Until 2015, the line also provided passenger train service to canoeists, snowmobilers, cottagers and tourists accessing this wilderness recreation region.

It also intersects with the Canadian Pacific Kansas City at Franz and with the Huron Central Railway at its southernmost point in the Sault.

Marie, with a 32 km (20 mi) segment running east from Michipicoten Harbour that did not yet connect with the main line.

In 1998, Algoma Steel closed its iron ore mine in Wawa and the branch line between Michipicoten Harbour and Hawk Junction was abandoned.

The passenger service, which runs three days per week, provides year-round access to remote tourist camps and resorts.

[4] In February, a working group attempting to save the line hired BDO Canada LLP, an accounting firm, to assess the financial impact to the region when the service is scheduled to end April 29.

[9] In June of the same year, Canadian National said it would stop the service on July 15 after it was unable to make a deal with Railmark Canada.

Railmark was unable to secure a line of credit from a lending group, which hindered its ability to take over services.

[12] In December 2021, the sale of the former Algoma Central lines along with CN trackage in Wisconsin and Michigan was approved by the Surface Transportation Board.

[13] In March 2021, Watco announced that it would acquire the Algoma Central from Canadian National, along with the Wisconsin lines, sale of the latter being subject to final approval by the United States Surface Transportation Board.

Simultaneously, Watco committed to a continuance of the Agawa Canyon Tour Train, as well as signing a memorandum of understanding with the Missanabie Cree First Nation regarding a potential partnership.

[12] On April 20, the Missanabie Cree First Nation, N1 Strategy Inc. and The Machine Shop also signed a memorandum of understanding around logistics and operations of a resurrected tourist train.

Owing to the popularity of the Agawa Canyon excursions, the Algoma Central ran the longest passenger trains in North America, often up to 20 to 24 cars long.

[18] In 2015, White Pine Pictures released the award-winning documentary film Painted Land: in Search of the Group of Seven [19][20] which was shot along the rail corridor.