Return of Ottawa light rail pushed back to Aug. 14

Red and white light rail train in station

OTTAWA — Reopening of Ottawa’s light rail Confederation Line has been pushed back yet again, with Aug. 14 as the new date for the resumption of service. But the Ottawa Citizen reports that Renée Amilcar, the city’s transit services general manager, stressed that is an early estimate and subject to change, saying, “We continue to […]

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Algoma Central Railway remembered

Men load odd-sized baggage and a canoe onto Algoma Central Railway passenger train

The Algoma Central Railway was chartered in 1899 to build into the Ontario wilderness north of Sault Ste. Marie. Its purpose was to bring out pulpwood and iron ore. In 1901 the ambitions of its founder added “& Hudson Bay” to the corporate title. The line reached Hawk Junction, 165 miles north of Sault Ste. […]

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Algoma Central locomotives remembered

Gray-and-maroon diesel Algoma Central locomotives

Algoma Central locomotives provided a bit of variety in northern Ontario railroading.     For a railroad its size, ACR owned a variety of steam power. The first engines were secondhand, including 11 acquired in 1899: four Lehigh Valley 4-6-0s and seven ex-Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 0-4-0s. ACR’s first new power, four Baldwin 2-8-0s, arrived […]

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Dock workers warned against turning down latest agreement in Canadian port dispute

Logo of International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The government agency charged with  settling British Columbia’s port labor dispute has warned the union representing dock workers that failing to ratify a new tentative agreement would be an “unfair labor practice.” The Canadian Press reports the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and BC Maritime Employees Association reached a new […]

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Montreal’s REM experiences bumpy first day

Two green-and-white light rail trains meet on tracks in center divider of highway

MONTREAL — Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain light rail line experienced a problematic start to regular operations on Monday, as service was halted for more than an hour during the morning rush hour because of a pair of issues. The line was shut down from 8 a.m. until about 9:15 a.m. because of a track issue […]

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Imbleau to head VIA’s high frequency rail affiliate

Head shot of man in white shirt

MONTREAL — Martin Imbleau, CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, has been named as the first CEO of VIA HFR, the VIA Rail Canada project office for the construction of the passenger-only High Frequency Rail corridor between Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. VIA HFR, which operates as an “arms-length” affiliate of VIA Rail to co-manage […]

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Ontario heritage railway seeks funds to purchase CPR 4-6-2

Black and white photo of steam locomotive with passenger train

WATERLOO, Ontario — The Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society, operator of the Waterloo Central Railway heritage operation, is seeking funds to support its effort to purchase former Canadian Pacific Railway No. 1238, a G5c class 4-6-2 locomotive. The locomotive, built in 1946 by the Montreal Locomotive Works, operated in excursion and tourist rail service in […]

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CN moves retired GE units in ‘funeral train’

Train with long string of dead locomotives

WELLAND, Ontario — A Canadian National “funeral train” of 18 Dash 8 locomotives, part of an auction and sale in June 2023, arrived in Welland, Ont, on July 29, concluding a trip from Iowa. The locomotives will be handed off to the GIO Rail Trillium operation, which will deliver them to SLM Recycling of Welland. […]

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Canadian government set to intervene in port labor dispute

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Canadian government is prepared to impose a settlement in the labor dispute at British Columbia ports after dock workers again rejected a tentative deal on Friday night. Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan wrote in a statement today (July 29) that he has directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to determine whether […]

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Montreal’s REM light rail makes debut

Light rail train and passenger train pass near body of water

MONTREAL — With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier François Legault taking part in the inaugural run, Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain light rail network made its debut with ceremonies on Friday. The first trips Friday on the 16.6-kilometer (10.3-mile) segment between Central Station and Brossard were a prelude to open-house events and free […]

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Return of Ottawa light rail line pushed back at least 10 days

Red and white light rail train rounds curve

OTTAWA, Ontario — Return of Ottawa’s light-rail Confederation Line has been pushed back at least 10 days to allow for additional track work, city officials were informed on Friday. Aug. 10 is now the earliest the system could resume operation. CTV News reports Renée Amicar, the city’s general manager of transit services, told the city […]

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