CN, CP lines reopen in British Columbia

Logo of Port of Vancouver, B.C.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canadian National and Canadian Pacific were both able to operate rail service through the Thompson and Fraser River canyons on Friday, the Port of Vancouver informed customers, while cautioning that wildfire activity in British Columbia’s interior continues and “impacts to rail operations are evolving and changing quickly.” Both railroads had halted […]

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Fires disrupting CN, CP in British Columbia, UP in California

Canadian National logo

Canadian National and Canadian Pacific main lines in British Columbia are once again both shut down because of wildfires. Meanwhile, in California, Union Pacific is also experiencing additional fire-related disruptions. Container shipper Hapag-Lloyd informed customers on Thursday that CN and CP have halted operations east of Lytton at the request of the B.C. Wildfire Service, […]

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TSB report: Accidental brake release led to Ontario short line runaway

Two derailed locomotives and derailed hopper cars

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario — An inadvertent brake release by the engineer as he left the locomotive cab led to the derailment of a runaway train earlier this year on the Goderich Exeter Railway in Goderich, Ontario, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada has determined. In the Feb. 1, 2021, accident, two locomotives and six cars […]

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Canada Infrastructure bank could provide major funding for Calgary-Banff passenger operation

Blue flag with centered crest showing mountains and wheat

CALGARY, Alberta — The Canada Infrastructure bank may fund up to half of a proposed passenger rail operation between Calgary’s airport and the popular tourist destination of Banff, an idea promoted by the provincial government and a private firm, Liricon Capital. Canadian Pacific, whose rail line would be involved, is open to the idea, Canadian […]

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Two CN lines in British Columbia shut down by fires (updated)

Canadian National logo

LYTTON, B.C. — Less than 24 hours after Canadian National reopened its fire-damaged main line in British Columbia, that line has been shut down again — as has the former British Columbia Railway line that had been used to reroute some traffic. Bloomberg reports CN informed customers on Wednesday that it was suspending operations between […]

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CN main line in British Columbia to reopen Tuesday evening, two weeks after devastating fire

Train with red and black locomotives crosses cruved trestle

Canadian National’s busy main line through the rugged Thompson and Fraser river canyons, which was damaged by a June 30 wildfire that leveled the town of Lytton, British Columbia, is scheduled to reopen this evening (Tuesday, July 13). “In coordination with local authorities and First Nations, CN staff have inspected the area and carried out […]

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VIA’s Ocean to resume once-weekly round trips in August

Passenger train with dome-lound-observation at rear

MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada says it is relaunching its last suspended route on Wednesday, Aug. 11, when the formerly triweekly Ocean departs Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Montreal for the first time since March 2020. The overnighter’s first eastbound return is set for Sunday, August 15. Service is finally resuming as a result of “progressive […]

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Safety board to examine if train caused Lytton fire; Canadian government announces new safety measures

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

LYTTON, B.C. — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, citing information from two other agencies, says it is investigating the possibility a freight train caused the fire which destroyed most of the town of Lytton, killing two people. Meanwhile, Transport Canada on Sunday announced new measures to address wildfire risks. The Canadian Press reports the […]

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Broken coupler led to CP yard derailment, TSB report finds

Aerial photo of derailment, with notations identifying each car

CALGARY, Alberta — A coupler failure led to a string of cars rolling uncontrolled in a Canadian Pacific yard in Calgary and hitting a group of stationary cars, causing a 22-car derailment, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined in its investigation of the January 2019 incident. According to the TSB’s summary of the incident, […]

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Canadian government to provide $1.3 billion for SkyTrain extension

Rapid transit train stops at station

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canada’s federal government will provide $C1.3 billion in funding toward extension of the SkyTrain Expo Line from Surrey to Langley, B.C., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced during a Friday visit to Surrey. The Vancouver Sun reports the federal funding represents 40% of the 9.9-mile extension, which will include eight new stations […]

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Canadian government stops train operations through area of B.C. fire

Transport Canada logo

OTTAWA, Ontario — The Canadian government has shut down Canadian National and Canadian Pacific operations through the area hit by a wildfire that devastated the town of Lytton, British Columbia. An order issued by Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra, effective as of 12:01 a.m. PDT today, required both railroads to halt train movements except for emergency […]

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Canadian construction firm forms partnership for Alberta high speed rail line

Illustration showing timeline for Alberta high speed rail project

EDMONTON, Alberta — A major Canadian construction firm has announced formation of a partnership to pursue construction of an Edmonton-Calgary high speed rail line, an estimated $C9 billion, seven-to-nine year project. The CBC reports Mississauga, Ontario, firm EllisDon announced the project to connect the two cities via Red Deer, Alta., with a line to be built […]

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