jamesontheroad
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- 24 Jan 2009
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Some further updates to this (now closed) thread.
In 2016, the Port of Churchill (on the Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba) in Canada announced it would be closing. While climate change had had the unforeseen effect of making this northern port accessible by ship for longer every year, the export of grain was insufficient to keep the port open.
As a result, the future of VIA Rail's weekly 3,400km Winnipeg - Churchill train (formerly known as The Hudson Bay) was uncertain. The train runs on Canadian National rails, skirting in and out of neighbouring Saskatchewan, to The Pas, Manitoba. From there it continues on the Hudson Bay Railway (owned by Omnitrax) via the remote towns of Thompson and Gillam and dozens of flag stops towards Churchill. The train is of course heavily subsidised, but provides essential service to these remote communities. It recoups some money from the tourists who head north to see polar bears in the winter or whales and other sea life in the summer.
However last spring, 2017, severe flooding washed out long sections of remote track and damaged bridges north of Gillam. This trapped a couple of VIA Rail locomotives and passenger cars in Churchill, and rendered the town completely cut off. There are no other land routes to Churchill. As a result tourism has collapsed, and many local businesses are in trouble.
VIA Rail have reportedly now retrieved the locomotives and carriages by barge. But as of a few days ago, the Canadian government has issued an ultimatum to the US company that owns the railway. They've stalled on carrying out repairs, blaming the closure of the port.
Source: https://www.nationalobserver.com/20...ues-ultimatum-over-broken-rail-line-churchill
Extract:
The "transfer or ownership" would suggest a solution similar to that of the Keewatin Railway Company, a First Nations owned-and-operated rail line from The Pas to Pukatawagan. Similarly, there's Tshiuetin Railway Transportation in northern Quebec. Both provide passenger service, albeit outside the VIA Rail system.
As of a few weeks ago, VIA Rail have introduced a new schedule providing weekly service between Winnipeg, The Pas and terminating in Gillam, the last major town before the blockade.
In 2016, the Port of Churchill (on the Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba) in Canada announced it would be closing. While climate change had had the unforeseen effect of making this northern port accessible by ship for longer every year, the export of grain was insufficient to keep the port open.
As a result, the future of VIA Rail's weekly 3,400km Winnipeg - Churchill train (formerly known as The Hudson Bay) was uncertain. The train runs on Canadian National rails, skirting in and out of neighbouring Saskatchewan, to The Pas, Manitoba. From there it continues on the Hudson Bay Railway (owned by Omnitrax) via the remote towns of Thompson and Gillam and dozens of flag stops towards Churchill. The train is of course heavily subsidised, but provides essential service to these remote communities. It recoups some money from the tourists who head north to see polar bears in the winter or whales and other sea life in the summer.
However last spring, 2017, severe flooding washed out long sections of remote track and damaged bridges north of Gillam. This trapped a couple of VIA Rail locomotives and passenger cars in Churchill, and rendered the town completely cut off. There are no other land routes to Churchill. As a result tourism has collapsed, and many local businesses are in trouble.
VIA Rail have reportedly now retrieved the locomotives and carriages by barge. But as of a few days ago, the Canadian government has issued an ultimatum to the US company that owns the railway. They've stalled on carrying out repairs, blaming the closure of the port.
Source: https://www.nationalobserver.com/20...ues-ultimatum-over-broken-rail-line-churchill
Extract:
The "transfer or ownership" would suggest a solution similar to that of the Keewatin Railway Company, a First Nations owned-and-operated rail line from The Pas to Pukatawagan. Similarly, there's Tshiuetin Railway Transportation in northern Quebec. Both provide passenger service, albeit outside the VIA Rail system.
As of a few weeks ago, VIA Rail have introduced a new schedule providing weekly service between Winnipeg, The Pas and terminating in Gillam, the last major town before the blockade.
