OTTAWA, Ontario — Jonathan Goldbloom, a member of the VIA Rail Canada board since 2017, has been named as VIA’s board chairman effective April 12, 2025. Goldbloom’s five-year appointment as chairman was announced on Saturday, March 8, by Minister of Transport at Internal Trade Anita Anand. Goldbloom, of Montreal, is a partner at Avenue Strategic […]
CALGARY, Alberta — Minnesota’s Elbow Lake Co-op Grain and Cargill Elva of Manitoba are CPKC’s grain Elevators of the Year for the 2023-24 crop year, the railroad has announced. The award recognizes grain customers for moving high volume from a single loading point while demonstrating efficient railcar loading and a strong commitment to safety. The […]
This 40-foot Canadian National boxcar was built in November 1923 and was still in service in the 1970s. The car is single-sheathed (meaning sheathed only on the inside of the truss-style metal bracing) and has wood sides and ends. Note the modern AEI panel on the 1923-built car. Michael Dean photo […]
MONTREAL — Quebec’s Court of Appeals has upheld a lower-court ruling that found Canadian Pacific Railway was not legally responsible for the 2013 Lac-Mégantic disaster. The Canadian Press reports that in a ruling today (Feb. 26, 2025), a three-judge court panel denied three appeals that sought to require CPR to pay into a compensation fund […]
CARON, Saskatchewan — Eighteen cars of a CPKC intermodal train derailed early today (Feb. 25, 2025) in rural Saskatchewan, the CBC reports. CPKC said in a statement to the broadcaster that the derailment occurred shortly after midnight near Caron, about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) west of Moose Jaw, Sask. No injuries were reported. One of […]
CALGARY, Alberta — The union representing CPKC mechanical workers in Canada has ratified a new four-year agreement. Unifor Local 101R represents more than 1,200 mechanics, laborers, diesel service attendants, and mechanical support workers. The ratification vote was announced Monday, Feb. 24; no details on the vote were released. “Our members worked so hard and stood […]
CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC this week published its 2025 Climate Milestones report, highlighting efforts such as the railroad’s hydrogen locomotive initiative and a biofuel testing program. “Shipping by rail is the most fuel-efficient way to move goods over land and our Climate Mileposts report outlines the steps we are taking to further advance the potential […]
MONTREAL — It will be at least 2041 before Canada’s high speed rail line begins full operation, according to the head of the Crown corporation that will oversee its construction. The Montreal Gazette reports that Martin Imbleau, CEO of Alto – the new name for what was previously VIA HFR — said Thursday (Feb. 20) […]
MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada has now canceled 19 trains today (Feb. 19, 2025) in its Windsor-Quebec City corridor, and continues to cite a Tuesday CN derailment near Montreal as contributing to ongoing delays. Much of the corridor area is still digging out from storms that brought almost 30 inches of snow in a four-day […]
MONTREAL — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to build a high speed rail line linking Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, calling it “the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history.” The 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) system, to be known as Alto, will have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour (186 mph), with intermediate […]
MONTREAL — VIA Rail Canada service between Toronto and Montreal, already struggling to cope with a massive snowstorm, was further disrupted today (Feb. 18, 2025) by a Canadian National derailment near Montreal. The 12-car derailment occurred at CN’s Taschereau Yard near Lachine and adjacent to Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport. CN said no leaks or injuries […]
MONTREAL — The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has ratified a new four-year contract with Canadian National Railway, CN has announced. The union represents approximately 750 signals and communications workers in Canada. The deal includes annual 3% wage increases. “The ratification of this agreement by our employees with the IBEW union represents a mutually beneficial […]
