Some years ago I heard that Canadian Pacific & Canadian National were going to share tracks in the Fraser Canyon. What was going to happen that tracks on one side of the canyon were going to be used for trains going in one direction, the other side of the canyon were going to be used for trains going in the other direction. Has this proposal been taken seriously, has anything been done about it or is just it just idle rumours[?]
I belive they have been using directional running up there for a while now. I don’t know the details though.
Chad is right (again[8D]), for several years now the heavy westbounds have been using the flatter CN route while the lighter eastbounds on both railways have been using the CP line.
Directional running has been taking place now since the late 1990s…don’t quote me on the exact year ('98, '99?)
Since directional running has started up, CN has reduced the trackage on their side to almost nothing more than a single tracked-mainline through the canyon (double tracking doesn’t start until Sumas Mountain, which is just east of the mission bridge.)
On the other hand, CP has actually added trackage, in the way of lengthening sidings, and adding cross-overs and such party to accomodate the commuter trains. “West Coast Express.”
The CN side of the river takes a real beating as all the loaded grain, coal and pota***rains run down that side, and the CP side has it easy, all the empties return on their track, along with the rest of the eastbound traffic.
…and to add to that.
When something happends on the CP side of the canyon (derailment, rock slide, etc.) everything grinds to a halt, because the CN ripped out all but a few of their sidings, so basically very little traffic can run.
If something happends on the CN side of the Canyon, things do slow down, but CP has maintained their tracks and sidings (still double track all the way to Ruby Creek) so trains can still run to a point without everything melting down.
Why CN ripped out all their sidings is beyond me.