Railways in

Manitoba

Prairie Dog Central Railway steam train alongside grain elevator at Warren

National Operators

• VIA Rail Canada passenger services:
  • The Canadian Toronto to Vancouver via Winnipeg
  • The Hudson Bay Winnipeg to Churchill via Le Pas
• Canadian Pacific Railway freight services
• CN freight services

International Services

• Canadian Pacific crosses the US border at Noyes, which is also served by CN from Winnipeg and BNSF from Crookston, Minnesota. CN and BNSF have trackage rights over each other's lines at this point
• CN crosses the US border between Middlesbro and Longworth, Minnesota

Regional Passenger and Freight Operator

• Keewatin Railway Company owns the line from Sherritt Junction (interchange with Hudson Bay) to Lynn Lake, about 185 miles (310 km). Currently operates mixed (passenger and freight) services from The Pas to Putakawagan, about 156 miles (251 km) of which 58 miles (93 km) is on the tracks of Hudson Bay Railway

Local and Regional Freight Operators

• Boundary Trail Railway Morden (interchange with Canadian Pacific) via Manitou to Binney, about 23 miles (37 km). The Railway owns a further 55 miles (88 km) of right of way between Binney and Holmfield but, as this section has been abandoned and lifted for some time, it is unlikely to reopen in the near future.
• Central Manitoba Railway two lines from Norcran Yard, Winnipeg (interchange with Canadian Pacific and CN):
  • Carman Junction, Winnipeg (interchange with CN) vis Carman to Graysville, 51 miles (82 km)
  • Beach Junction, Winnipeg (interchange with CN) via North Transcona Yard (interchange with CN and Canadian Pacific) to Pine Falls, 67 miles (107 km)
  The two lines are linked by trackage rights over CN through Winnipeg
• Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway Winnipeg St Boniface (interchange with CN and Canadian Pacific) to Indian Bay, about 102 miles (164 km). Used solely for maintaining the water intake at Shoal Lake and the aqueduct carrying Winnipeg’s water supply
• Hudson Bay Railway two lines leading north from The Pas (interchange with CN):
  • via Sherritt Junction (interchange with Keewatin Railway) and Channing to Flin Flon
  • via Sipiwesk (branch to Thompson), Pit Siding (branch to Kelsey Generating Station) Gillam (branches to Kettle and Long Spruce Generating Stations) and Limestone to Churchill
  Total length of line about 810 miles (1300 km)
• Lake Line Railroad company proposing to take over the Canadian Pacific line from Selkirk (interchange with Canadian Pacific) to Gimli, about 36 miles (60 km)
• River Hills Railroad company proposing to take over the Canadian Pacific line from Rathwell (interchange with Canadian Pacific) to Page, about 63 miles (101 km)

Tourist Services

• Prairie Dog Central steam and diesel hauled tourist railway from Inkster Junction to Warren. Dining services operate at certain times

© 2006-2011 Glyn Williams
Photo image © Rural Municipality of Woodlands
Canadian flag image from CIA World Factbook
Manitoba flag image from the RecreationManitoba website