Agawa Canyon Tour Train Abandons Canal District Station

The popular tourist attraction is relocating to a rail yard near Algoma Steel, leaving the $5M provincial-funded station empty.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:06pm

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting the grand scale and sweeping perspectives of a train station and rail yard, with towering architectural forms and sleek, streamlined trains, rendered in a palette of steel grey, charcoal, and cobalt blue.The relocation of the Agawa Canyon Tour Train from its purpose-built station leaves the $5 million facility empty, raising questions about the future of this provincial investment in Sault Ste. Marie's tourism infrastructure.Sault Ste. Marie Today

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train, a popular tourist attraction in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is suddenly abandoning its purpose-built station in the city's Canal District and relocating to a rail yard near Algoma Steel. The $5 million station, which opened in 2021, is now being mothballed as the Kansas-based operator Watco says the new location offers 'convenient on-site parking and easy highway access' for passengers.

Why it matters

The sudden move raises questions about the future of the Canal District station and the $5 million in provincial funding that went into its construction. Tourism officials say they are working with both Watco and the Canal District to find a new use for the station, but the reasons behind the train tour's relocation remain unclear.

The details

Watco, the U.S. company that operates the Agawa Canyon Tour Train, issued a brief announcement last week stating that the popular tourist attraction will be relocating to the rail yard along Carmen's Way, near Algoma Steel. Passengers will now board at this bare-bones space rather than the purpose-built station in the Canal District that opened just five years ago. City officials say they are working with both Watco and the Canal District to ensure the best outcome for visitors, but they cannot publicly share the reasons for the move.

  • The $5 million Agawa Canyon Tour Train Station opened in 2021.
  • Watco took over the Agawa Canyon Tour Train in 2021 after purchasing it and a large portion of the Algoma Central Railway line.
  • Ticket sales for the upcoming Agawa Canyon Tour Train season began on April 3, 2026, with the season running from early August to mid-October.

The players

Watco

A Kansas-based company that operates the Agawa Canyon Tour Train and recently announced it is relocating the popular tourist attraction to a rail yard near Algoma Steel.

Travis Anderson

The director of Tourism and Community Development for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, who says the city is working with both Watco and the Canal District to ensure the best outcome for visitors.

Melissa Porco

A spokesperson for the Canal District, who in 2021 described the then-new Agawa Canyon Tour Train station as a 'destination in and of itself' with amenities like a restaurant, micro-brewery, and Indigenous cultural learning spaces.

Dorothy Macnaughton

The chair of the Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains (CAPT), who in 2021 said the Agawa Canyon Tour Train station would get more use if passenger train service returns to the region through the proposed 'Bear Train'.

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What they’re saying

“In speaking with Watco, we understand they've got some plans for their yard that is obviously going to improve visitor experience and help to beautify the area.”

— Travis Anderson, Director of Tourism and Community Development, City of Sault Ste. Marie

“Our focus has always been on creating the best possible experience for our passengers. The new site makes departures smoother and gives passengers more time to enjoy the world-renowned Agawa Canyon.”

— Lindsay Ambeault, Supervisor of tour train operations

What’s next

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is working with both Watco and the Canal District to determine the future use of the now-empty $5 million train station building.

The takeaway

The sudden relocation of the Agawa Canyon Tour Train from its purpose-built station in Sault Ste. Marie's Canal District raises questions about the long-term viability of the $5 million provincial investment and the future of the site as a tourism draw. While officials cite plans to improve the passenger experience, the reasons behind the move remain unclear, underscoring the challenges of sustaining high-profile attractions in a changing economic landscape.