CP Holiday Train arrives in metro Detroit/Windsor donating food and cash to local charities

By Aaron Best

Tell Us USA

DETROIT - The annual stop by the CP Holiday Train was a crowd pleaser for thousands of metro Detroiters who came out Saturday night for the annual pass-through.

“It’s awesome and well worth the wait,” said Tell Us Detroit photographer Montez Miller. To see the Holiday Train at this time of the year is always a thrill.“ In addition to America’s Thanksgiving Parade, it’s another great way to start the Christmas season,” said Miller.

“The CP Holiday Train is a program that our 13,000-strong CP family has immense pride in bringing to communities every year. Access to nutritious food is a basic necessity, and food bank usage is on the rise across North America. The CP Holiday Train program is our way to help in the fight against hunger by growing awareness of this issue and providing a fun and engaging way for the public to show their support.” - Keith Creel, CP's President, and Chief Executive Officer.

The Holiday Train has now raised more than $15.8 million and collected 4.5 million pounds of food since its inaugural journey back in 1999.

Hundreds watch as the CP Holiday Train arrives in Windsor near Janette Avenue railway yard Saturday. About 30 minutes later, Santa Claus stepped from the train giving out candy canes to children. Then one of the boxcars opened to reveal a stage, as the band plays holiday tunes.

CP donates at each stop, the money and food donated by people who come to the free event stays in the community. Organizers were encouraging donation of healthier foods to food banks such as products with low sodium, canned fruit and vegetables, tomato juice, applesauce, whole grain bread, brown rice, milk products, and dried or canned beans and lentils.

It’s not unusual for the Holiday Train to get a few thousand people for the half-hour stop. The train doesn’t take passengers.