Hundreds gathered at Port Haney Station to see the CPKC Holiday Train as it made stops in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on Thursday night. 

The train rolled in at around 7:45 p.m. with the entertainment starting at 8 p.m. with the Canadian reggae fusion band Magic! and Toronto singer/songwriter Sofia Camera. 

This was the 26th year for the event in Canada and the United States which brings holiday cheer and raises money, food and awareness for people struggling with food insecurity.

Money raised goes towards food banks right across the country, including the local Friends In Need Food Bank.

This was the first time seeing the train for Alina Brink, 6, who was at the event with her older sister. 

She enjoyed all the songs that were sung and the Christmas tree lights on the train. 

"We thought it was awesome," her sister Riley Madden said. "We've never seen anything like it before." 

"Her face was lit up the entire time," said Madden of Alina. 

Monika Toor came from Abbotsford with her friends to see the the CPKC Holiday Train. 

It was their first time as well. 

"It was a very cool experience," she said. "Even though it was raining, we made sure to bring umbrellas."

Cheques were presented at both stops for the Friends In Need Food Bank. 

CPKC donated $7,000 and Maple Ridge Fire and Rescue had a cheque for $10,462, money they raised during the Firefighters for Families campaign. 

Pitt Meadows firefighters made their donation of $5,443 when the train stopped just after 9 p.m. at the Harris Road crossing.

The Canadian Holiday Train made its way to the west coast starting on Nov. 21, from Saint John, New Brunswick. It made multiple stops in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.