CALGARY, Alberta — With each side blaming the other, a dispute between Canadian Pacific and the union representing 3,000 train crew members and yard workers has led to a halt of the railroad’s operations in Canada. Canada’s Minister of Labor, Seamus O’Regan, confirmed the stoppage had begun in a Twitter post at 12:01 a.m. EDT […]
Zone & Region: Canada
Montreal light rail project faces delay
MONTREAL — The controversial REM de L’Est, planned as the second phase of Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain light rail project, faces an uncertain future after the pension fund behind the project said it will seek to delay environmental hearings. The CBC reports that CDPQ Infra, the infrastructure-project arm of Quebec pension fund manager Caisse de […]
CP train derails in Saskatchewan
ROULEAU, Saskatchewan — A Canadian Pacific freight train derailed Wednesday morning near the town of Rouleau, the second such incident in the region in less than a week. Canadian Pacific said the accident occurred between the towns of Rouleau and Wilcox at about 7:45 a.m., CTV News reports. No injuries were reported and no hazardous […]
CP notifies union of intent to lock out crews in Canada (updated)
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific will lock out the approximately 3,000 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference as of 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, March 20, unless there is an agreement between the railroad and union by then, or the two sides agree to binding arbitration. The railroad announced the move on Wednesday. On Thursday, the […]
Northbound along Howe Sound
Two GE 70-tonners lead Pacific Great Eastern’s daily passenger train north from Squamish, B.C., in about 1950, several years before the line was extended down to North Vancouver and Rail Diesel Cars replaced the secondhand stock seen here. Linn H. Westcott photo […]
Union has yet to issue strike notice against CP in Canada (updated and corrected)
CALGARY — While Canadian Pacific workers in Canada have authorized a strike that could have begun as soon as tonight, their union has yet to provide the 72-hour notice necessary before walking out. Canadian agriculture and industry remain concerned about the potential impact of a walkout, and the railroad says on its website that a […]
VIA’s ‘Canadian’ restores dome access, will add second round trip in April
MONTREAL — Without fanfare, VIA Rail Canada this week began allowing passengers on the Canadian and other trains to again sit under glass in dome car seats and have access to onboard lounge facilities. Both had been off limits as a result of health restrictions imposed by the carrier and various provinces since March 2020. […]
Canadian Pacific trains involved in two derailments
Canadian Pacific trains were involved in two derailments on Saturday, one in Saskatchewan and one in Minnesota. An unknown number of cars were involved in the derailment of a train carrying corn near Drinkwater, Sask., but at least 20 cars are visible on their sides or otherwise off the track in a video posted to […]
Transport Canada inches forward with VIA’s ‘High Frequency’ plan: Analysis
MONTREAL — The Canadian government will seek “world-class knowledge and private sector expertise” for VIA Rail Canada’s proposal to build passenger-only trackage for parts of its Quebec City-Toronto corridor rather than directly financing the project, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Wednesday. Proposal dates to 2015 First unveiled by then-VIA CEO Yves Desjardins-Siciliano in 2015, the […]
CP’s routes over Kicking Horse Pass
This perspective drawing shows Canadian Pacific’s two routes over Kicking Horse Pass on the west slope of the Continental Divide. The original route with a 4.5 percent grade opened in 1886; it was replaced in 1909 by a line with two spiral tunnels, still in use today. Classic Trains coll. […]
Waterloo Central GMD1 locomotive debuts in new paint scheme
ELMIRA, Ontario — A rare GMD1 locomotive donated by Canadian National to the Waterloo Central Railway in April 2021 has emerged in new paint. The former CN No. 1437 made its first appearance on the heritage railway on March 5, 2022, as WCR No. 1012. “It’s all because of the volunteers; they did an amazing […]
Fertilizer firm asks Canadian government to block rail strike
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — Fertilizer firm Nutrien is asking the Canadian government to block a potential Canadian Pacific strike, saying an interruption to rail service could lead to smaller crop harvests, Bloomberg reports. Teamster Canada Rail Coalition members voted in favor of a strike against CP, the union announced earlier this week [see “Teamsters Canava vote …,” […]