Hudson Bay Railway (1997)

Hudson Bay Railway
HBRY in black and KR in grey
Reporting mark HBRY
Locale northern Manitoba
Dates of operation 1997–
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Headquarters The Pas, Manitoba
Website Hudson Bay Railway

Hudson Bay Railway (reporting mark HBRY) is a Canadian short line railway operating over 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of track in northeastern Saskatchewan and northern Manitoba.

HBRY was formed by railroad holding company OmniTRAX in July 1997 to purchase former Canadian National Railway (CN) rail lines running north from The Pas, MB on two branches, one to Flin Flon, MB and on to Lynn Lake, MB, the other to Thompson, MB and on to the Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay. Operations began on August 20, 1997.

At the same time, OmniTRAX also took over the operation and marketing of the Port of Churchill from Transport Canada. Previous owner CN had limited the allowable tonnage to operate on the lines as a result of the light rail and poor track base. However, the HBRY has been able to successfully operate heavier rail cars and longer trains in recent years without difficulty, resulting in increased business to the Port of Churchill and from various mines and pulp mills.

HBRY is considered a vital transportation link in northern Manitoba, hauling ores and concentrates, copper, zinc, logs, kraft paper, lumber, and petroleum products. Via Rail Canada also uses HBRY tracks to operate its passenger train service between The Pas and Churchill.

Major customers for HBRY include HudBay Minerals, Tolko, Vale, Gardwine North, Stittco Energy, Farmers of North America, and formerly, the Canadian Wheat Board.

History

The line was constructed by an earlier company of the same name. The Hudson Bay Railway was built starting in the early 1900s under Canadian Northern Railway before being taken over by the Government of Canada and completed in 1929. The lines were operated by Canadian National Railway from 1929-1997 before being sold to OmniTRAX.

2005 washout

On July 27, 2005, heavy rains washed out part of the railroad between The Pas and Pukatawagan; all service over the line, including Via Rail trains 290 and 291, was suspended while repairs took place.[1] Service was restored on August 2, 2005, two days ahead of initial expectations.[2]

2006 sale of Keewatin Railway

On April 1, 2006, the Hudson Bay Railway sold the former CN Sherridon Subdivision, between Sheritt Junction and Lynn Lake, to the three native tribes in the area, who now own and operate the railway, running twice-weekly mixed (passenger plus freight) trains.

2017 washout caused extended, ongoing outage and economic impact

On May 23, 2017, OmniTRAX announced that due to unprecedented flooding, the line was closed indefinitely between Amery and Churchill, pending evaluation of the damages and repairs.[3] Loss of rail service, both passenger and freight, has impacted the tourism industry and imposed other costs on Churchill's already-fragile economy.[4] Churchill, and other northern communities where cargo must now be delivered by air, "face skyrocketing prices for staples such as groceries and fuel."

Due to a disagreement over what entity is responsible for repair costs, it is uncertain whether the line will ever be repaired. The Canadian government has filed an $18 million lawsuit against OmniTRAX for breach of contract. The position of Canada's Natural Resources Minister, Jim Carr, is that "Omnitrax Inc. has legal obligations to repair the rail line and its tracks," citing a contract that requires OmniTRAX to "operate, maintain and repair the entire Hudson Bay Railway Line in a diligent and timely manner until March 31, 2029."[5] The position of OmniTRAX is that the extensive flooding constitutes a force majeure that excuses it from fulfilling the contract.[6]

In August 2018, the line and port were sold to the Arctic Gateway Group who will repair the line.[7] The Group is 50% owned by Manitoba communities and First Nations, and 50% owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings and AGT Food and Ingredients.[8]

  • The American novelist Courtney Ryley Cooper's 1931 adventure novel End of Steel is a fictionalized recounting of the line's original construction.
  • Calgary performer John Leeder wrote and recorded a song titled "Hudson Bay Line" about the rigors of bygone train travel on this route.[9] According to Leeder, "it's been recorded six times that I know of."[10]

References

  1. ↑ Via Rail Canada (July 27, 2005), Hudson Bay Railway closes line - Via service form The Pas to Pukatawagan temporarily cancelled. Retrieved August 1, 2005.
  2. ↑ Via Rail Canada (August 2, 2005), Via resumes service between Churchill and Winnipeg. Retrieved November 20, 2005.
  3. ↑ "OmniTRAX Announces Indefinite Closure of the Hudson Bay Railway from Amery to Churchill". OmniTRAX Inc. CNW. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  4. ↑ Robertson, Dylan (29 Aug 2017). "'Churchill dying,' business leader says, vowing blockade if Via tries to ship rail cars south by barge". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Feds demand Omnitrax fix Churchill rail line". CBC News. 1 Sep 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Dacey, Elisha (14 Nov 2017). "Omnitrax threatens NAFTA challenge as Ottawa files lawsuit". CBC News. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  7. ↑ Repairs to begin as Hudson Bay Railway sold Railway Gazette International September 3, 2018
  8. ↑ "Warm reception in Churchill for new owners of port and railway | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  9. ↑ http://www.irontrail.ca/HBL.html
  10. ↑ http://www.calgarysongwriter.com/interv3.htm
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