Southern railway to get $28M
Published Tuesday July 7th, 2009
Big boost | Railway connects to markets
Details of a $28-million deal to improve rail lines in southern New Brunswick will be made public this morning in McAdam.
The Daily Gleaner has learned that NB Southern Railway Ltd.'s main track from Saint John to the New Brunswick-Maine border in McAdam, as well as its line to St. Stephen will be upgraded under the deal.
That will help the railway, which is owned by J.D. Irving, Ltd., increase its payloads.
NB Southern Railway bills itself as a short line with a long line of connections.
Much of the railway's 364 kilometres of rail go into central Maine. Connections at Brownville Junction and Mattawamkeag provide access to Bangor and Boston. In turn, connections in those centres provide access across North America.
This morning's announcement, which is being held at the McAdam Railway Station, will be attended by Premier Shawn Graham, Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson on behalf of the federal government, and Jim Irving, president of NB Southern Railway Ltd.
An enhanced rail system would also help to improve the Port of Saint John's position as a gateway for products headed to Canada and the United States.
The Saint John Port Authority has identified a stronger rail service as a priority for increasing the port's competitiveness because of the link NB Southern Railway provides to the United States and to Canadian centres such as Montreal and Toronto.
Making the rail system more competitive with other places is key to attracting cargo that's moving inland or heading to port from inland, the port authority's CEO, Capt. Al Soppitt, said in May.
The railway transports materials such as lumber, pulp and paper, automobiles, chemicals such as calcium chloride, liquid products, grains, gypsum and other products.
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Comments (8)
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If it creates jobs for New Brunswick residents who in turn pay taxes, it makes good sense.
Ask yourself this, if it was not owned by Irving would you have such an objection? No, you would not. I think your comments are based on jealousy which is very childish.
Mr. Graham your actions in the last few months leaves me with the impression you really must think we are a bunch idiots in this province.
As far as fixing the roads I am pretty sure at the rate DOT is going right now every road should be repaved by 2011. Infrastructure, shovel ready, make jobs, yada yada yada.
Too bad there wasn't any province wide passenger rail to serve the public.
Drive through energy hub province sans reasonable tariffs and tolls. Brilliant Provincial strategy. Why would anyone want to stop here? Oh right that mythical "quality of life" that nowhere else could possibly have. Not bad, but not really anything to brag about.