​Canadian Pacific Holiday Train Won't Roll Through WI In 2020

WISCONSIN — The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train won't roll through Wisconsin this year, but the seasonal spirit will live on.

In a news release, Canadian Pacific announced its usual Holiday Train programming has been canceled for 2020, meaning the decked out locomotive won't visit the Wisconsin stops it usually makes during its fundraising trek across the continent.

Instead, the Canadian railroad company will host a virtual concert aimed at drawing attention to food insecurity. It will also make donations to food banks along its usual route.

In a statement, Canadian Pacific president and CEO Keith Creel said the holiday train will return to the rails when it's deemed safe to do so, ideally in 2021.

“COVID-19 has created many challenges for communities across our network and has only increased the need at local food banks and food shelves,” Creel said. “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!”

Since its 1999 launch, the Holiday Train has made its way across Canada and the northern U.S. raising money and collecting food for local food banks. Since its inaugural run, the program has raised $17.8 million and collected 4.8 million pounds of food, according to the release.

Kristine Martin, president of Minneapolis-based East Side Neighborhood Services said she's grateful the railway company will continue its usual donations this year despite canceling the train program.

“[Canadian Pacific's] generous donations to East Side Neighborhood Services over the years have helped us provide nutritious food to people who have difficulty accessing traditional food shelves or grocery stores. This year, being able to continue providing those services has been even more important. We’re thankful to CP for their continued support and donations again this year,” Martin said in a statement.

Details about Canadian Pacific's upcoming virtual concert have not been released as of writing. Information can be found on the organization's website.