Via Rail passenger traffic to Churchill up 20%

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This article was published 01/09/2016 (3321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OmniTrax may have cut its northern rail service, but passenger traffic on Via Rail is way up.

Travel on the Winnipeg to Churchill line was up 20 per cent last year, totalling 25,948 trips, and is running another 10 per cent higher this year.

“Belugas” is the biggest single reason, said Michael Woelcke, Via general manager of regional services.

Beluga whales in Churchill are becoming a major tourist attraction. People are seeing them from Zodiac boats, kayaks or while snorkelling. It’s drawing a different demographic to Churchill, too, in young families, said Woelcke.

Peak travel on the northern line used to be just October to mid-November during polar bear season. Now it’s from mid-June to mid-November, Woelcke said.

“That’s pretty exciting news for Via Rail,” Woelcke said.

“It’s really grown into an exciting tourism opportunity.”

Via has helped those figures grow by enhancing service, such as adding its dome car, he said.

Via ran its dome car on half a dozen runs two years ago, then for five weeks last year. The response was so positive that it used the dome car from June 28 to Aug. 15 this year. It will run it again during polar bear season.

Via Rail plans to operate its dome car for aurora borealis viewing in 2017.

“We’re going to call it Aurora Season. People come from all over North America to see aurora borealis, and Churchill is a great place to see it from.”

Via also brought back its diner car two years ago. Dropping the diner car drew major criticism from passengers. The diner is not just a place to eat, but to meet other travellers and socialize.

The increased traffic is not just from out of country. More Canadians are going to Churchill. Some of that can be attributed to the weaker Canadian dollar. That’s drawing more American tourists, and helping convince Canadians to vacation in Canada.

There is also more local traffic to Thompson. That’s because some flight service has been cut, funnelling more local people onto trains.

Via Rail is mandated to provide basic transportation service to remote, landlocked communities. For example, its Winnipeg to Churchill line cost about $26 million in a year, but ran a $3.7-million shortfall last year. It’s responsible for five other similar train runs, including Jasper, Alta., to Prince Rupert, B.C., and Sudbury to White River, in Ontario.

“If not for train service, how do you provide things like medical services and grocery shopping to northern residents, things we take for granted?” Woelcke asked.

The Winnipeg to Churchill train runs three times a week. The ownership situation with the Hudson Bay line, which runs from Hudson Bay Junction in Saskatchewan, through The Pas and Thompson, and ends at Churchill, is not affecting Via service, Woelcke said.

Omnitrax wants to sell, and has closed its grain terminal in Churchill, and cut cargo service down to one train per week. Omnitrax is looking to sell its Manitoba operation.

Via Rail pays Omnitrax to operate trains on its infrastructure. Omnitrax inspects and maintains the track. An increase in passengers does not increase Omnitrax’s revenue.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca