Waterloo Spur Line
A short railway line in Ontario's Region of Waterloo, serving freight, tourist trains, and a section of the Ion light-rail system.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Waterloo Spur Line is a short railway in the Region of Waterloo in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It extends northward from the former Grand Trunk Railway North Main Line in downtown Kitchener through Waterloo and St. Jacobs to Elmira. The route remains a mixed-use railway corridor: the Region of Waterloo owns the Kitchener-to-Elmira section, Canadian National Railway operates freight trains over the line, Waterloo Central Railway operates tourist services, and the Ion light-rail system uses a central portion between Waterloo Public Square and Northfield stations. The route originated with the Waterloo Junction Railway, which was chartered in 1889. Its first section, connecting Berlin—now Kitchener—with Waterloo, opened in 1890. The line reached Elmira on 27 October 1891. Although the original railway company envisioned an extension to Drayton and branches toward Elora or Listowel, those projects were never completed. The Grand Trunk Railway leased the line for 39 years and absorbed it during a corporate reorganization in 1893. During the Grand Trunk era, the route formed the northern part of the Berlin Subdivision, later renamed the Kitchener Subdivision after Berlin was renamed Kitchener. In 1923, the line became part of Canadian National Railways when the Grand Trunk and other financially troubled railway companies were consolidated. For much of the twentieth century it operated as the Waterloo Subdivision, extending beyond the present spur toward the former industrial communities of Doon, Blair, and Galt. The southern portion was relatively lightly used and was generally operated when traffic required it. The northern section ultimately became known as the Waterloo Spur within CN's Guelph Subdivision. The Region of Waterloo purchased the Kitchener-to-Elmira section in 1995, while CN continued freight operations. In 1998, CN leased the broader subdivision to the Goderich–Exeter Railway. When that lease ended, control of the Guelph Subdivision returned to CN on 16 November 2018. Passenger and heritage uses developed alongside freight operations. Local organizers established the Waterloo–St. Jacobs Railway in 1997 to operate trains on non-freight days, particularly for visitors traveling to the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market. That venture ceased operations in 1999, after constructing a Waterloo station, and the operation was acquired by the City of Waterloo. In 2007, the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society relocated to the region and established Waterloo Central Railway. Its tourist trains initially linked Waterloo with the market and later reached Elmira. The former St. Jacobs passenger station is now associated with the Waterloo Central Railway Museum. Since 2019, the central urban portion has also supported Ion light-rail service. Freight trains continue to use the corridor, generally operating at night when light-rail service is closed. Most of the original railway remains active, although several industrial spurs have been removed or abandoned, including connections to a former flour mill in present-day Uptown Waterloo and grain silos in downtown St. Jacobs. Parts of the former right of way also support multi-use trails, including the 2.4-kilometre Spurline Trail between downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo, formally established in 2016.
History
The Waterloo Spur Line began as the Waterloo Junction Railway, chartered in 1889 to connect Berlin, now Kitchener, with Waterloo and points farther north. The first segment opened in 1890, and the extension to Elmira was completed on 27 October 1891. The proposed continuation to Drayton and proposed branches toward Elora or Listowel were never built. The Grand Trunk Railway leased the line for 39 years and absorbed it during a reorganization on 1 April 1893. By 1916, the route appeared in Grand Trunk employee timetables as the Elmira Section of the Berlin Subdivision. The subdivision also included the former Preston and Berlin Railway line to the south, known as the Galt Section. After Berlin became Kitchener, the subdivision was renamed the Kitchener Subdivision. Waterloo's original station was rebuilt in brick in 1910. The railway entered the Canadian National system in 1923, when the newly created Canadian National Railways consolidated the Grand Trunk and other financially troubled railways. Under CN, the route operated as the Waterloo Subdivision and formed part of a longer corridor running from Kitchener north to Elmira and south through Doon and Blair toward Galt. The southern section generated limited traffic and was commonly operated only when needed. The northern section later became known as the Waterloo Spur of CN's Guelph Subdivision. The Region of Waterloo acquired the Kitchener-to-Elmira section in 1995, but CN remained the freight operator. In 1998, CN leased the subdivision to the Goderich–Exeter Railway. The lease lasted 20 years, and operational control returned to CN on 16 November 2018. The corridor has also supported passenger and recreational rail uses. In 1997, local residents formed the Waterloo–St. Jacobs Railway to run passenger trains on days when freight operations were not scheduled, with particular emphasis on service to the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market. The company ended its independent operation in 1999, after constructing a station at Erb and Caroline Streets in Waterloo, and the City of Waterloo acquired the operation. The Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society relocated to the region in 2007 and established Waterloo Central Railway. Its heritage trains later operated from Waterloo to the market and Elmira, while the former St. Jacobs passenger station became a museum-related facility. The railway acquired a further transportation role in 2019, when the Ion light-rail system began using a central segment from Waterloo Public Square to Northfield. Freight and light-rail services coexist, with CN freight trains generally scheduled at night after Ion service has ended. The route continues to serve industrial customers in Waterloo, St. Jacobs, and Elmira, although several historical industrial spurs have disappeared. Portions of the right of way also accommodate multi-use trails, notably the 2.4-kilometre Spurline Trail between downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo, established in 2016.
- 2019
Ion light rail begins corridor operations
[1]Ion light-rail trains began using the central section between Waterloo Public Square and Northfield.
- 2018
CN resumes control of the subdivision
[1]Control returned to CN on 16 November after the Goderich–Exeter Railway lease expired.
- 2016
Spurline Trail formally established
[1]A 2.4-kilometre multi-use trail was formally established along the railway corridor between downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo.
- 2007
Waterloo Central Railway established
[1]The Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society relocated to the region and began heritage railway operations.
- 1997
Waterloo–St. Jacobs Railway formed
[1]A local passenger-rail venture was established to serve Waterloo and the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market.
- 1995
Region of Waterloo acquires the northern section
[1]The Region purchased the Kitchener-to-Elmira section, with CN retaining freight operations.
- 1923
Line becomes part of Canadian National Railways
[1]The route entered the new Canadian National system following consolidation of the Grand Trunk and other railways.
- 1910
Waterloo station rebuilt
[1]The original Waterloo station was replaced with a brick structure.
- 1893
Grand Trunk Railway absorbs the line
[1]The Waterloo Junction Railway was merged into the Grand Trunk Railway during reorganization.
- 1891
Line reaches Elmira
[1]The main line from Kitchener through Waterloo to Elmira opened on 27 October.
Products and positioning
A multi-use regional rail corridor combining freight transportation, heritage tourism, urban light rail, and trail infrastructure.
Freight railway
CN freight service
Canadian National Railway operates freight trains over the Waterloo Spur, serving industrial customers and local sidings along the Kitchener–Waterloo–St. Jacobs–Elmira corridor. Freight movements generally take place at night on the urban section shared with Ion light rail.
Heritage and tourist railway · 2007
Waterloo Central Railway
Waterloo Central Railway operates tourist and heritage trains on the corridor, linking Waterloo with the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market and, at times, Elmira. The organization was established by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society after its relocation to the region.
Light-rail transit · 2019
Ion light rail
The Ion rapid-transit system uses a central segment of the railway corridor between Waterloo Public Square station and Northfield station. Its operation introduced scheduled urban passenger transit to a route that had previously been primarily freight-oriented.
Multi-use trail · 2016
Spurline Trail
The Spurline Trail is a 2.4-kilometre walking and cycling route between downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo. It follows the railway right of way in a rail-with-trail arrangement and forms part of the corridor's broader public-use function.
Brand decisions
2019
Shared use of the corridor for Ion light railStrategyBackground
The Region developed a rapid-transit network that required use of an established railway corridor through Kitchener and Waterloo.
Action taken
Ion light-rail service began operating on the central portion of the Waterloo Spur, with freight scheduled primarily at night.
Aftermath
The line became a mixed-use corridor supporting freight, scheduled light rail, tourist trains, and adjacent trail activity.
1998
Goderich–Exeter Railway lease beginsM&ABackground
CN reorganized operation of the Guelph Subdivision through a long-term lease.
Action taken
The Goderich–Exeter Railway took over operation of the subdivision under a 20-year lease.
Aftermath
GEXR operated the route until the lease expired and control returned to CN in November 2018.
1995
Regional acquisition of the Kitchener–Elmira sectionM&ABackground
The Region of Waterloo sought control of the local railway corridor while retaining freight access.
Action taken
The Region purchased the section from Kitchener to Elmira, while CN continued to operate freight trains.
Aftermath
The corridor became publicly owned locally but continued to support private railway operations and later transit uses.
Sources1 sources
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