Gaspé Line rehabilitation advances with a key December reopening

Gaspé Line rehabilitation is moving forward in Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula railway corridor, with another section returning to service in December, as reported by Railfan & Railroad. The latest step in the Matapedia to Gaspé rail line rebuild came with the reopening between Caplan and Port-Daniel–Gascons.

Gaspé Line rehabilitation: what the project is restoring

The 202-mile route from Matapedia to Gaspé, Que., dates back to the early 20th century and is often described as one of the most scenic rail lines in eastern Canada. CN operated the corridor until the 1990s, when it was spun off to a short line. VIA Rail passenger service continued into the 2010s, but was suspended after track issues emerged.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Today, the western portion is operated by Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie (Gaspésie Railway Society). Even so, trains have not traveled all the way to Gaspé for more than a decade.

Caplan to Port-Daniel–Gascons reopening brings back about 45 miles

In recent years, the government has invested millions to reopen the railway line for both freight and passenger services, as noted in an official government release. The Caplan to Port-Daniel–Gascons reopening in early December restored roughly 45 miles of track, returning the latest segment of the Gaspé Peninsula railway Quebec work to operation.

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Reactivating that stretch required several steps: contractors rebuilt 13 bridges, widened a tunnel, and in three locations relocated the rail line to avoid coastal erosion — a challenge also described by Railway Gazette International. With trains now able to run to Port-Daniel, Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie can directly serve a cement plant.

Timeline for the Matapedia–Gaspé railway reopening

Government officials have said they hope to have the entire line to Gaspé rebuilt by 2027, completing the wider Matapedia–Gaspé railway reopening plan for both freight and passenger services.

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