Canadian Railroads > CN Hay River vs Northwest Territories

Looks like CN wants out to reopen the rail line.

Mike Root
Madras, OR

Last I heard, a wildfire destroyed a railroad bridge (maybe more than 1) several miles south of Hay River and a transload was set up nearby.

What have you heard/read?

Posted from Android

Found it. well, the recent baseline story anyways: Ongoing legal story since the line was burned out in 2023. Interesting regional story, no mention of action though:

...The Government of the Northwest Territories has asked Canadian federal regulators to examine Canadian National Railway’s decision not to repair its damaged rail line to Hay River, ...

...“As a common carrier, CN Rail has a legal duty to maintain this rail line and ensure the continued flow of goods to the NWT’s most vulnerable communities. … It remains the position of the Government of the Northwest Territories that repairing this stretch of rail line is CN Rail’s responsibility.”

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/northwest-territories-seek-federal-action-to-restore-cn-service-to-hay-river/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/25 10:23 by TCnR.

Thanks. That's a far cry from CN wanting to repair the line.

If Canadian railroad laws are anything like in the US, the town/province might have a pretty good case. It would be interesting to know what rail traffic into Hay River was like before the fire. It is a REALLY long way from anywhere.

Posted from Android

From what I can gather Hay River was one of those Depot locations for the Winter Ice Roads into the Northern areas. Regular food and consumables but also the mining areas to the far north. Could be Oil drilling equipment as well but I'm not real sure.

We did have some earlier discussion on TO about the rail traffic, haven't tried to look that up yet.

There was a large mine  beyond Hay River at Pine Point.

Mike Root
Madras, OR

shortlineboss Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There was a large mine  beyond Hay River at Pine
> Point.


There appeared to be major rail infrastructure just east of Hay River that likely was some sort of mineral extraction, but a look at Google earth shows that is all removed, including the railroad tracks.

Posted from Android

Lead zinc mine

Mike Root
Madras, OR

The Pine Point MIne closed in 1988, so it was not a factor in the past 35 years.

I used to live up in the Northwest Territories, and as TCnR mentioned, Hay River is primarily a hub for onward shipping farther north - particularly for barges down the Mackenzie River.  Oil seemed to be the most common commodity northbound from what I saw.  Not sure what southbound trraffic there was beyond oil empties. There always seemed to be a few gondolas and boxcards in the consist the few times I saw the train to/from High Level.