List of Ontario railways


The following railways operate in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Common freight carriers

NameMarkSystemFromToSuccessorNotes
Algoma Central Railway18991901Algoma Central and Hudson Bay Railway
Algoma Central and Hudson Bay RailwayAC19011965Algoma Central Railway
Algoma Eastern RailwayAERCP19111958Canadian Pacific Railway
Amherstburg, Lake Shore and Blenheim RailwayC&O18891890Lake Erie and Detroit River Railway
Bay of Quinte RailwayBQCNor18971954Canadian Northern Consolidated Railways
Bay of Quinte Railway and Navigation CompanyCNor18811897Bay of Quinte Railway
Belleville and North Hastings RailwayGT18741881Grand Junction RailwayPurchased by the Grand Junction Railway shortly after completion, became a spur shortly after.
Bessemer and Barry's Bay RailwayCNor1904Wholly owned branch of the Central Ontario Railway, ultimately part of CNoR and CN.
Brantford and Buffalo Joint Stock RailroadGT18511852Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich Railway
Brantford, Norfolk and Port Burwell RailwayGT18741893Grand Trunk Railway
Brantford, Waterloo and Lake Erie RailwayCP/ NYC18851892Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway
Brockville and Ottawa RailwayCP18531878Canada Central Railway
Brockville and Westport RailwayCNor18711884Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway
Brockville, Westport and North-Western RailwayCNor19031914Canadian Northern Railway
Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie RailwayCNor18841903Brockville, Westport and North-Western Railway
Bruce Mines and Algoma Railway18991913Lake Huron and Northern Ontario Railway
Buffalo, Brantford and Goderich RailwayGT18521856Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway
Buffalo and Lake Huron RailwayGT18561958Canadian National Railway
Bytown and Prescott RailwayCP18501855Ottawa and Prescott Railway
Campbellford, Lake Ontario and Western RailwayCP19041956Canadian Pacific Railway
Canada Atlantic RailwayGT18791914Grand Trunk RailwayPart of J.R. Booth's railway network, also including the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. Was, for a time, the busiest railway in Canada, carrying 40% of the grain trade.
Canada Central RailwayCP18611881Canadian Pacific Railway
Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel CompanyNYC18951905Detroit River Tunnel Company
Canada and Michigan Tunnel CompanyNYC18881895Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel Company
Canada Southern RailwayCASONYC1869Still exists as a subsidiary of CNCP Niagara–Windsor Partnership, a nonoperating joint subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Government RailwaysCGRCGR19151993Canadian National Railway
Canadian Northern RailwayCNCNor19001956Canadian National Railway
Canadian Northern Consolidated RailwaysCNor19541956Canadian National Railway
Canadian Northern Ontario RailwayCNOCNor19061956Canadian National Railway
Canadian Northern Quebec RailwayCNQCNor1906Still exists as a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway
Central Counties RailwayGT1889
Central Ontario RailwayCORCNor18821954Canadian Northern Consolidated RailwaysMainline runs from Picton to Trenton, then turns north through Hastings County to Bancroft and beyond.
Chesapeake and Ohio RailwayC&O, COC&O19471987CSX Transportation
Cleveland, Port Stanley and London Transportation and Railway Company18931894Lake Erie and Detroit River Railway
Cobourg, Blairton and Marmora Railway and Mining CompanyGT18871893Grand Trunk Railway
Cobourg and Peterborough RailwayGT18521866Cobourg, Peterborough and Marmora Railway and Mining Company
Cobourg, Peterborough and Marmora Railway and Mining CompanyGT18661887Cobourg, Blairton and Marmora Railway and Mining Company, Peterborough and Chemong Lake Railway
Consolidated Rail CorporationCR19761999CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway
Credit Valley RailwayCP1871
Detroit River Tunnel CompanyNYC1905Still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Dresden and Oil Springs RailwayNYC18731876Sarnia, Chatham and Erie Railway
Erie and Huron RailwayC&O18731899Lake Erie and Detroit River Railway
Erie and Niagara RailwayNYC18631893Canada Southern Railway
Erie and Niagara Extension RailwayNYC18681869Canada Southern Railway
Erie and Ontario RailwayCP/ NYC19141915Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway
Erie and Ontario RailwayNYC18351863Erie and Niagara Railway
Fenelon Falls RailwayGT18711872Lindsay, Fenelon Falls and Ottawa River Railway
Fort Erie RailwayNYC18571863Erie and Niagara Railway
Fort William Terminal Railway and Bridge CompanyCP19061956Canadian Pacific Railway
Galt and Guelph RailwayGT18521893Grand Trunk Railway
Gananoque, Perth and James Bay RailwayGT18841888Thousand Islands Railway
Gananoque and Rideau RailwayGT18711884Thousand Islands Railway
Georgian Bay and Seaboard RailwayCP19051956Canadian Pacific RailwayWholly owned CPR subsidiary built to avoid shipping grain through the Toronto area, used only briefly until being broken into parts.
Georgian Bay and Wellington RailwayGT18781881Grand Trunk, Georgian Bay and Lake Erie Railway
Grand Junction RailwayGT18521882Midland Railway of Canada
Grand River RailwayGRNRCP1914Electric until 1961; still exists as a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Grand Trunk RailwayGTGT18521923Canadian National Railway
Grand Trunk, Georgian Bay and Lake Erie RailwayGT18811893Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Pacific RailwayGTP19031956Canadian National Railway
Great Northern Railway of CanadaCNor18921906Canadian Northern Quebec Railway
Great Western RailwayGT18451882Grand Trunk Railway
Guelph and Goderich RailwayCP19041956Canadian Pacific Railway
Guelph Junction RailwayCP1884Still exists as a lessor of the Ontario Southland Railway
Hamilton and Lake Erie RailwayGT18691876Hamilton and North-Western Railway
Hamilton and North-Western RailwayGT18721888Grand Trunk Railway
Hamilton and Port Dover RailwayGT18531873Hamilton and Lake Erie Railway
Hamilton and Toronto RailwayGT18521855Great Western Railway
Huntsville and Lake of Bays Railway19001960N/A
Huron and Quebec RailwayGT18741877Toronto and Ottawa Railway
International Bridge CompanyGT18571956Canadian National Railway
International Bridge and Terminal CompanyIBT1905Still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway
Interprovincial and James Bay RailwayCP19011956Canadian Pacific Railway
Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa RailwayCNor18841943Canadian National Railway
James Bay RailwayCNor18951906Canadian Northern Ontario Railway
Kingston, Napanee and Western RailwayCNor18901897Bay of Quinte Railway
Kingston and Pembroke RailwayCP1871Still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Lake Erie and Detroit River RailwayC&O1890Still exists as a subsidiary of CSX Transportation
Lake Erie, Essex and Detroit River RailwayC&O18851891Lake Erie and Detroit River Railway
Lake Erie and Northern RailwayLENCP1911Electric until 1961; still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Lake Huron and Northern Ontario Railway19131921N/A
Lake Simcoe Junction RailwayGT18731893Grand Trunk Railway
Lake Temiscamingue Colonization RailwayCP1886
Leamington, Comber and Lake St. Clair RailwayNYC18771879Leamington and St. Clair Railway
Leamington and St. Clair RailwayNYC18791904Canada Southern Railway
Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Pontypool RailwayCP18901958Canadian Pacific Railway
Lindsay, Fenelon Falls and Ottawa River RailwayGT18721873Victoria Railway
London and Gore RailroadGT18341845Great Western Railway
London, Huron and Bruce RailwayGT18711893Grand Trunk Railway
London and Port Stanley RailwayLPS18531965Canadian National RailwayElectric from 1915 to 1957
Manitoulin and North Shore RailwayCP18881911Algoma Eastern Railway
Marmora Railway and Mining CompanyCNor1900Wholly owned branch of the Central Ontario Railway, ultimately part of CNoR and CN.
Michigan Central RailroadNYC18831930New York Central Railroad
Midland Railway of CanadaGT18691893Grand Trunk Railway
Midland Simcoe RailwayCP19121956Canadian Pacific Railway
Midland Terminal RailwayCP19031912Midland Simcoe Railway
Montreal and City of Ottawa Junction RailwayGT18711879Canada Atlantic Railway
Montreal and Ottawa RailwayCP18901958Canadian Pacific Railway
Napanee, Tamworth and Quebec RailwayCNor18791890Kingston, Napanee and Western Railway
National Transcontinental RailwayCGR19031993Canadian National Railway
New York Central RailroadNYCNYC19161968Penn Central Transportation Company
Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge CompanyGT1846
Niagara Peninsula Bridge CompanyNYC18821883Niagara River Bridge Company
Niagara River Bridge CompanyNYC18832002N/AStill exists as an abandoned subsidiary of CNCP Niagara–Windsor Partnership, a nonoperating joint subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway
Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto RailwayNS&TCNor18991958Canadian National RailwayElectric until 1960
Norfolk RailwayGT18691874Brantford, Norfolk and Port Burwell Railway
Norfolk and Western RailwayN&W, NW19641998Norfolk Southern Railway
North Grey RailwayGT18711871Northern Extension Railways
North Simcoe RailwayGT18741893Grand Trunk Railway
Northern Railway of CanadaGT18581888Grand Trunk Railway
Northern Extension RailwaysGT18711875Northern Railway of Canada
Northern, North-Western and Sault Ste. Marie RailwayGT18811883Northern and Pacific Junction Railway
Northern and Pacific Junction RailwayGT18831892Grand Trunk Railway
Nosbonsing and Nipissing Railway1886N/A
Ontario, Belmont and Northern RailwayCNor18911900Marmora Railway and Mining CompanyWholly owned branch of the Central Ontario Railway, renamed shortly after construction.
Ontario L'Orignal RailwayOLO19962000Ottawa Central Railway
Ontario and Ottawa RailwayCNor19101914Canadian Northern Railway
Ontario Pacific RailwayNYC18821897Ottawa and New York Railway
Ontario and Quebec RailwayCP18711998St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway
Ontario and Rainy River RailwayCNor18861900Canadian Northern Railway
Ontario, Simcoe and Huron RailwayGT18511858Northern Railway of Canada
Oshawa RailwayGT18911958Canadian National RailwayElectric until 1964
Oshawa Railway and Navigation CompanyGT18871891Oshawa Railway
Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound RailwayGT18911899Canada Atlantic RailwayThe western half of J.R. Booth's Canada Atlantic Railway, formerly merged into the CAR in 1899.
Ottawa, Arnprior and Renfrew RailwayGT18881891Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
Ottawa and Gatineau RailwayCP18941901Ottawa, Northern and Western Railway
Ottawa and Gatineau Valley RailwayCP18871894Ottawa and Gatineau Railway
Ottawa Interprovincial Bridge CompanyCP1898
Ottawa and New York RailwayNYC18971957N/A
Ottawa, Northern and Western RailwayCP19011958Canadian Pacific Railway
Ottawa and Parry Sound RailwayGT18881891Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
Ottawa and Prescott RailwayCP18551867St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway
Ottawa Terminals RailwayGT1907
Parry Sound Colonization RailwayGT18851896Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
Pembroke Southern RailwayGT18931956Canadian National Railway
Penn Central Transportation CompanyPC19681976Consolidated Rail Corporation
Pere Marquette RailroadC&O19041917Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette RailwayPMC&O19171947Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Peterborough and Chemong Lake RailwayGT18881893Grand Trunk RailwayWholly owned subsidiary of the Cobourg and Peterborough, became separate when the rest of the line was sold to the Marmora interests.
Peterborough and Chemong Lake RailwayGT18551868Cobourg, Peterborough and Marmora Railway and Mining Company
Peterborough and Port Hope RailwayGT18461854Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway
Pontiac Pacific Junction RailwayCP18801903Ottawa, Northern and Western Railway
Port Arthur, Duluth and Western RailwayCNor18871900Canadian Northern Railway
Port Dalhousie and Thorold RailwayGT18531857Welland Railway
Port Dover and Lake Huron RailwayGT18721881Grand Trunk, Georgian Bay and Lake Erie Railway
Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton RailwayGT18541869Midland Railway of Canada
Port Whitby and Port Perry RailwayGT18681874Whitby and Port Perry Extension Railway
Prescott County RailwayGT18871889Central Counties Railway
Prince Edward County RailwayCNor18731882Central Ontario Railway
St. Clair Frontier Tunnel CompanyGT18841886St. Clair Tunnel Company
St. Clair Tunnel CompanyGT18862008Grand Trunk Western Railroad
St. Lawrence and Hudson RailwaySTLHCP19962001Canadian Pacific Railway
St. Lawrence and Ottawa RailwayCP1867Still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
St. Mary's and Western Ontario RailwayCP19051958Canadian Pacific Railway
Sarnia, Chatham and Erie RailwayNYC18761904Canada Southern Railway
South Norfolk RailwayGT18871889Grand Trunk, Georgian Bay and Lake Erie Railway
South Ontario Pacific RailwayCP18871956Canadian Pacific Railway
Stratford and Huron RailwayGT18551881Grand Trunk, Georgian Bay and Lake Erie Railway
Superior and Western Ontario Railway1909N/A
Temiskaming and Northern Ontario RailwayTEM19021946Ontario Northland Railway
Thousand Islands RailwayGT18841958Canadian National Railway
Thunder Bay Colonization RailwayCNor18831887Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway
Tilsonburg, Lake Erie and Pacific RailwayCP18901958Canadian Pacific Railway
Toronto Belt Line RailwayGT18891943Canadian National Railway
Toronto, Grey and Bruce RailwayCP18681998St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway
Toronto and Guelph RailwayGT18511853Grand Trunk Railway
Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo RailwayTH&B, THBCP/ NYC1884Still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Toronto and Nipissing RailwayGT18681882Midland Railway of Canada
Toronto and Nipissing Eastern Extension RailwayCNor18801884Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway
Toronto and Ottawa RailwayGT18771882Midland Railway of Canada
Toronto, Simcoe and Lake Huron RailwayGT18491851Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railway
Toronto, Simcoe and Muskoka Junction RailwayGT18691871Northern Extension Railways
Toronto Terminals RailwayCP/ GT1906Still exists as a joint subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway
Trans-Ontario RailwayTOR19961997Ottawa Valley Railway
Vaudreuil and Prescott RailwayCP18841890Montreal and Ottawa Railway
Victoria RailwayGT18731882Midland Railway of Canada
Wabash RailroadWAB18981915Wabash Railway
Wabash RailroadWABWAB19421964Norfolk and Western Railway
Wabash RailwayWAB19151942Wabash Railroad
Walkerton and Lucknow RailwayCP19041956Canadian Pacific Railway
Waterloo Junction RailwayGT18891893Grand Trunk Railway
Welland RailwayGT18571884Grand Trunk Railway
Wellington, Grey and Bruce RailwayGT18641893Grand Trunk Railway-
West Ontario Pacific RailwayCP1885Still exists as a nonoperating subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Whitby and Port Perry Extension RailwayGT18741877Whitby, Port Perry and Lindsay Railway
Whitby, Port Perry and Lindsay RailwayGT18771882Midland Railway of Canada

Electric