Staff Report / July 3, 2025
A fresh tourism venture, the Finger Lakes Rail Experience, is set to debut during the 2025 summer season, offering heritage train excursions departing from Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls.
Bringing together a coalition of freight operators, nonprofits, wineries, breweries, and the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey (URHS), the initiative introduces beautifully restored 1940s-era passenger cars for scenic weekend trips.
Ticket sales began on June 6, 2025, with summer operations launching over the Fourth of July weekend and continuing through August. Trips range from 60‑ to 150‑minute roundtrips, priced from $30, and cater to different audiences—families, brunch and wine lovers, evening riders, and rail enthusiasts.
Train offerings include:
- Family-friendly excursions with vintage charm.
- Mimosa Express summer brunch rides.
- Wine Train adults-only experiences with tastings and charcuterie.
- Sunset Club Train, pairing drinks and period music in a lounge atmosphere
All rides feature modern amenities—air conditioning, onboard restrooms, and open vestibules—within deluxe coach, premium, and first-class carriages. The five-car fleet, loaned from URHS, includes mid-century lounge cars such as the New York Central No. 43 and the Swift Stream, both recently restored and Amtrak-certified.
Special events include a one-day “Railfan Train” on September 1, covering the full Canandaigua-to-Solvay route behind vintage diesel locomotives, complete with a boxed lunch and additional photo opportunities.
The Finger Lakes Railway—local freight carrier serving six counties—partnered with FMW Solutions to launch the program after divesting its passenger cars in late 2024. The operation aims to support regional tourism and preservation efforts.
Learn more at: https://www.flxrailexperience.com/
