Canada: Port of Churchill closing, rail line threatened

[jamesontheroad]

This from CBC News just before the weekend.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/port-of-churchill-layoffs-manitoba-agriculture-minister-1.3695696

Port of Churchill layoffs could devastate northern Manitoba economy, ministers say
By Bryce Hoye, CBC News Posted: Jul 26, 2016 12:25 PM CT Last Updated: Jul 26, 2016 9:46 PM CT

Layoffs at the Port of Churchill could have a devastating effect on the local economy and leave northern workers in a lurch if no solution is found soon, the provincial agriculture minister and Churchill's member of Parliament say.

...

About 700 kilometres southwest of Churchill, The Pas Mayor Jim Scott said he too is concerned about local jobs. About 75 to 80 people in The Pas work for the railway and could be affected by the closure of the rail line, Scott said.

Omnitrax bought the port (in the far north of Manitoba) and rail line from the Canadian government back in the nineties. It's the only sea port in central Canada, and exporting grain from there saves thousands of miles and days in freight time compared to eastern ports.

The line carries the 1,700km the VIA Rail Winnipeg-Churchill train (formerly named The Hudson Bay). Without grain freight to the Port of Churchill, the viability of the rail line is non-existent.

If it's on your bucket list, watch out, and maybe book a trip soon...

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Jamesontheroad, thanks for posting this.

I would have thought with global warming, er climate change, that the port of Churchill would become more attractive as a trans-shipment point given that the port would be open more days of the year or even year round.

It is a worthwhile train ride. If you have the chance, ride it before it is too late--in case local efforts to try and save it don't come to fruition.