MACOUN, Saskatchewan — Two cars carrying liquefied petroleum gas were involved in the fire following the derailment of a Canadian Pacific train near Macoun on Thursday, CP has reported. The news site Saskatchewan Today says the railroad reports no injuries occurred in the accident about 10 a.m. on Thursday. The fire continued to burn as […]
Zone & Region: Canada
Canadian content requirements contributed to Ottawa light rail issues, report says
OTTAWA — Regulations requiring a set percentage of Canadian content and a lack of local, qualified manufacturing workers played a part in the delays building the light rail vehicles for Ottawa’s Confederation Line, the report from the inquiry into that line has concluded. The 664-page report from the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Public Inquiry, released […]
Canadian Pacific train derails, catches fire in Saskatchewan
MACOUN, Saskatchewan — A derailment and fire involving a Canadian Pacific train near the town of Macoun has closed a highway and led to the evacuation of a small number of homes, the Regina Leader-Post reports. At least four homes were evacuated and Provincial Route 39 was closed because of the fire involving an unknown […]
Report from Ottawa light rail inquiry blasts city officials, transit consortium
OTTAWA, Ontario — City officials and the companies that built Ottawa’s problem-plagued light-rail Confederation line were guilty of “egregious violations of public trust” that included instances of “deliberate malfeasance,” according to the 664-page report from a public inquiry into the light rail project released Wednesday. The CBC reports that the document from Justice William Hourigan, […]
CN makes $100,000 donation to remote air-rescue service in Canada
REGINA, Saskatchewan — Canadian National Railway has made a C$100,000 donation to Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service, which provides emergency medical car to remote locations in Western Canada. The donation will help fund STARS’ operations in Saskatchewan, providing direct support to communities along CN’s network. “The service STARS provides often means the difference between life […]
IT firm CGI to manage new VIA Rail Canada reservation system
MONTREAL — Information technology and business consulting firm CGI will manage a new online reservation system for VIA Rail Canada to be launched in 2023, the companies announced Wednesday. Under a long-term agreement, CGI will manage critical business applications, building on the business relationship that began in 2020 when CGI was selected to build VIA’s […]
Transport Canada opens application process for climate-change infrastructure program
OTTAWA — Transport Canada is now accepting applications for up to C$10.5 million in rail projects to be funded under the Climate Change and Adaptation to Extreme Weather Infrastructure Initiative, part of the Rail Safety Improvement Program. Applications are being accepted through Jan. 6, 2023; information the program and application process is available here. “We […]
Amtrak Auto Train, VIA offer big discounts through Cyber Monday — with exceptions
WASHINGTON AND MONTREAL — U.S. and Canadian national passenger rail operators are joining the Black Friday markdown blitz for travel beginning as early as next week and as late as June 30, 2023, depending upon the route. For both Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada, the deals are available only through Monday, Nov. 29, at midnight. […]
VIA Rail Canada to begin testing fuel-saving software in train operations
MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada will extend a pilot program using artificial intelligence to reduce fuel consumption, following a six-month trial that showed potential fuel savings of up to 15%. VIA, in a collaboration with Transport Canada and Innovative Solutions Canada Testing, originally started working with start-up company RailVision Analytics to test EcoRail software that […]
Canadian legislation includes new rail security mandates
OTTAWA — The Canadian government would gain new abilities to require railroads to create security management systems, and to grant or cancel transportation security clearances, under a proposed set of legislative amendments introduced last week by Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra. Those authorities and others are part of the Strengthening the Port System and Railway […]
Hitachi Rail will build, maintain, operate equipment for new Toronto subway line
TORONTO — Hitachi Rail and its consortium partners will build, maintain, and operate driverless subway trains for Toronto’s 15.6-kilometer (9.7-mile) Ontario Line project under a C$9 billion agreement, Hitachi announced this week. The agreement with Infrastructure Ontario and regional transportation agency Metrolinx covers rolling stock, and well as related systems, and operations and maintenance for […]
Permanent garden railroads you can visit
Permanent garden railroads you can visit U.S. garden railroads Alabama Huntsville-Madison County Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave., Huntsville AL 35805, 256-830-4447. Railroad operates from mid-March through December, www.hsvbg.org Arizona Double K Ranch (bed and breakfast with a garden railway), 3930 N. Smokey Topaz Lane, Tucson AZ 85749, 520-749-5345. Gary Martin, 4625 E. Cerro De […]