Crucial Churchill, Man., rail link knocked out of commission
by Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
The rail line is expected to see increased traffic of grain shipments and other goods, and is being considered for crude oil shipments
CHURCHILL, Man.—A vital rail link to Churchill, Man.—one being eyed for shipments of crude oil—has been knocked out of commission due to the boggy terrain it covers.
Service along the 270-kilometre stretch of track between Gillam, Man. and Churchill was suspended on June 20 due to “severe permafrost issues,” owner Omnitrax Canada said in a release.
The move follows a derailment on June 2 just south of Churchill that knocked out freight service for a week. Via Rail’s passenger service has been off ever since the accident.
The rail line is frequently hit with disruptions. But a hotel co-owner in Churchill this year has been the worst she’s seen in her five years in business.
“Everything for our restaurant—beer, food, you name it—it all comes on the railway line,” Belinda Fitzpatrick said.
“Right now, we have what we have in the fridges and in stock, and we’re not sure when we’re going to get any more.”
The rugged sub-arctic terrain has long been a problem for the rail line. In 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper travelled to Churchill to announce $60 million for repairs and another $8 million for the Port of Churchill.
The rail line is expected to see increased traffic of grain shipments and other goods due to growth at the port and a longer ice-free season.
Omnitrax also wants to conduct test runs of crude oil shipments along the line, although the plan has met with strong opposition from environmental groups, the Manitoba government and others who fear a spill would be disastrous for the environment.
Figures from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada show there were 63 accidents on the rail line between 2003 and 2012. All but 10 were derailments.
On the weekend, Omnitrax said several days of repairs would be required before freight service could resume. Fitzpatrick expressed frustration at not having a clear timeline.
