railbus-6duGhz7i8susTnJN9+BGXg@public.gmane.org [Canadian-Passenger-Rail]
2014-06-18 16:21:43 UTC
I was surprised to learn that VIA service to Churchill has still not resumed following a freight derailment a short time ago. This sounds a lot like the Gaspe and Vancouver Island situations.
To be clear, trains 692 and 693 are now running in and out of WPG (including some back to back F40 power). Here:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Churchill-mayor-frustrated-by-passenger-rail-service-delay-263567831.html http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Churchill-mayor-frustrated-by-passenger-rail-service-delay-263567831.html
"Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said a derailment recently severed train service to the northern town, about 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
Omnitrax completed repairs, allowing freight to resume by rail more than a week ago.
But Via still isnât back on the rails to Churchill, the mayor said.
"Via tells me its operational review is complete but that doesnât tell me if the train is coming to Churchill this Thursday," Spence said.
"Iâve been getting frustrated," he said.
"The beluga whales are here and our window is very short. Tourism is huge... Not everybody can afford to fly. Weâve got tourists who are stuck in Thompson who canât get up here," the mayor said.
Locals who depend on the train are also stuck, and then there are tourists whose bags havenât arrived because their luggage was set aside for the train when they flew north.
"Via is not telling me a heck of a lot," Spence said.
A Via Rail representative, reached at the company's Montreal head office, said Tuesday night that the operational review is not complete, that passenger rail service to Churchill is not yet available and he didnât know when it will resume.
"We understand the concerns and we empathize. Our business is to carry passengers but under the right and safe conditions. Thereâs a big distinction with freight trains; weâre talking about two totally different ball games. We will not resume service until weâre sure everything is safe," the spokesman said.
The last passenger train rolled south from Churchill May 31, the mayor said.
On June 2, 13 cars carrying grain derailed just south of Churchill. Bad weather stalled repairs to the track and also prompted the cancellation of several Via trains carrying tourists.
Freight service resumed June 11 following repairs.
Omnitrax said it completed repairs to the Hudson Bay Railway line that day, and the line was "cleared in accordance with Transport Canada rules respecting track safety."
To be clear, trains 692 and 693 are now running in and out of WPG (including some back to back F40 power). Here:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Churchill-mayor-frustrated-by-passenger-rail-service-delay-263567831.html http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/Churchill-mayor-frustrated-by-passenger-rail-service-delay-263567831.html
"Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said a derailment recently severed train service to the northern town, about 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
Omnitrax completed repairs, allowing freight to resume by rail more than a week ago.
But Via still isnât back on the rails to Churchill, the mayor said.
"Via tells me its operational review is complete but that doesnât tell me if the train is coming to Churchill this Thursday," Spence said.
"Iâve been getting frustrated," he said.
"The beluga whales are here and our window is very short. Tourism is huge... Not everybody can afford to fly. Weâve got tourists who are stuck in Thompson who canât get up here," the mayor said.
Locals who depend on the train are also stuck, and then there are tourists whose bags havenât arrived because their luggage was set aside for the train when they flew north.
"Via is not telling me a heck of a lot," Spence said.
A Via Rail representative, reached at the company's Montreal head office, said Tuesday night that the operational review is not complete, that passenger rail service to Churchill is not yet available and he didnât know when it will resume.
"We understand the concerns and we empathize. Our business is to carry passengers but under the right and safe conditions. Thereâs a big distinction with freight trains; weâre talking about two totally different ball games. We will not resume service until weâre sure everything is safe," the spokesman said.
The last passenger train rolled south from Churchill May 31, the mayor said.
On June 2, 13 cars carrying grain derailed just south of Churchill. Bad weather stalled repairs to the track and also prompted the cancellation of several Via trains carrying tourists.
Freight service resumed June 11 following repairs.
Omnitrax said it completed repairs to the Hudson Bay Railway line that day, and the line was "cleared in accordance with Transport Canada rules respecting track safety."