Transport Canada and the Government of Ontario announced an investment of up to $21 million under the National Trade Corridors Fund to the Huron Central Railway Inc. for an infrastructure investment in Northern Ontario. Combined with contributions from Huron Central Railway Inc., the total investment in the project is $31.5 million.
The funding will support the rehabilitation of key rail infrastructure to improve the usable life of the track and support Huron Central Railway Inc. in sustaining operations as a viable freight service between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. Improving railway infrastructure will increase the fluidity and reliability of rail service for Northern Ontario while reducing the travel time of railcar traffic.
“Improvements to the Huron Central Railway infrastructure between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury is essential to Northern Ontario. The collaboration developed between the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and Huron Central Railway Inc. to upgrade the railway is a positive example of how we can come together to build fluid and reliable internal trade corridors,” said Omar Alghabra , Minister of Transport.
This investment will have important benefits for the region, such as increasing carload volumes in commodity sectors, relieving ongoing supply chain congestion, and improving the reliability of rail service in Northern Ontario.
“The rail corridor between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury is a vital supply chain link for many local businesses. I am glad to see the work of many has paid off, protecting the jobs at Huron Central Railway and other local business that depend on this important piece of infrastructure in Northern Ontario,” said Ross Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie.
The Governments of Canada and Ontario are investing to help bolster economic capacity and the opportunities for our businesses to expand into global markets. This represents a long-term commitment to work with stakeholders and partners on strategic infrastructure projects to address transportation bottlenecks, vulnerabilities, and congestion along important trade corridors.
“Genesee & Wyoming is proud of the critical role that the Huron Central Railway (HCRY) plays in supporting the Northern Ontario economy. These essential infrastructure investments from the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario will ensure that HCRY can continue to serve our communities, securing our customers’ access to vital supply chains,” said Rick McLellan, president, Genesee & Wyoming Canada.
Featured image: Transport Canada
