by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Aug 06/97) - OmniTrax's top brass, joined by Churchill's Mayor Mike Spence and Geoff Armitstead, director for NTCL's Keewatin operations were on tour in the region last week listening to the cargo and fuel resupply concerns of Keewatin residents.

"What they wanted to do was come North, introduce themselves to the community, the people, business people to assure them that there is a railroad to Churchill and that railroad is going to remain and become a viable railroad," said Geoff Armitstead, last Thursday.

OmniTrax officials visited six Kivalliq communities. They failed to make it to Chesterfield Inlet because they had to fly to Denver, Colorado, their base, to continue negotiations for the takeover of the Port of Churchill.

The U.S. firm, which currently manages 11 short-line companies in the U.S., purchased the rail line between The Pas and Churchill from CN earlier this year following nine months of negotiations with the Manitoba and federal governments. The Port of Churchill is expected to be handed over in the near future.

NTCL, which has been in the Keewatin since 1975, has promised to work alongside OmniTrax to try and improve the overall services to the Keewatin and to make sure that service is maintained.

"One of the things that we were very happy to hear from OmniTrax was that they realized there were problems with the rail system before and they're going to do everything possible to correct those problems," Armitstead said.

"They also realize how important it is that the trains meet up with the barges to ensure the cargo gets to the site on time."

When OmniTrax takes control of the Churchill resupply, it plans to go full steam ahead with plans to upgrade the rail system and the port. They've already renamed the railway line and port calling it the Hudson Bay Railway and the Hudson Bay Port.

The company will have a few bumps to smooth out before they improve the system.

It has to repair old rail lines CN appeared to have let go over the years.

Over the past year there have been three incidents in which CN lines were shut down due to poor track conditions in northern Manitoba. Recently rough track conditions are believed to have caused a six-car derailment near Gillam, Man.

"One of the things they mentioned is they've already spent a million dollars in just buying new railroad ties that are going to be replaced in the next couple of years. They've opened up a ballast pit for putting new rock into the road bend and track repair equipment is all ready to go at The Pas," he said.

"They are going to spend a lot of time, money and effort bringing that track up to standards."

Besides extensive track work, the port is also getting a facelift. Over the next two to four years they intend to repair the docks, dredge the harbor to make way for bigger ships and upgrade the elevators.

Specifically when OmniTrax will be up and running in Churchill is hard to say, said Armitstead.

"They're ready to go. Hour by hour it could take place at any time and the minute they are given the go-ahead they'll be in operation."

The Keewatin probably won't see any changes this year because it's late in the season but next years, OmniTrax promises that residents can look forward to better service than they've had it the past.

"OmniTrax wants to assure there are cars available, you can pick up the phone and phone a number in The Pas and get a rate. They want to look at the whole rate structure and see what can be done with it," Armitstead said.

"They are looking at other possibilities of trucking materials from Winnipeg to The Pas and then loading it on a train, which would reduce rates. They're very willing to look at the possibility of setting up a freight terminal at The Pas to do the transfer and the handling," he said.

"They're looking at the possibility of container service, which means less handling less damages and you load your product in Winnipeg, the doors are locked, they deliver it to your door."