The VIA train the Hudson Bay at Thompson.

The mayor of Churchill is fuming over VIA Rail’s decision to cut its service to the northern Manitoba port from three days a week to two.

A spokeswoman for the Montreal-based passenger rail company confirmed Monday what has been rumoured for the past several weeks — that VIA will reduce its service to Churchill effective Dec. 1.

“At this point in time a reliable service for us is twice a week,” said VIA spokeswoman Catherine Kaloutsky. “We don’t know how long this schedule will stay in place.”

Kaloutsky said there are two main reasons VIA is making the switch. One is that operating trains on runs three times a week means running locomotives almost non-stop, something that requires additional equipment that the company does not expect to have available this winter and possibly beyond. The second reason is that the tracks to Churchill are being upgraded, which has led to delays and cancellations on the line. Kaloutsky said VIA opted instead to go with a more manageable twice-a-week schedule that the company thinks can be more reliable with fewer delays and cancellations.

“The schedule that was published did not reflect the reality of the slow orders because of the work that was being done on the tracks,” she said. “They weren’t operating on what it said in the schedule.”

However, Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said in no uncertain terms that he doesn’t buy VIA’s argument.

“That is crap,” he said Monday. “We rely on this train service big time and by reducing it you’re not accomplishing anything. All they have to do is adjust the scheduling and it will work.”

Churchill is not served by road, and therefore the only practical way into town is by air or rail. The port in town is essentially for commercial freight and only operates during a limited season.

“We are marketing this community as an international destination but this sets us back as a tourism destination,” Spence said, noting some tour operators who pre-booked clients now have to change trips to adjust to the new train schedule.

Spence said he sent a letter to VIA a few weeks ago to try to prevent the rumoured change, but was rebuffed.

He said he took the opportunity of having the Olympic torch in town Sunday to raise the issue with Premier Greg Selinger and area MLA Eric Robinson.

“VIA has got to rethink this,” Spence said. “This is totally unacceptable.”

Source: By Paul Turenne, SUN MEDIA

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