<P> Construction began in 1871 but costs almost bankrupted the government by the next year , a problem that helped pave PEI 's entrance into Confederation . The work was picked up by the Canadian Government Railways and largely completed by the mid-1880s . The PEIR saw heavy use , especially during World War II , but like many railways saw declining use through the 1970s . The line officially closed on 31 December 1989 and the rails removed between 1990 and 1992 , with the provincial government receiving a one - time payment of $200 million to upgrade the road network in exchange for not opposing the closure . </P>
<P> Construction began in 1871 but costs almost bankrupted the government by the next year , a problem that helped pave PEI 's entrance into Confederation . The work was picked up by the Canadian Government Railways and largely completed by the mid-1880s . The PEIR saw heavy use , especially during World War II , but like many railways saw declining use through the 1970s . The line officially closed on 31 December 1989 and the rails removed between 1990 and 1992 , with the provincial government receiving a one - time payment of $200 million to upgrade the road network in exchange for not opposing the closure . </P>
when did the trains stop running in pei
when did the trains stop running in pei
31 December 1989
31 December 1989