Battle River Railway wheat shipments support rural Alberta

Battle River Railway wheat shipments mark a new chapter in central Alberta: the farmer-owned short line has begun moving grain in partnership with Canadian National (CN), a development reported by Railfan & Railroad.

Battle River Railway wheat shipments shift from truck to rail

For more than a decade, the farmer-owned Battle River Railway has operated a former CN branch line between Camrose and Alliance, handling grain movements, car storage and occasional excursion trains along this rural corridor — a role also noted by industry media such as Railway Supply.

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Earlier this year, the short line teamed up with Westlock Terminals Ltd., the Port of Westlock and CN in a Canadian National and Battle River Railway grain partnership to test a new wheat move, a collaboration described by Progressive Railroading.

The partners organized a five-car wheat test run that replaced what had been a 140-mile truck haul for Rosalind to Westlock wheat transport. Previously, grain traveled by road from an elevator in Rosalind to the terminal in Westlock, but after the purchase of a wheat unloader for rail shipments, truck-to-rail grain shipments in central Alberta became possible. As a result, the inaugural five-car move on Battle River Railway took 11 truckloads off local highways.

Alberta short line railroad benefits farmers and communities

Looking ahead, the Alberta short line railroad anticipates handling about five cars of wheat per month under this arrangement. General Manager Matthew Enright told Progressive Railroading that the new traffic is a win for the railroad, its shippers and the community that depends on them.

He noted that when local organizations coordinate around shared values and community-driven goals, they create lasting opportunities that benefit farmers, strengthen rural economies and support the future of agriculture in Alberta.

In this context, Battle River Railway wheat shipments show how a farmer-owned short line working with CN can use rail to serve local grain producers more efficiently.

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