Four Manitoba Via Rail trains cancelled due to extreme cold

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This article was published 27/12/2017 (2873 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Four Via Rail trains scheduled to transport passengers across Manitoba this week have been cancelled — with no alternative transportation in place Wednesday, according to a Via Rail spokesperson.

Marie-Anna Murat, senior communications director for Via Rail, said trains have been cancelled due to “equipment issues related to the extreme cold weather,” in a statement Wednesday night.

Service has been cancelled for the following trains: train 693 scheduled to leave Wednesday from Winnipeg to Gillam, trains 964 between Gillam and Thompson and 695 between Thompson and Gillam supposed to depart Friday and train 690, which was supposed to leave Gillam for the The Pas on Saturday.

Murat said all passengers have been advised. There were 62 passengers affected, including those who were set to board two trains that were cancelled between Jasper and Prince George and Prince George and Jasper Wednesday.

The temperature was –24 C (– 36 with the wind chill) in Winnipeg on Wednesday night, according to Environment Canada. Temperatures across the province ranged from a high of – 19 C in McCreary to a low of – 40.3 C in Thompson.

There was no extreme cold warning in the province Wednesday.

The temperature in Winnipeg over the next few days is forecast to be at a high of – 17 C Thursday morning and a low of – 33 C Saturday night.

“As Via Rail’s priority is the safety and well-being of its passengers, we will keep monitoring the extreme cold conditions to ensure this remains our focus,” said Murat.