The Winnipeg–Churchill train (formerly known as the Hudson Bay and, before that, Northern Spirits)[2] is a semiweekly passenger train operated by Via Rail between Winnipeg and Churchill, Manitoba. It is the only dry-land connection between Churchill and the rest of Canada.
The northbound train leaves Winnipeg at 12:05 on Tuesdays and Sundays and is scheduled to arrive in Churchill two days later at 09:00. The southbound service departs Churchill at 19:30 on Thursday and Saturday evenings and reaches Winnipeg at 16:45 two days later. An additional weekly service operates in each direction between The Pas (departure at 02:30 on Fridays) and Churchill (departure at 19:30 on Tuesdays). The trip takes approximately 45 hours each way.
Historyedit
An unnamed mixed passenger train connecting with the Winnipeg–Churchill train at The Pas previously served Lynn Lake, but this service was truncated to Pukatawagan in 2003 by the then track owners OmniTRAX citing a loss in freight traffic making the service unprofitable. Via still operates twice weekly service from The Pas to Pukatawagan on behalf of the Keewatin Railway which now owns the Sherridon Subdivision.[2][3][4]
2017 floodingedit
Service between Gillam and Churchill was suspended on May 23, 2017, when flooding heavily damaged the track bed and bridges.[5] Because supplies had to be flown in by air when train service was suspended, prices skyrocketed in Churchill.[6]
Repairs of the track began on September 8, 2018.[7] By October 31, 2018, the track was repaired,[8] and passenger services resumed with train 693 on December 2.[9]
^"Via Rail service between Churchill and Gillam suspended indefinitely due to closure of the railway infrastructure in northern Manitoba". VIA Rail Canada Inc. (Press release). CNW. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
^Hoye, Bryce (January 18, 2019). "Return of train to Churchill raised spirits — but mayor says fuel, food costs remain high". CBC News.
^"Company fixing Churchill rail line says repairs will be complete in 60 days | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
^"'We are free:' Churchill celebrates return of train service with prime minister". Edmonton Journal. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
^"'It's very exciting': First rail tourists in 560 days depart for Churchill, Man". CBC News. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
External linksedit
Media related to Winnipeg – Churchill train at Wikimedia Commons
Winnipeg-Churchill train at Via Rail Canada
External video
"48hrs on VIA Rail's Most Northern Train in Canada" on YouTube, DownieLive, 2020-11-28
November 01, 2023
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The Winnipeg Churchill train formerly known as the Hudson Bay and before that Northern Spirits 2 is a semiweekly passenger train operated by Via Rail between Winnipeg and Churchill Manitoba It is the only dry land connection between Churchill and the rest of Canada Winnipeg Churchill trainThe Winnipeg Churchill train at Churchill in 1997OverviewService typeInter city railStatusOperatingLocaleManitoba CanadaCurrent operator s Via RailFormer operator s Canadian National RailwayRidership192 weekly FY 2019 1 Annual ridership21 129 FY 2019 1 WebsiteWinnipeg ChurchillRouteTerminiWinnipeg Manitoba The Pas ManitobaChurchill ManitobaDistance travelled1 710 km 1 063 mi Average journey time45 h 10 mService frequency3 trains per weekTrain number s 693 691 northbound 692 690 southbound On board servicesClass es Economy and sleeper classSeating arrangementsStainless Steel Coach SeatSleeping arrangementsStainless Steel SleepersCatering facilitiesStainless Steel Dining CarTechnicalRolling stockStainless Steel CarsTrack gauge1 435 mm 4 ft 8 1 2 in Operating speed80 mph 128 km h Track owner s CN HBRY KRCRoute mapLegend1697 km1054 mi Churchill1685 km1047 mi Tidal1670 km1038 mi Digges1659 km1031 mi Bylot1646 km1023 mi Lamprey1632 km1014 mi Chesnaye1617 km1005 mi Cromarty1603 km996 mi Belcher1588 km987 mi M Clintock1575 km979 mi Back1562 km971 mi O Day1548 km962 mi Kellett1540 km957 mi Herchmer1520 km944 mi Silcox1508 km937 mi Thibaudeau1492 km927 mi Lawledge1477 km918 mi Weir River1463 km909 mi Charlebois1448 km900 mi Amery1435 km892 mi Bird1414 km879 mi Kettle Rapids1401 km871 mi Gillam1390 km864 mi Luke1366 km849 mi Wivenhoe1353 km841 mi Nonsuch1337 km831 mi Ilford1310 km814 mi Munk1289 km801 mi Pit Siding1279 km795 mi Boyd1257 km781 mi Arnot1249 km776 mi Wilde1229 km764 mi Bridgar1220 km758 mi Pikwitonei1199 km745 mi Sipiwesk1149 km714 mi Thompson1086 km675 mi Leven1073 km667 mi Thicket Portage1064 km661 mi Hockin1052 km654 mi La Perouse1041 km647 mi Earchman1031 km641 mi Odhill1017 km632 mi Lyddal996 km619 mi Wabowden985 km612 mi Pipun973 km605 mi Dunlop961 km597 mi Button949 km590 mi Ponton927 km576 mi Turnbull907 km564 mi Wekusko890 km553 mi Paterson877 km545 mi Dyce864 km537 mi Rawebb850 km528 mi Dering843 km524 mi Cormorant837 km520 mi Halcrow825 km513 mi Budd811 km504 mi Finger804 km500 mi Atikameg Lake798 km496 mi Orok790 km491 mi TremaudanKeewatin Railwayto Pukatawagan777 km483 mi The PasManitobaSaskatchewan636 km395 mi Hudson Bay586 km364 mi Reserve549 km341 mi Endeavour520 km323 mi Sturgis484 km301 mi Canora473 km294 mi Mikado459 km285 mi Veregin446 km277 mi Kamsack412 km256 mi TogoSaskatchewanManitoba385 km239 mi Roblin331 km206 mi Grandview315 km196 mi Gilbert Plains283 km176 mi Dauphin262 km163 mi Ochre River238 km148 mi Laurier224 km139 mi McCreary191 km119 mi Glenella169 km105 mi Plumas148 km92 mi GladstoneCanadianto Vancouver88 km55 mi Portage la Prairie0 km WinnipegCanadianto TorontoThis diagram viewtalkeditThe service which runs through Manitoba and Saskatchewan travels on the Canadian National Railway line north to The Pas where it transfers to the Hudson Bay Railway passing through Wabowden Manitoba with a spur from Sipiwesk to Thompson and Gillam on its way to the Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay Contents 1 Schedule 2 History 2 1 2017 flooding 3 References 4 External linksSchedule editThe northbound train leaves Winnipeg at 12 05 on Tuesdays and Sundays and is scheduled to arrive in Churchill two days later at 09 00 The southbound service departs Churchill at 19 30 on Thursday and Saturday evenings and reaches Winnipeg at 16 45 two days later An additional weekly service operates in each direction between The Pas departure at 02 30 on Fridays and Churchill departure at 19 30 on Tuesdays The trip takes approximately 45 hours each way History editAn unnamed mixed passenger train connecting with the Winnipeg Churchill train at The Pas previously served Lynn Lake but this service was truncated to Pukatawagan in 2003 by the then track owners OmniTRAX citing a loss in freight traffic making the service unprofitable Via still operates twice weekly service from The Pas to Pukatawagan on behalf of the Keewatin Railway which now owns the Sherridon Subdivision 2 3 4 2017 flooding edit Service between Gillam and Churchill was suspended on May 23 2017 when flooding heavily damaged the track bed and bridges 5 Because supplies had to be flown in by air when train service was suspended prices skyrocketed in Churchill 6 Repairs of the track began on September 8 2018 7 By October 31 2018 the track was repaired 8 and passenger services resumed with train 693 on December 2 9 nbsp VIA Winnipeg Churchill interactive map References edit a b Annual Report 2019 PDF viarail ca Via Rail Canada p 9 Retrieved 13 September 2020 a b VIA Rail Canada Northern Trains Archived from the original on 2000 10 17 Hudson Bay Rail to end service from Lynn Lake Man to Pukatawagan reserve Canadian Press 8 December 2003 The Adventure Routes Via Rail service between Churchill and Gillam suspended indefinitely due to closure of the railway infrastructure in northern Manitoba VIA Rail Canada Inc Press release CNW 2017 06 09 Retrieved 2017 06 10 Hoye Bryce January 18 2019 Return of train to Churchill raised spirits but mayor says fuel food costs remain high CBC News Company fixing Churchill rail line says repairs will be complete in 60 days CBC News CBC Retrieved 2018 09 11 We are free Churchill celebrates return of train service with prime minister Edmonton Journal 1 November 2018 Retrieved 1 November 2018 It s very exciting First rail tourists in 560 days depart for Churchill Man CBC News 2 December 2018 Retrieved 2018 12 05 External links edit nbsp Media related to Winnipeg Churchill train at Wikimedia Commons Winnipeg Churchill train at Via Rail CanadaExternal video nbsp 48hrs on VIA Rail s Most Northern Train in Canada on YouTube DownieLive 2020 11 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Winnipeg Churchill train amp oldid 1179398324, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
