Hi All
Looks like the HBR has finally been sold to a consortium of buyers from Toronto in partnership with Northern Manitoba First Nations, according to Vancouver Sun Business Pages yesterday. A very small two column article tucked away on p3 IIRC. Repairs are to start soon, before month's end and are hopefully to be completed by winter.
We'll see, however this to me is the best substantial news in a long time about the line. Churchillian's couldn't be happier according to the mayor.
Charlie
Chilliwack, BC
Above photo showing Ariel view of the Port of Churchill.
Sure as heck look like full size grain cars to me!
Here is a easy to follow map of the line from The Pas ( pronounced The 'Paw'.
Operating 810 miles of former CNR track.
KRC 2403 (nee B&O 3822) GP38 enroute likely to replace one of two MLW M-420's. BNSF Minneapolis, MN diesel shop March 1, 2011 John Hill
Not trying to bash kalmbach or anything but this really does show that the mods are pretty trigger happy here when it comes to removing posts seems any post has a 50/50 shot of being removed
Still nothing really concrete. Lot of talking in circles and pointing fingers but things are getting close to a resolution. Maybe, I think, Sort of.
AUGUST 9, 2018 03:28 PM
Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) president Sergio Sabatini told the Canadian Transportation Agency Aug. 1 that his company has begun soliciting bids to repair the section of the line between Gillam and Churchill but doesn’t have the money to pay for the repairs itself.
The report to the Canadian Transportation agency (CTA), which ordered HBR to begin repairs by July 3, said that the process began with an inspection of the track June 11 and June 12 by AECOM, which was retained by HBR to prepare a request for proposals (RFP). The RFP was issued June 28 to six pre-screened contractors with the necessary experience to perform the repairs and four of those contractors sent representatives to a mandatory site visit July 12 and 13. Over the course of July, AECOM responded to technical questions form the contractors, with final answers provided July 31. Bids were due Aug. 3 and AECOM said it was “confident there will be multiple bids and methodologies to consider."
HBR says it believes a substantial amount of the work to repair the line can be done this year and the rest by mid-2019. Its goal is to restore limited service sometime this winter and full services after the repairs are complete.
However, the report took pains to spell out HBR’s position that it doesn’t have money to fund the work, which AECOM estimates could start by the first day of September.
“As the agency is aware HBR does not have the financial capability to undertake the full repairs of the damage to the railway caused by the spring 2017 flood,” Sabatini wrote. “HBR and its shareholders have been in discussion with the federal government and a potential buyer with the objective of ensuring that the necessary funds are in place to fully repair the Gillam to Churchill line and resume operations as expeditiously as possible."
BaltACD Is action really going to happen? https://www.railwayage.com/freight/omnitrax-will-fix-hudson-bay-railroad/
Is action really going to happen?
https://www.railwayage.com/freight/omnitrax-will-fix-hudson-bay-railroad/
The Railway Age article[linked:above], would sort of seem to put the whole project into a stage of "Maybe we will repair it, maybe we won't repair it"?
It seems to indicate that now that the HBR is shut down, they are able to hold the Canadian Federal Govt's position; while 'slow walking' the project, possibly a negotiating gambit to pressure the Government in Ottawa to finding a financial resource. While, basicly, leaving the First Nations deal die on the table, and the Missisnippi Group dangling. (?)
FTA:"...The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) in July said it would hold OmniTRAX responsible for carrying out repairs on the line.[
Omnitrax has announced it will begin repairs to the Churchill rail line.
The action comes after a ruling by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) last month, which stated that Omnitrax would be considered responsible for carrying out repairs on the line.{The operator had refused, saying the process of repairs would and restarting operations would cost approximately C$50-80 million ($40-60 million). Churchill has been cut off from land transport since the shutdown.}In an email, an OmniTRAX spokesman said some engineering work has been completed on the line.{The Hudson Bay Railway has been out of service since May 2017, when overland flooding left several portions of the rail line impassable by train. Omnitrax, the company that owns and operates the line, refused to repair it, citing cost concerns. Churchill has been cut off from land transport since the shutdown. A conglomerate of northern companies, including One North – which the City of Flin Flon owns a small ownership stake in – has been negotiating with Omnitrax to purchase the line and return it to operation.}linked from an internal linked story[https://www.thereminder.ca/news/local-news/ruling-forcing-omnitrax-to-fix-rail-line-1.23409411] in the one posted by BaltACD
Previously, Omnitrax estimated it would cost between $40 million and $60 million to repair the line and restart service.
Do not have any idea what the cycle is in Churchill, as to weather, and Winter, but my guess is that it wi;; nt be long til the weather will be pretty tough along the HBR(?).
I hope so, but we'll have to hear from our friends north of the border to find out if it does, or how the whole deal plays out.
Seems to me as far as the American media is concerned Canada might as well not exist.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD "...It would seem that the Canadian government is adopting an American response to problems 'thoughts and prayers'..."
"...It would seem that the Canadian government is adopting an American response to problems 'thoughts and prayers'..."
As BaltACD had noted! Here is apparently, the Rest of the Story(?) So it seems that at least for now there will be a positive outcome for the folks who will survive as the HBL is,at least, for now is getting a new 'life'. As repairs (and funding) are now coming into the political pipeline. It is a shame it took so long, while keeping the people who depended on that line for their goods and services,in the dark; so to speak(?)
From an article in TRAINS Newswire of this date;[Note], Reposted from from an article in The Winnipeg Free Press dated 08/22/2018:
WFP Article was linked @:https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/federal-money-for-consortium-takeover-of-churchill-port-rail-waiting-for-omnitrax-to-sign-deal-491497161.html
"Federal money for consortium takeover of Churchill port, rail waiting for Omnitrax to sign deal" By: Dylan Robertson Posted: 08/22/2018 5:51 PM :
FTA:"...OTTAWA — The federal government has approved a financial package for the northern Manitoba consortium angling to take over Churchill’s railway and port, suggesting a deal could be imminent ahead of a planned visit to Winnipeg from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau next month.
The federal Treasury Board has approved funds for the consortium, sources tell the Free Press, making that money ready for Ottawa to transfer, once Denver-based Omnitrax signs a takeover deal.
Officials would not say how much money is involved, nor how long it’s intended to last. The cash would likely be related to repairs along the line and initial funding needed to start soliciting business concessions from Ottawa.."
I've read elsewhere that the line to Churchill was the last location where grain was being shipped in boxcars, mostly because the line could not support the weight of the covered hoppers being used in the rest of North America.
Assuming that the new owners have enough cash available to upgrade the line to 286K standards, is the shipping season at the Port of Churchill long enough to justify such an expense?
Thank you, Sam. Yes, Wayne, it is the "Slavic March," has nothing to do with slaves except for the similarity of the two words.
Johnny
Man, is that conductor cool or what? I looked him up, and he (Alexi Karabanov) is a captain in the Russian navy, their top music man if I understand correctly.
Oh, the YouTube poster got it wrong, it's not the "Slave March," it's the "Slavic March," also known as the "Marche Slav." Tchaikovsky wrote it in the late 19th Century as an ode to pan-Slavic unity. Good piece of music!
Firelock76 That "Mini-Mao" statue is hardly flattering, so as a satire (if that's what it is) I suppose it's OK. Maybe. I can't read the artist's mind. That Lenin bust looks like pure Soviet propaganda. By the way, do you know Lenin had a term for Westerners who embraced the Communist line? "Useful idiots." Lenin was no good either, don't kid yourselves, he was all about power. "The Romanov's have it, I want it, and when I get it I'm not givin' it back!" The only good thing you can say about him is he wasn't as psycho as Stalin. Things are a bit different in Russia now. If Lenin heard something like this it'd kill him all over again! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvMDZag8-DE
That "Mini-Mao" statue is hardly flattering, so as a satire (if that's what it is) I suppose it's OK. Maybe. I can't read the artist's mind.
That Lenin bust looks like pure Soviet propaganda.
By the way, do you know Lenin had a term for Westerners who embraced the Communist line? "Useful idiots."
Lenin was no good either, don't kid yourselves, he was all about power. "The Romanov's have it, I want it, and when I get it I'm not givin' it back!"
The only good thing you can say about him is he wasn't as psycho as Stalin.
Things are a bit different in Russia now. If Lenin heard something like this it'd kill him all over again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvMDZag8-DE
Wayne(Firelock76) Thanks for the link! Really,well done
But as a counterpoint, and a little flight of fancy for Lenin, or maybe,even Marx(?). They might have used this next to relax by? "Tchaikovsky. Slave march, op.31" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq56cAtguiw
Oh, Well, Sunday morning and the local fish wrapper has not arrived yet? Some music is soothing.
Sorry I did not reply earlier, started to but the battery on my iPad died... it is getting weaker by the week.
I will try to find the article .. I'm going by memory, but it caused quite a hoopla. I'm wondering if it was a temporary thing.. can't quite recall.
The Bethune monument was permanent.
I still can't find anything about Mao statues, but Gravehurst has a statue of Norman Bethune and a museum dedicated to him, and is a popular tourist attraction with Chinese visitors and officials. But there has been some controversy:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-remembrance-of-how-easy-it-is-to-forget/article757630/
https://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/6833924-muskoka-museum-shares-dr-bethune-s-story-for-40-years/
Bethune was a favourite of Mao.
The Chinese gave a statue of Bethune to the city of Montreal, where it is located in a small inner-city park:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Bethune_Square
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
That could well be!
Is it near Gravenhurst, the hometown of Norman Bethune?
No!... somewhere North of Toronto in cottage country, pretty sure near Muskoka, possibly outside of and North of Orilia. Built to appease a Chinese trade and culture delegation. The article was in the National Post.
Are these the statues?
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/art-sculpture-in-richmond-sparks-debate-1.468599
I'm not finding anything else when I search for Canadian Mao statues.
Firelock76 And you know something? I'll bet if they turned the Canadian Army's engineers loose on that rail line they'd have it up and running again in two weeks.
And you know something? I'll bet if they turned the Canadian Army's engineers loose on that rail line they'd have it up and running again in two weeks.
We used to have a whole Crown Corporation devoted to doing such things.
It was called the Canadian National Railway.
Miningman, your PM actually erected a statue of Chairman Mao? A monster responsible for the death of millions? Oh brother. I surmise he didn't discuss it with Canadian veterans of the Korean War who fought against Mao's minions.
And people whine about Mr. Trump. Good Lord.
And then send OmniTrax the bill!
MiningmanBalt-- I think DNA shows high % Mongol.
I think I heard or read somewhere that 15% of the World's inhabitants carry DNA from Gingis Kahn the leader of the Mongol hords (he seemed to have a thing for women) with Mongolia being the Northern area that has been politically separated from China
Good work sampf1943 and a great posting. This is about sovereignty yet the Federal govt either doesn't care, they are recklessly foolish or there is a hidden agenda. If something like China actually occurred and acquired the Port and the rail line they will eventually claim their own sovereignty and begin control of the Arctic itself.
By the way our Prime Minister, an ex snow board instructor and part time drama teacher, has fawned over and admired Chairman Mao endlessly. Even erected a statue and park to him in an out of the way place frequented by the politico class. He has demonstrated his inability to be the PM over and over, it is only his name that gave him the leadership. That in itself is alarming.
As I've mentioned previously the Lotto jackpot, currently 39 million, is larger than the cost of repairing the line estImated at 30 million. The Native folk say they can do it for 10. This is not about money, it's something else, the money is an excuse.
So something is really rotten and stinks over this. Our media leans heavily one way and the State broadcaster CBC is simply the mouthpiece for the government. We have a few good columnists here and there, but it is scary. The majority are sheeple. People are waking up, especially since several PR disasters and foolish behaviour.
Thanks for the post.
Balt-- I think DNA shows high % Mongol.
Note: The following quote is from the post[in part] posted by Miningman on Friday, July 20, 2018 5:50 PM, in this topic: "...The Denver-based company [OMNITRAX] bought the Hudson Bay line along with the port of Churchill in 1997. It has been attempting to sell it since May 2017 when it was heavily damaged and rendered unusable by severe flooding.
A tentative deal was in the works with a consortium that includes two groups representing northern communities and First Nations — One North and Missinippi Rail LP, operating together as Missinippi Rail Partners — along with Fairfax Financial Holdings and AGT Food and Ingredients.
That was announced at the end of May but both sides said there remained a number of legal issues to be resolved before the sale — which would leave the new owners with the responsibility for repairs — was finalized.."
A couple of thoughts on this 'situation' come to mind:
First. Omnitrax bought the HBR, and The Port in 1997. It would be interesting to see how much they have spent,"...To make improvement, and maintenace on the railroad(?). Were they just 'holding that asset, and simply, bleeding it of money, (a la a Hedge fund)? And at some point, salvaging out the northern part of the line? That would seem to be a real strategic problem for the Canadian Govt.?
Second. Port of Churchill would be a 'plum' ripe for the Chinese to add their international infrastructure funding projects(?). The HBR, a bonus for them as well? Jimmy Carter opened the doors in 1978 with two treaties that got US out of Panama; in 1999 the Clinton administration lowered the US Flag. Panama [passed their'Neutality act' [law#5], and a Chinese company hutchinson Whampoa 'bought' the two ports of Christobal(Atlantic) and Balboa(Pacific).
See link @ http://eagleforum.org/psr/1999/nov99/psrnov99.html
"...The Carter-Torrijos Treaties, bad as they were, gave the United States the right to defend the Panama Canal militarily. The Chinese leases, however, will make it impossible to do this without directly confronting the Chinese Communist regime.." Just some thoughts, as neither, Canadian or American Governments seem to be able to look over the horizons?
MiningmanYou bet Firelock! The Federal Government is going to be in trouble come election time. However, no one is stepping up and taking charge. Everyone involved wants someone else to pay for it. This requires decisive action. Here's the money, fix it. Here's more money, now get lost. Here's the railroad, run it. I think either the Manitoba govt or Federal should do exactly that and stop all the nonsense. Can you imagine the Chinese stepping in and shipping to and from the Port of Churchill. They would do that in a heartbeat. Unfortunately or fortunately they cannot have majority ownership.
This requires decisive action. Here's the money, fix it. Here's more money, now get lost. Here's the railroad, run it.
I think either the Manitoba govt or Federal should do exactly that and stop all the nonsense.
Can you imagine the Chinese stepping in and shipping to and from the Port of Churchill. They would do that in a heartbeat. Unfortunately or fortunately they cannot have majority ownership.
Aren't the Inuit (First Nations) and Chinese a common people that utilized a land bridge until about 10K years ago?
You bet Firelock! The Federal Government is going to be in trouble come election time. However, no one is stepping up and taking charge. Everyone involved wants someone else to pay for it.
It just goes on and on. Maybe it's not my place to say this as an outsider, but remember this at election time Manitobans, and the rest of you in the other Provinces, next time it could be you.
Depending on how the purchase contract is written we believe OMNITRAX is fully responsible for repairs. They knew or should have known the possible pitfalls of buying the line and should be held responsible up to and including having to go bankrupt. Bet they did not buy catastrophic insurance ?.
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