Subdivision - also the northwest quadrants at the junctions at both Snider and Doncaster - whereas the inbound train 2 runs direct between Doncaster and Toronto Union station via the Bala Subdivision. (Notes: This routing is to turn the train which cannot readily be turned elsewhere in the Toronto area during its overnight layover. The section of train 1's route along the Newmarket sub-division between Toronto Union station and Snider (north junction) is not included here as it is also traversed by GO Transit "Barrie" commuter trains). When engineering work blocks the Newmarket sub-division south of Snider (as in August 2021), train 1 instead backs direct to Doncaster and turns (wyes) on the angles there: look for bus substitution of GO Transit Barrie services. Report updated: August 2021

Boyne/Reynolds (near Parry Sound) – St. Cloud (near Sudbury) ON5

Over this section, eastbound VIA train 2 uses CN's Bala subdivision (101.3 miles) while westbound VIA train 1 uses CP's Parry Sound subdivision (92.6 miles) - train 1 crosses from CN Boyne (South Parry) (MP 146.1) to CP Reynolds (MP 20.1) and back again from CP St.Cloud (MP 112.7) to CN St.Cloud (MP 247.4). Report updated: July 2018

Toronto trams (streetcars) ON6

TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) has a policy of permitting passengers on streetcars at virtually all times that they are on the street (unless the vehicle has a maintenance issue), resulting in a variety of obscure variants for all routes, when streetcars are on their way to or from carhouses (depots) (especially as some routes do not pass close to any carhouse). The following tram routes, or sections thereof, operate limited service:

• 506: Coxwell Avenue between Queen Street and Gerrard Street when going into or out of service
• 512: Bathurst Street between Bloor Street (Bathhurst station) and St Clair Avenue - trips scheduled to start or end at St Clair West station going into or out of service to and from either Leslie Barns or Roncesvalles carhouses
• various routes: Leslie Barns carhouse branch (⇔ Queen Street) when going into or out of service

Various sections of route have no regular service but are used as diversionary routes (lines coloured black on network plan); planned diversions are shown on TTC Service Advisories web page. Report updated: May 2023

[Port Stanley - ] Whytes Park - Parkside - St. Thomas Talbot Street ON7

Port Stanley Terminal Rail normally operate 6.8km of the former London and Port Stanley Railway from Port Stanley to Whytes Park. On Saturday mornings in July and August, as advertised, the Extended Parkside Trip extends to St. Thomas southern city limits at Parkside school (3.8km beyond Whytes). Occasionally - usually at the end of May/beginning of June (2024 date: 8 June) - the Rare Mileage Trip extends to St.Thomas Talbot Street (6.4km beyond Whytes). Report updated: February 2024

Sault Ste.Marie - Steelton Yard ON9

Entry deleted - used by all remaining passenger trains

Georgetown (Silver) - Burlington Junction ON10

When planned major engineering work blocks the regular route between Toronto and Aldershot, some VIA trains may be diverted via this 25.4 mile section of the Canadian National Halton Subdivision, and the intermediate stop at Oakville omitted. Such weekend diversions applied in November 2013 and 2015, May 2021, July, September and October 2023, and March 2024 but are unlikely to apply often. A VIA notice says there will be no service to Oakville on the weekend of 8/9 March 2025 and trains that normally run through Oakville will detour, lengthening their travel times. The detour route is not specified, but is almost certainly the GO Weston and Canadian National Halton Subdivisions. GO Transit services Toronto ⇔ Aldershot or beyond are more likely to be replaced by bus - look for suspension of GO Transit Lakeshore West services. Report updated: February 2025

Snider - Halwest ON11

When planned major engineering work blocks the regular route between Toronto and Brampton, some VIA trains may be diverted via this 11.1 mile Canadian National line (part York subdivision, part Halton subdivision), and the intermediate stop at Malton omitted. Such diversions applied during 2014 and June 2021 but are unlikely to apply often. The section of route between Toronto Union station and Snider is not included here as it is also traversed by GO Transit Barrie commuter trains. The diversions use the connecting track in the southwest quadrant at Snider (i.e. not the same connection as used by train 1 under ON4 above). Report updated: June 2021

Hamilton ON12

The GO Transit operation Aldershot ⇔ Hamilton is not "obscure", but the significance of two separate terminii in Hamilton, on routes diverging at Hamilton Junction, may be overlooked (take particular care to distinguish trains from buses in the GO timetables):

• West Harbour: serving a terminal station on a track alongside the CN Grimsby sub-division (the latter is used by GO Transit's weekday round trip from Niagara Falls, ON (by a double reversal at West Harbour) and by VIA/Amtrak's Maple Leaf (trains 97-64/63-98) when run between Toronto and New York which do not serve West Harbour)
• Hamilton GO Centre: serving a station on the CP (former Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo) Hamilton sub-division.

Report updated: February 2022

Obico - Canpa ON13

When planned major engineering work blocks the regular route between Toronto and Long, GO Transit Lakeshore West and 'VIA' trains may be diverted via this 2.6 mile Canadian Pacific Canpa Subdivision, and the intermediate stops at Exhibition and Mimico omitted. Such diversions applied in October, November and December 2018 but are unlikely to apply often. Look for GO Transit Lakeshore East service changes. The section of route between Toronto Union station and Obico is not included here as it is also traversed by GO Transit commuter trains. Reported: September 2018

Doncaster - Pickering ON14

When planned major engineering work blocks the regular route between Toronto and Pickering, VIA trains may be diverted via this 18.4 mile section of the Canadian National York subdivision using the southwest or northwest quadrant at Doncaster. Such diversions applied in November 2021, April and September 2022, April, May, October, November 2024, March and 12-13 Apr 2025. On the 22/23 March 2025 diversions for the first time some (trains 60/50/62/52) trains ran to Snider, used the north to west quadrant and then proceeded via Doncaster (ie the same route as Train 1 to Doncaster) to Pickering, rather than using the quadrants at Doncaster. They are unlikely to apply often. Look for suspension of GO Transit East services but beware that VIA may operate normal route by single line working during some such occupations so look particularly for deletion of Guildwood stops on VIA services. Report updated: April 2025

[Waterloo - ] Elmira - towards end of line ON15

The Waterloo Central Railway operate regular excursions over Canadian National (former Grand Trunk) as advertised between Waterloo and Elmira. For the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, held on the first Saturday each April, trains continue several hundred yards further north towards the end of the branch. Reported: April 2024

Québec

Montréal, Ballantyne – Taschereau Yard – Ahuntsic, CP Lebeau (near Jonction de l'Est) QC1

VIA trains Montréal Centrale ⇔ northern Québec use this circuitous (5 miles) route as diesel haulage was not practicable through the more direct route through Mont Royal tunnel. The tunnel route closed to all heavy rail from 11 May 2020 for conversion to light-rail so most commuter trains on the Mascouche line (exo15) start/terminate at Ahuntsic. Three Monday to Friday trains in each direction, however, do extend ⇔ Montréal Centrale, by the same route as the VIA trains: check current schedule (you may need to use a VPN set to America). All exo15 trains will divert to a new Côte de Liesse station on the REM line when the station opens later in 2024, leaving only the VIA trains on line QC1. Note that this is not the same route as exo12. Report updated: February 2024

[Montréal] Pointe St.Charles (Hibernia) – Pont Victoria (via Connecting Tracks) QC2

This line, avoiding the throat of Montréal Central station, is used by trains which reverse either on arriving or departing Montréal. Depending on direction, trains reverse at either Pointe St.Charles (Hibernia) or Pont Victoria. Trains performing this manoeuvre are:

• VIA through trains Québec ⇔ Ottawa in both directions, which use the curve before or - more usually - after departure from Montréal Central (those taking at least 34 mins to Dorval or 23 mins to St.Lambert in the tabulated "Québec City services" schedules). Other VIA trains with extended running time Dorval ⇔ Montréal Central may use the curve. Note that, under VIA Rail's Fleet Replacement Program (sic), the full introduction of Siemens Venture bi-directional trains should eliminate the need for such back-up moves - but it is not clear whether through passengers or the new reservation system can be expected to cope with train direction changing mid-route.
• VIA 15/17 inbound from Halifax and Gaspé formerly made this manoeuvre but until (if ever...) a Gaspé portion is restored, train 15 from Halifax - being shorter - no longer needs to do so; the outbound train 14 has extended time "to" St.Lambert but that is only because the train needs to make a "double stop" at St.Lambert on account of the short platform there.

Amtrak 69 inbound from New York used to perform this manoeuvre but is no longer allowed extra running time from St. Lambert to Central (see schedule). Report updated: November 2023

St.Constant – Canadian Railway Museum (Barrington platform), St.Constant/Delson QC3

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

Havre St.Pierre – Tio QC4

The Chemin de Fer Romaine Rivière (Québec Iron & Titanium Corporation) operate an unadvertised workers' service at shift change-over times over their 26.17 mile line. The railway does not provide facilities for casual passengers or railfans. Reported: August 2011

Port Cartier – Love [ – Mont Wright] QC5

The ArcelorMittal Mines Canada Railway (former Chemin de Fer Cartier) operate a once weekly unadvertised workers' service over this line conveying maintenance of way (permanent way) staff. This used to be out Wednesday evenings, return Thursday afternoons, between Port Cartier and Love only (170 miles); current information would be welcomed. The railway does not provide facilities for casual passengers or railfans. Report updated: September 2012

Sept Iles – Schefferville [Labrador] QC6

Tshiuetin Rail Transportation operate passenger trains (normally twice weekly) over the 225.3 miles of Québec North Shore & Labrador Railway between Sept Iles and Emeril Junction [Labrador] and the 132.3 miles of their own line thence to Schefferville. The southbound train usually uses the wye at Sept Iles prior to arrival, to turn the train (at Schefferville the train is wyed between trips). This is the only publicly-accessible passenger service in this quarter of Québec and Labrador. Report updated: June 2022

Matapédia - Gaspé QC7

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

Bromont - Magog - Sherbrooke QC8

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

Vaudreuil - Hudson QC9

This 5 mile section of the exo11 commuter line has only three Monday to Friday trips each way (towards city in the morning, return in evening) - see current schedule (you may need to use a VPN set to America).An afternoon trip by train to Hudson, returning by bus, is possible - use the exo journey planner. Report updated: February 2024

Senneterre - Amos QC10

Ville de Senneterre sponsor occasional tourist excursions Senneterre - Amos (43.3 mi), mainly on summer Saturdays, over CN (former National Transcontinental Railway), utilising VIA train during layover. These tend to be fully booked well in advance - bookings only by telephone (see their web page under "Excursions ferroviaires Senneterre-Amos"). No dates were advertised for 2023 or 2024 and there are none advertised for 2025 and 2026. Link here. Report updated: July 2025

Arvida - Grande-Baie QC11

Entry deleted - service withdrawn

Hays - Barrington, IPR Junction [ - Des Bouleaux] QC12

Canadian Railway Museum - exporail operate a Sunday (dates as advertised, plus some public holiday Mondays) diesel train service to Des Bouleaux (shown as 'Delson station' on their site plan), over a section of former CPR Candiac spur and a newer build diversion at the Des Bouleaux end. In previous years, to avoid crossing the internal tramway route in public running, public service trains started/terminated at a platform at Barrington outside the tram route whenever trams were running. From 2025, the train service has been extended to run the full 1¼ miles from Hays, via Barrington, to Des Bouleaux. Report updated: June 2025

Victoria Bridge/Pont Victoria QC13

The bridge over the St. Lawrence Seaway St.Lambert lock - between Montréal Central and Saint-Lambert - has two spans, at opposite ends of the lock. Trains (VIA, Amtrak and commuter exo3) normally use the northern span, but will instead use the southern span when required by shipping movements in the seaway lock below. Reported: June 2022

Montréal Ballantyne - St. Luc Jn QC14

When planned major engineering work blocks the flat crossing of the exo11 commuter line just west of Montréal West, trains may be diverted via the 2.1 mile St Luc Branch between Ballantyne and St Luc Jn. Such diversions applied in December 2023 but are unlikely to apply often. Look for alteration to exo11 service. As an alternative, the 1.9 mile Farnham Connection between Wentworth and North Jn may be used instead, if traffic dictates. Reported: November 2023

Saskatchewan

Pangman - Ogema [ - Horizon] SK1

Southern Prairie Railway normally operate tourist trains on former CP Assiniboia subdivision between Ogema and Horizon (15.4 mi). However, the Pangman Open Air Market Train and Kids' Fun Train run Ogema - Pangman (14.2 mi) instead , when advertised. Report updated: August 2024

Yukon

Carcross balloon loop YT1

This new balloon loop north of Carcross station is used to turn the empty stock of the daily White Pass & Yukon Route service. It was permitted in 2025 to ride on this as a participant in the PTG Tours Rail & Natural Wonders of Alaska tour. See USA - Alaska. Report added: July 2025

Sparse services

None known.

Deletions since last edition

None.