MILTON, Ontario — GO Transit will add more than 300 trains per week beginning April 28, the largest expansion of the Toronto-area commuter rail service in more than a decade, the Ontario government announced Monday. The UP Express service between downtown and Pearson Airport will also see changes, with every other train non-stop between Union […]
Zone & Region: Canada
VIA summer travel: more fare flexibility but capacity remains limited
JASPER, Alberta — Anyone planning a trip on VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian, Ocean or other regional trains outside the Quebec City-Windsor, Ontario, corridor should keep departure date and sleeping accommodation options open. That’s because this is the first summer VIA will be utilizing a more sophisticated booking system that now offers wide pricing swings based […]
British Columbia heritage rail operation sidelined for safety review
FORT STEELE, British Columbia — A steam locomotive that has been a longtime attraction in southwestern British Columbia has been sidelined for a safety review, raising doubts about its future operation. Concerns over the age and increasing maintenance costs of 2-6-2 No. 1077, built in 1923 by Montreal Locomotive Works for Vancouver Island logging operations, […]
Saskatoon report sees merit in shift of Canadian’s route through Saskatchewan
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — A report by city staff members has advised the Saskatoon city council that there is merit to a proposal by a group of Saskatchwan mayors seeking to reroute VIA Rail Canada’s Canadian from its current route to a less-trafficked line north of the city, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports. The mayors say that […]
Saskatchewan short lines receive provincial grants
REGINA, Saskatchewan — Thirteen railroads will receive a total of C$530,000 in provincial funding under Saskatchewan’s Short Line Railway Improvement Program, as announced Friday by Highways Minister Lori Carr. “Short line railways play an important role in getting Saskatchewan’s food, fuel and fertilizer on their journeys to worldwide markets, which helps keep our export-based economy […]
CN to acquire, test first plug-in diesel-battery hybrid locomotive in British Columbia
MONTREAL — Canadian National will purchase a plug-in, hybrid diesel-battery mainline locomotive from Progress Rail, the companies announced today. The first-of-its kind unit for North America will be evaluated on CN’s main line in British Columbia, starting in Prince George and the northern part of the province, to increase the railroad and rail industry’s knowledge […]
Nova Scotia government ends subsidy for dormant portion of short line
CAPE BRETON, Nova Scotia — The government of Nova Scotia has ended a subsidy for a dormant section of short line in the province because it sees no chance the line will be restored to operation any time soon, the CBC reports. The move regarding the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway comes after […]
CN derailment reported in Sarnia, Ontario
SARNIA, Ontario — Fourteen cars of a Canadian National train, including three tank cars carrying liquified petroleum gas, have derailed this morning as the train entered the railroad’s Sarnia yard, CKNX Radio reports. No leaks have been reported. At least one grade crossing, at St. Andrew Street, has been blocked by the derailment. No other […]
Siemens lands contract for Toronto-area passenger infrastructure maintenance
TORONTO — Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract by Ontario transportation agency Metrolinx to handle track, signal, and right-of-way maintenance for the Central Region of Toronto’s passenger rail infrastructure system, Siemens has announced. Siemens already has a similar contract in the West Region and handles signal and communications services at the Metrolinx Network Operations. […]
CPKC announces times, locations for Steam Tour stops
CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC has released a more detailed schedule of dates, display times, and locations for its Final Spike Steam Tour, the three-nation trip featuring CP 4-6-4 No. 2816 to mark the first year of the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern. The trip begins April 24 in Calgary with a display […]
Cando Rail & Terminals names Servis as chief financial officer
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Cando Rail & Terminals has named Nate Servis as chief financial officer effective Tuesday, March 26, replacing the retiring Rick Soenen. Servis brings more than 15 years of Wall Street experience in transportation and logistics to the position. He joins the company from Wells Fargo Securities, where he was most recently managing […]
Broken rail caused 2021 CP potash derailment, TSB determines
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — An undetected rail flaw that led to a broken rail as the train passed over it caused the derailment of a Canadian Pacific potash train at Silton, Saskatchewan in October 2021, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in an investigation report released today (Tuesday, March 26). The incident occurred at 5:02 […]