OmniTRAX will fix Hudson Bay Railroad
Written by Railway Age Staff
Repairs are slated for the Hudson Bay Railway for the first time since flooding cut off the line serving the remote Canadian city in May 2017.
OmniTRAX, which operates the 627-mile railroad, announced it will begin repairs to the Churchill rail line, according to local reports.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) in July said it would hold OmniTRAX responsible for carrying out repairs on the line. The operator had refused, saying the process of repairs would and restarting operations would cost approximately C$50-80 million ($40-60 million).
Churchill has been cut off from land transport since the shutdown.
In an email, an OmniTRAX spokesman said some engineering work has been completed on the line.
A business conglomerate had been negotiating with OmniTRAX to purchase the line, according to reports.
A consortium that expressed interest in purchasing HBR in May halted negotiations.
OmniTRAX Inc. entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2016 with Missinippi Rail and One North on a potential sale of the railway for a reported C$20 million ($16.18 million). In November 2017, a Toronto-based holding company, Fairfax Financial Holdings, had expressed interest in a partnership with Missinippi Rail and One North to buy the Northern Manitoba rail and port infrastructure.
