Big investment for local railway

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This article was published 31/07/2018 (2848 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’ll be a-working on this railroad for the next two years.

On July 31, Kildonan-St. Paul MP MaryAnn Mihychuk announced $5.6 million in federal funding for improvements to the Central Manitoba Railway’s Pine Falls subdivision. The line, which is owned by Cando Rail Services, runs approximately 14 kilometres between Canadian National’s Symington Yard and the Imperial Oil terminal at Birds Hill. 

“The Central Manitoba Railway is an important economic generator for our province and upgrading its infrastructure will ensure it keeps serving our community for generations to come,” Mihychuk said.

Cando Rail Services, a Manitoba-based company which operates the Central Manitoba Railway out of its yards at 2675 Day St., will be matching the federal government’s investment.

“This represents a doubling down for the long term for our company,” Lee Jebb, vice-president of Cando Rail Services, said. “This will improve single-axle rail loading, track speeds, long term sustainability and safety of the line. We couldn’t be more pleased to do our investment in partnership with the federal government.”

The $11.2-million project includes installing new railway ties, modern rail and other track materials; drainage, grade and ballast improvements; and new main line switches and crossing improvements to make the track suitable for heavier trains.

“This will ensure Central Manitoba Railways remains a key supporter of economic activity in Manitoba,” said Mihychuk, who added the project is expected to create 100 jobs during the course of the upgrades.

According to Jebb, work on the upgrades will begin “immediately,” though the bulk of the work would take place over the spring, summer and fall of 2019, with the project wrapping in the spring of 2020.

“For local residents, we don’t anticipate any major impacts day-to-day,” Jebb added. “The vast majority of the work will take part on railway right of way during working hours.”

“This upgrade to the tracks, which have been in the community for many years, will give comfort to residents,” Shelley Hart, mayor of East St. Paul, said. “This is about safety.”

The northern-most four miles of the Pine Falls subdivision line that runs through East St. Paul to the Imperial Oil refinery on Henderson Highway sees between 10 and 15 cars a day carrying fuel products and oil. The southern line, which runs through Transcona to the Syminton Yard, sees between 50 and 100 cars carrying a variety of products, such as potash, lumber, steel, and industrial chemicals.

“Canada is a trading nation,” Mihychuk said. “One in six Canadian jobs depend on international commerce. Well functioning trade corridors allow us to reach those markets. We are proud to be a part of this infrastructure project.”

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7112

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