VIA RAIL SERVICE RESUMES IN NORTHERN MANITOBA, BETWEEN GILLAM AND CHURCHILL
Tuesday, November 27th 2018
MONTRÉAL, November 26, 2018 - VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce that passenger train service will resume in northern Manitoba, between Gillam and Churchill, on December 2, 2018. Trains will once again travel in both directions, according to the regular schedule that was in effect prior to the suspension of service in spring 2017.
Upon completion of the repairs and inspections that were required, the infrastructure owner, Arctic Gateway, confirmed that the track is now safe for passenger operations. The Gillam – Churchill route has been restored following the suspension of service in May 2017 after major flooding severely damaged the rails.
“We are very pleased to be able to once again offer passenger transport service throughout northern Manitoba. We understand the major inconveniences the interruption of this essential service may have caused the people living along the Winnipeg – Churchill route, and specially the Town of Churchill” said Yves Desjardins-S
[quote user=“Gotrans”]
VIA RAIL SERVICE RESUMES IN NORTHERN MANITOBA, BETWEEN GILLAM AND CHURCHILL
Tuesday, November 27th 2018
MONTRÉAL, November 26, 2018 - VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) is pleased to announce that passenger train service will resume in northern Manitoba, between Gillam and Churchill, on December 2, 2018. Trains will once again travel in both directions, according to the regular schedule that was in effect prior to the suspension of service in spring 2017.
Upon completion of the repairs and inspections that were required, the infrastructure owner, Arctic Gateway, confirmed that the track is now safe for passenger operations. The Gillam – Churchill route has been restored following the suspension of service in May 2017 after major flooding severely damaged the rails.
“We are very pleased to be able to once again offer passenger transport service throughout northern Manitoba. We understand the major inconveniences the interruption of this essential service may have caused the people living along the Winnipeg – Churchill route, and specially the Town of Churchill” said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and Chief Executive Officer of VIA Rail. “The r
That’s quite a lengthy stop at Thompson, at least northbound. I see on satellite view that the wye has a long tail track that could probably turn the passenger train.
Considering the mileage and the character of the railroad and the territory it traverses the time expended is not all that out of line. An average of slightly more than 23 MPH in such conditions isn’t all that bad.
Maybe considering the character of the railroad the speed is not unreasonable but the question remains as to why anyone would even think about riding this train especially to its end point. Both Churchill and Thompson which is the 2nd largest city in Manitoba have good airports for the majority of people who go there. The intermediate stops could be served by a once a week mixed train at far less cost then a train with sleeper, diner and coaches. When I rode the line, admittedly over 40 years ago, most of the little villages were on or near lakes where float planes would easily land. Before the flooding I think there was a story on the Trains Newswire about a derailment of this train and there were reportedly only 7 passengers on board. It boggles the mind that anyone would take 44 hours, almost 2 days, to travel a distance that can be covered by plane in maybe 3 - 3 1/2 hours. No wonder Canadian taxes are so high.