CANADA: SYSTRA Canada has begun a Hudson Bay Railway capacity study to identify infrastructure upgrades needed for heavier trains and growing freight traffic to the Port of Churchill.

Railway inspectors assessing Hudson Bay Railway track and bridge infrastructure
Railway specialists inspecting Hudson Bay Railway infrastructure in northern Manitoba. Illustrative photo. Photo: SYSTRA.

SYSTRA Canada was selected by Hudson Bay Railway and Arctic Gateway Group to assess the corridor’s current capacity and develop potential improvement scenarios, according to a SYSTRA announcement. The work will identify upgrades needed to bring the infrastructure toward modern industrial weight standards and improve its connection with Canada’s Class 1 rail network.

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Nearly 969 km of railway will be examined

The work begins with a 140 km assessment of the Flin Flon Subdivision between Flin Flon and The Pas, Manitoba. A separate study will subsequently examine another 828.812 km of railway extending to the Port of Churchill. Across the programme, SYSTRA will assess track, bridges and hydraulic structures, identify capacity constraints, develop improvement scenarios and estimate the required investment.

The engineering work itself follows two stages: a preliminary corridor assessment identifying critical areas, followed by detailed technical analysis and a prioritized improvement programme.

Why community ownership matters

Arctic Gateway Group, which owns both Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill — the only deep-water Arctic port connected to the North American rail network — represents 29 First Nations and 12 northern communities. Since 2018, the Canadian government has provided more than C$320 million to support the acquisition, restoration and maintenance of the two assets, following the catastrophic 2017 flooding that interrupted rail service.

The capacity study also supports the broader Port of Churchill Plus strategy, which proposes upgrading Hudson Bay Railway to Class 1 standards alongside port expansion, marine icebreaking capacity, an all-weather road and a potential energy corridor.

What to watch

Watch for the preliminary corridor assessment to identify the railway’s most restrictive track, bridge and drainage assets. The study will recommend and cost potential upgrades, but Arctic Gateway Group has not yet announced a construction programme, funding package or completion schedule for the resulting work.

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