CN Rail to spend $450M in Western Canada
Although I saw this first in the Sun it is pretty much a rework of one of three similar announcements yesterday by CN - the others being aimed at Eastern Canada and the US.
So it is probably wrong to read too much into this development. But there is no mention of Vancouver - just Prince Rupert and its new container terminal a day’s sailing closer to China than us. Now that could just be that spending here is being kept quiet until the BC Rail case is finally disposed of, one way or another, since that was all about the Deltaport spur which is still in provincial hands. But I have also heard suggestions that CN intermodal trucks containers to its Thornton yard, and of course the port has been suggesting barging containers up the Fraser to new rail linked terminals which might allow CN and CP to sell off some very attractive waterfront real estate. This is all pure speculation on my part of course.
And an excuse to use another of my train pictures. This line to the Fraser Wharves terminal is slated for removal, as CN is going to build a shorter, no road crossings, bit of track along the south arm. There being no customers left along Vulcan Way and Shell Road.
keep the train pictures coming ……………………… yes rail expansion is coming to prince rupert -CHINA`S INSATIABLE APPETITE for minerals ,ores ,raw logs, oil. ——–and of course COAL -AND COAL —ALSO MORE COAL! china is at present firing up 2 coal powered energy plants per week —they will be opening that many coal fired plants for the next 5 years— YES I SAID 2 PER WEEK!————HAVE YOU SEEN THE PICTURES OUT OF BEJING - makes L .A . air quaity look good ( scary ) but we wouldn`t want to interupt the supply ( what would we do without chineese made -salad shooters-starbuck coffee cups-cat toys -toxic pet food-phony insulin ) signed———commodity selling whore!
I presume the north-south line connecting to the replacement track is just east of No. 9 Road and the Richmond Freeway passes over it. Quite a bit of work will need to be done to upgrade this line. Older maps show that the line actually connected to the Fraser Wharves terminal line along the north shore of the south arm of the Fraser. Perhaps the old roadbed is going to be reused.
Is the whole section west of the North Arm bridge going to be abandoned, or just the section west of Viking Way? A more interesting question would be whether Richmond would have the foresight to acquire the line. Bike path anyone?
All I know is what is posted on the CN web site which refers to mileposts
There is a trail already that is used by cyclists as well as horse riders. the only gap is from just north of Alderbridge to Bridgeport, and there is plenty of room on the side of the road.
How about a trial diesel rail car to link the industrial/commercial areas Ironwood/Coppersmith and IKEA/Home Depot in a way that would not tempt developers to build on the ALR - which would happen if the Shell Road allowance was opened up to cars.
Do you know when the line to the Fraser Wharves terminal is scheduled to be removed?
Alex
There is no information on dates at the CN web page - or rather there was none when I last looked. So far as I can see no work has yet started on the new - or rather - restored link along the south dyke