VIA Rail train leaves Churchill

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/10/2017 (2903 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A VIA Rail train stranded in Churchill, Man., was loaded aboard a ship in the northern community’s port on Oct. 17, 2017.

Via Rail has had five passenger cars and two locomotives — festooned with a celebratory Canada 150 banner — stuck in Churchill since May 23, when overland flooding from an unusual spring melt washed out multiple bridges and damaged track along the 300-kilometre line that connects Gillam to Churchill.

Video courtesy Jason Ransom

 

In July, Denver-based Omnitrax said it was “not economically feasible” to repair its railway. Ottawa maintains the company is contractually obligated to cover the repair cost, estimated at between $20 million and $60 million.

The rail line is the only overland link to Churchill; since it has been out of service goods and people have been forced to travel to and from Churchill by air at a high cost.

 

 

 

Extensive engineering reports indicate that repair work will take at least 60 days to complete and the imminent winter weather will now prevent that from happening this year.

OmniTrax has said it could restore limited service to the northern Manitoba community within 30 days, but it is not willing to pay the estimated $10 million bill to do so.

Even if the temporary fix is made, the rail line would still require another $43.5 million of work next year to restore it to full, safe and operable conditions, according to engineering reports.