The Winnipeg–Churchill train (formerly known as the Hudson Bay and, before that, Northern Spirits)[2] is a twice weekly passenger train operated by Via Rail between Winnipeg and Churchill, Manitoba. It is the only dry-land connection between Churchill and the rest of Canada.

Quick Facts Overview, Service type ...
Winnipeg–Churchill train
The Winnipeg–Churchill train at Churchill in 1997
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusOperating
LocaleManitoba, Canada
Current operator(s)Via Rail
Former operator(s)Canadian National Railway
Ridership192 weekly (FY 2019)[1]
Annual ridership21,129 (FY 2019)[1]
WebsiteWinnipeg - Churchill
Route
TerminiWinnipeg, Manitoba, The Pas, Manitoba
Churchill, Manitoba
Distance travelled1,710 km (1,063 mi)
Average journey time44 h 55 m to Churchill, 45 h 15 m to Winnipeg
Service frequency3 trains per week
Train number(s)693, 691 (northbound),
692, 690 (southbound)
On-board services
Class(es)Economy and sleeper class
Seating arrangementsCoach Seat
Sleeping arrangementsSleepers (offering some "open sections")
Catering facilitiesDining Car
Technical
Rolling stockStainless Steel Cars
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Operating speed80 mph (128 km/h)
Track owner(s)CN, HBRY, KRC
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The service, which runs through Manitoba and Saskatchewan, travels on the Canadian National Railway line north to The Pas, where it transfers to the Hudson Bay Railway, passing through Wabowden, Manitoba, with a spur from Sipiwesk to Thompson, and Gillam on its way to the Port of Churchill on Hudson Bay.

Schedule

The northbound train leaves Winnipeg at 12:05 on Tuesdays and Sundays and is scheduled to arrive in Churchill two days later at 09:00. The southbound service departs Churchill at 19:30 on Thursday and Saturday evenings and reaches Winnipeg at 16:45 two days later. An additional weekly service operates in each direction between The Pas (departure at 02:30 on Fridays) and Churchill (departure at 19:30 on Tuesdays). The trip takes approximately 45 hours each way.

History

An unnamed mixed passenger train connecting with the Winnipeg–Churchill train at The Pas previously served Lynn Lake, but this service was truncated to Pukatawagan in 2003 by the then track owners OmniTRAX citing a loss in freight traffic making the service unprofitable. Via still operates twice weekly service from The Pas to Pukatawagan on behalf of the Keewatin Railway which now owns the Sherridon Subdivision.[2][3][4]

2017 flooding

Service between Gillam and Churchill was suspended on May 23, 2017, when flooding heavily damaged the track bed and bridges.[5] Because supplies had to be flown in by air when train service was suspended, prices skyrocketed in Churchill.[6]

Repairs of the track began on September 8, 2018.[7] By October 31, 2018, the track was repaired,[8] and passenger services resumed with train 693 on December 2.[9]

List of stations

More information Name, Province ...
NameProvinceCoordinates
WinnipegMB49°53′20.000″N 97°8′3.001″W
Portage la PrairieMB49°58′37.9″N 98°17′17.2″W
GladstoneMB50°13′31.1″N 98°56′53.9″W
PlumasMB50°23′4.6″N 99°5′22.9″W
GlenellaMB50°33′23.8″N 99°11′46.0″W
McCrearyMB50°46′24.6″N 99°29′22.9″W
LaurierMB50°53′17.2″N 99°33′38.9″W
Ochre RiverMB51°3′37.1″N 99°46′47.6″W
DauphinMB51°9′2.2″N 100°3′6.5″W
Gilbert PlainsMB51°8′52.1″N 100°29′13.2″W
GrandviewMB51°10′17.8″N 100°41′55.7″W
RoblinMB51°13′48.4″N 101°21′7.9″W
TogoSK51°24′26″N 101°35′25″W
KamsackSK51°33′28″N 101°54′7″W
VereginSK51°34′41.2″N 102°4′40.4″W
MikadoSK51°36′31″N 102°16′16″W
CanoraSK51°38′15″N 102°26′13″W
SturgisSK51°56′26″N 102°32′38″W
Endeavour, SaskatchewanSK52°9′38″N 102°39′29″W
ReserveSK52°28′0″N 102°39′4″W
Hudson BaySK52°51′46.80″N 102°23′48.05″W
The PasMB53°49′26.4″N 101°14′51.0″W
TremaudanMB53°54′32.0″N 101°10′16.0″W
OrokMB53°57′28.1″N 101°3′25.9″W
DeringMB54°15′15.1″N 100°31′59.9″W
FingerMB54°0′24.8″N 100°52′26.0″W
BuddMB54°2′55.7″N 100°48′18.4″W
HalcrowMB54°10′37.9″N 100°37′28.9″W
CormorantMB54°13′26.0″N 100°36′1.1″W
DeringMB54°15′15.1″N 100°31′59.9″W
RawebbMB54°18′25.9″N 100°19′12.0″W
DyceMB54°22′3.0″N 100°9′24.1″W
PatersonMB54°25′35.0″N 99°59′43.1″W
WekuskoMB54°30′11.9″N 99°45′4.0″W
TurnbullMB54°33′58.0″N 99°28′36.8″W
PontonMB54°38′35.9″N 99°9′32.0″W
ButtonMB54°40′44.0″N 98°59′40.9″W
DunlopMB54°44′39.1″N 98°51′42.8″W
PipunMB54°50′19.0″N 98°45′13.0″W
WabowdenMB54°54′32.0″N 98°37′46.9″W
LyddalMB55°1′45.8″N 98°24′52.9″W
OdhillMB55°6′27.0″N 98°13′30.0″W
EarchmanMB55°9′24.1″N 98°6′31.0″W
La PerouseMB56°24′34.9″N 94°31′49.1″W
HockinMB55°16′35.0″N 97°49′50.2″W
Thicket PortageMB55°19′5.2″N 97°41′12.8″W
LevenMB55°22′50.9″N 97°32′31.9″W
ThompsonMB55°44′26.2″N 97°49′47.3″W
SipiweskMB55°27′20.2″N 97°24′25.9″W
PikwitoneiMB55°35′16.1″N 97°9′20.2″W
BridgarMB55°38′12.8″N 97°3′42.1″W
WildeMB55°43′35.0″N 96°48′46.1″W
ArnotMB55°46′1.9″N 96°41′4.9″W
BoydMB55°52′40.1″N 96°28′21.0″W
Pit SidingMB55°54′33.8″N 96°19′3.0″W
MunkMB55°58′44.0″N 95°59′34.1″W
IlfordMB56°3′52.9″N 95°36′24.8″W
NonsuchMB56°7′35.0″N 95°22′37.9″W
WivenhoeMB56°10′35.0″N 95°12′46.1″W
LukeMB56°17′44.9″N 94°51′16.9″W
GillamMB56°20′49.9″N 94°42′28.1″W
BirdMB56°30′13.0″N 94°12′38.2″W
AmeryMB56°33′54.0″N 94°3′45.0″W
Weir RiverMB56°49′4.1″N 94°5′33.0″W
ThibaudeauMB57°4′26.0″N 94°8′40.9″W
HerchmerMB57°22′18.8″N 94°11′13.9″W
O'DayMB57°34′39.0″N 94°12′14.0″W
M'ClintockMB57°48′6.1″N 94°12′49.0″W
TidalMB58°39′47.2″N 94°7′13.1″W
ChurchillMB58°46′4.1″N 94°10′27.5″W
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VIA Winnipeg-Churchill

References

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