What are the best options for travelling by train between Toronto and Montreal? Uncover Hidden Gems!

June 15, 2026  ·  4 min read

The journey by train between Toronto and Montreal is more than just a convenient link between two of Canada's most vibrant cities. It's an opportunity to slow down, look out the window, and discover the rich tapestry of history, geology, and culture that often goes unnoticed in the blur of highway travel.

While the destination is always exciting, the true magic often lies in the overlooked towns and landscapes you pass through. From engineering marvels to submerged villages, the route is dotted with incredible, often surprising, stories waiting to be uncovered. Here are some of the most intriguing stops and sights along the way.

1. The Atomic Town's Secret Garden

Port Hope, Ontario, Canada

Port Hope was once a global hub for uranium processing, making it Canada's most radioactive town, a history few realize as they pass through its charming downtown.

For decades, Port Hope was home to Eldorado Nuclear, a major refinery for uranium ore, playing a critical role in the world's nuclear programs. This industrial legacy left behind a complex environmental challenge, leading to one of Canada's largest clean-up operations. Today, the town presents a picturesque face, yet its past is deeply intertwined with atomic history, a fascinating contrast to its Victorian architecture.

2. The Drowned Towns of the Seaway

Morrisburg, Ontario, Canada

Six entire villages, known as 'The Lost Villages,' were deliberately flooded and submerged to create the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s, a monumental undertaking that reshaped the landscape forever.

The construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project required the expropriation and relocation of over 6,500 people and the complete disappearance of communities like Aultsville, Farran's Point, and Wales. Homes were moved brick by brick, churches disassembled, and cemeteries relocated. Today, remnants of these villages lie beneath the waters of Lake St. Lawrence, serving as a poignant reminder of progress's cost.

3. North America's First Underground Passage

Brockville, Ontario, Canada

Brockville is home to North America's first railway tunnel, an engineering marvel completed in 1860 that once linked the town's harbor to its main rail line.

This historic tunnel, stretching over 500 meters, was a groundbreaking feat of engineering for its time, allowing trains to move goods directly from steamships on the St. Lawrence River. After decades of disuse, it was beautifully restored and reopened as a pedestrian attraction, featuring a vibrant LED light show that illuminates its ancient rock walls, blending history with modern spectacle.

4. Behind the Bars: Kingston's Stone Palace

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Beyond its formidable walls, Canada's oldest maximum-security prison, Kingston Penitentiary, had a complex history of inmate industries, social experiments, and even escape attempts that shaped Canadian justice.

Opened in 1835, 'Kingston Pen' was a cornerstone of Canada's correctional system, housing some of the country's most notorious criminals. While now a museum, its operational years saw inmates engaged in various trades, from farming to manufacturing, and was the site of significant riots and reforms. The stories of its past offer a unique, often stark, look into Canadian social history.

5. Wind Turbines and Sunken Secrets

Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada

Wolfe Island, accessible by ferry from Kingston, is not only home to one of Canada's largest wind farms but also hides tales of submerged vessels and a unique blend of modern energy and historical maritime dangers.

This large island at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is characterized by its towering wind turbines, a testament to renewable energy. Yet, beneath the waters surrounding it lie shipwrecks and remnants of a bustling maritime past, from early fur trade vessels to steamboats. The juxtaposition of cutting-edge technology and ancient, hidden history makes it a place of compelling contrasts.

6. Echoes of a Grand Seigneurie

Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, Canada

Vaudreuil-Dorion, a town often passed through quickly, was once the site of a grand 18th-century château, whose foundations and remnants still tell tales of colonial power and rivalries.

The original Château Vaudreuil, built by Philippe de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil, a governor general of New France, was a symbol of French colonial ambition and power. Though destroyed by fire in the early 19th century, archaeological digs have uncovered its extensive foundations and artifacts. The site offers a rare glimpse into the opulent lives of early Quebec's elite and the strategic importance of this region.

7. Montreal's Hidden Fallout Shelter

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Beneath the tranquil gardens and futuristic structures of Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Sainte-Hélène lies a forgotten Cold War-era fallout shelter, a secret relic from Expo 67.

Built to protect VIPs during the height of Cold War anxieties, this subterranean bunker was designed to withstand a nuclear attack and provide a safe haven for dignitaries attending Expo 67. Today, it remains largely unseen and unknown to most visitors enjoying the park's attractions. It's a stark reminder of a tense global period, quietly preserved beneath the city's festive veneer.

Photography via Pexels. AllTours.ai is an AI audio tour guide — point your camera at any landscape and hear its story.