Report says Churchill rail line could be repaired soon for $43 million or less
CHURCHILL, Man. — A new report says the broken rail line that is the only land access to Churchill, Man., could be up and running again by November for $43.5 million or less, if somebody steps forward soon to pay for it.
The report by engineering firm AECOM was commissioned by the rail line’s owners, Denver-based Omnitrax, which has said it cannot afford to fix the line on its own.
The railway was severely damaged by spring flooding and since then, goods and people have had to be flown in, at much higher cost, to the town of 900 on the coast of Hudson Bay.
The report says the 250-kilometre section of track leading to Churchill has been washed out or otherwise damaged in 130 locations, including bridges and culverts.