Quebec government eyes purchase of eastern shortline

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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The Quebec government has laid out a plan to buy the Gaspé Railway Company line between Matapédia and Gaspé in the eastern part of the province. Ownership of the line currently belongs to four county municipalities that are served by the line.

 

Since 2007, the Ministry of Transportation of Quebec has awarded more than CA$44.5 million (US$35.75 million) for the maintenance of the rail network in Gaspé, including CA$27 million (US$21.7 million) in the past two years. Between 2007 and 2012, Canada Economic Development has contributed a total of CA$17.5 million (US$14.06 million). Despite the investment, a bankruptcy notice was filed on November 21, 2014 and Quebec said the bankruptcy could be declared as early as March 20.

“[Without government intervention], the risk of losing the railway line and the jobs that depend on it was real. We are now putting every effort to safeguard the future of this economic asset and to promote [the] rail potential of the Gaspé Peninsula,” said Quebec’s Minister of Transport Robert Poëti.

The government would acquire the nearly 202 miles of rail infrastructure between Matapédia and Gaspé and maintain rail operations between Matapédia and Caplan and between L’Anse-à-Beaufils (Percé) and Gaspé. The government would not restore the portion of the network between Caplan and Percé due to the cost prohibitive nature of the repairs given the “low potential traffic,” but the infrastructure would not be dismantled leaving the possibility that the line could be repaired at a later date or used for some other use. The Ministère des Transports du Québec would become owner of the infrastructure and ensure the maintenance of priority portions of the network.

Before moving forward, the government’s proposal must be approved by the Gaspé Railway Company Board of Directors, as well as the four county municipality owners.

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