Transport Canada

Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland on March 28 tabled Budget 2023.

Canada FY2023 Budget: $262MM for Rail

Among the proposals included in the Canadian government’s 2023 budget, tabled March 28 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, are those slated to “strengthen Canada’s transportation systems and supply chain infrastructure,” such as the establishment of a Transportation Supply Chain Office and a temporary extension, on a pilot basis, of the interswitching limit in the prairie provinces “to strengthen rail competition.” Also proposed: investing C$210.0 million over five years in VIA Rail Canada.

Union Pacific is purchasing four hybrid cranes for testing in its intermodal yards. These hybrid cranes are expected to consume at least 50% less diesel fuel than standard cranes. (UP Photograph)

Intermodal Briefs: UP, Port of Belledune, Western Intermodex

Union Pacific (UP) finalizes contracts for four hybrid cranes to test in its intermodal yards. Also, the government of Canada is investing up to C$12.5 million in an infrastructure project at the CN-served Port of Belledune in New Brunswick; and intermodal services firm Western IntermodeX acquires Quickload Logistics to boost import transload capacity in Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Canada: Lac-Mégantic Bypass Project Advancing

Nearly a decade after the horrific derailment of a crude oil unit train at Lac-Mégantic, Quebec that claimed 47 lives and led to new regulations for railroad hazmat tank cars, Canada Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra on Jan. 14 announced that building a 12.5-km (7.75-mile) bypass to get trains out of downtown Lac-Mégantic “remains a priority.” While the government has signed agreements to acquire some of the land for the project, he said, it has decided not to extend the “mutual negotiation period” with the remaining impacted owners after doing so three times, so that the project can move forward.

“Today’s investment for Huron Central Railway in Northern Ontario will improve railway infrastructure by increasing the fluidity and reliability of rail service, reducing travel time of railcar traffic and relieving supply chain congestion,” Canada Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra reported on Twitter. (Photograph Courtesy of Alghabra via Twitter)

For HCRY, C$21MM in Infrastructure Improvement Funding

Genesee & Wyoming Canada’s Huron Central Railway Inc. (HCRY) will receive a total of C$21 million for infrastructure rehabilitation from the governments of Canada and Ontario, which announced their investment on Jan. 10. The 173-mile short line in Northern Ontario will contribute C$10.5 million to the work.