Churchill celebrates return of rail service
Residents of Churchill crowded around a bonfire during a street party to celebrate the return of rail service and a visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the northern Manitoba town.
Patricia Kandiurin held a banner with the label of the rail line’s former owner, Denver-based Omnitrax, over the fire, slowly letting the flames destroy the white and black symbol as a nearby crowd cheered.
“We are free,” she said Thursday. “We are not hostages anymore.”
The first train rolled into Churchill in more than a year on Wednesday evening to the surprise and excitement of residents.
Flooding in the spring of 2017 damaged the tracks and severed the only land link to the subarctic town of 900 people on the shore of Hudson Bay.
During the time the line was washed out goods and people had to be flown into Churchill and prices for groceries and fuel skyrocketed. The tourist economy in what’s known as the polar bear capital of the world was hit hard and some people left town.
The federal government provided $74 million to help buy and fix the railroad, along with the town’s port.
Trudeau said Omnitrax showed no interest in repairing the line, so it was important to shift ownership to the community and to those who shared a similar vision for the North.
The assets were bought by the Arctic Gateway Group — a partnership between several First Nations communities, Fairfax Financial Holdings in Toronto and Regina-based AGT Food.
The federal government has promised $43 million over 10 years to subsidize operations on top of the $74 million.
“With this new deal, Churchill will have full control over its future,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau was greeted at the celebratory party by a few hundred people singing “O Canada.”
He thanked the people for their patience and said the wait is finally over — rail service will be back to normal by the end of the month.
“This is your victory,” he said. “I know times have been incredibly tough but the resilience and determination you have shown has been inspiring.”