Kitchener 
Events Description
Enjoy the picturesque countryside aboard our heritage train ride!
Join us and enjoy the beauty of the countryside! Marvel at the scenic farmland as you 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.
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!
April 16 – Wine O’Clock: Special for today, wine will be available for purchase aboard the Heritage Hopper. Free mini-bite crackers with every purchase.
April 23 – Postcard Train: Get a free WCR postcard to commemorate your journey today!
April 30 – Trivia Train, Cherry Blossom Edition: Enjoy fun trivia aboard the train with exciting prizes.
May 9 – Mom rides FREE! Visit our Mother’s Day Heritage Hopper page and book tickets for the whole family but Mom rides FREE!
June 4 – Word Search Train: join us for a fun train ride and themed word search fun!
June 11 – Brownie Cake Train: All passengers will enjoy a FREE delicious brownie today!
June 20 – Dad rides FREE! Visit our Father’s Day Heritage Hopper page and book tickets for the whole family but Dad rides FREE!
More Heritage Hopper Fun Days to be announced soon!
HOW MUCH
Tickets:
Lounge Car Seat $42.79
Children under 2 are no longer free in the lounge car
Adult (Ages 12+)Coach Car $26.74
Child (Ages 2 to 11)Coach Car $21.49
Child (Under 2 years)Free on adult’s lap Free
Seniors (Ages 65+)Coach Car $21.49
Families of 42 Adults and 2 Children $80.24
How to get tickets?
WHEN & WHERE
Date & Time:
Thursday, Saturday, April 9 – June 6, 2026
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, June 9 – August 27, 2026
Thursday, Saturday, September 3 – October 29, 2026
No ride on Saturday, Sept 12, 2026
- 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
Venue:
Various stops
Waterloo Station, 90 Northfield Drive West, Waterloo
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
St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market Station, 330 Farmers Market Road, Waterloo
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
St. Jacobs Village Station, 50 Isabella Street, St. Jacobs
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
Elmira Station, 155 Howard Avenue, Elmira
Hop off the train at our Elmira Station and hop on the FREE Elmira Community Bus that will take you to downtown Elmira, where you can enjoy vibrant local culture, unique shops, and delicious local cuisine! Discover Elmira’s markets at the Bandstand Market (Thursdays from 11AM to 5PM) and Elmira Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from 8:00AM to 1:30PM).
The Elmira Community Bus meets the Heritage Hopper at all three station times (11AM, 1PM & 3PM) and provides a free round trip between the train station and Downtown Elmira. See the bus route map and timetable here. Please note the bus meets the train on Howard Ave.
Limited street parking available
More to Do:
This Weekend in and Around Kitchener-Waterloo Region
