After months of political intrigue, construction and deal making, rail cars have rumbled through to Churchill for the first time almost 18 months.
During the night on Oct. 31, locals cheered as a train entered Churchill for the first time since the Hudson Bay Railway line was damaged in May 2017. The arrival came weeks after work crews began repairing washouts and ruined sections of railroad and months after the property was bought by Arctic Gateway Group.
In late August, the group, which consists of Regina-based AGT Limited Partnership, investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings and northern Manitoba-based groups Missinippi Rail and One North, purchased the railway from previous owners Omnitrax. Omnitrax had refused to repair sections of the line and resume service before the sale.
Along with several other communities in northern Manitoba and southern Nunavut, the City of Flin Flon purchased and now owns shares in One North.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to Churchill on Nov. 1. In a speech near the shore of Hudson Bay, Trudeau announced that the line would resume full operations by the end of November.
Trudeau also announced the federal government will direct just shy of $4 million in funding through the Churchill Economic Development Fund toward 40 projects in northern Manitoba communities affected by the rail shutdown.
In September, the federal government announced $117 million would be allocated for purchases and repairs for the railway, including $43 million paid out over the next 10 years for operations on the rail line, Port of Churchill facility and the Churchill tank farm.
“Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for Churchill,” said Trudeau in a news release. “We know that nobody is more invested in the future of the Hudson Bay Rail Line than the people who live in Churchill.”
