In an effort to improve transport time and to be more efficient, Canadian National Railway announced last Tuesday that they will invest $10 million in improvements to the Lac La Biche line extending to Fort McMurray.
Considered to be a valuable line for CN since it connects Fort McMurray and its natural resources to the rest of the province and their North American customers, the railway line will see sidings added to the tracks to allow expected trains to pass one another.
But where the exact improvements will be done hasn’t been decided yet, said Mark Hallman, Director of Communications with CN, adding that the improvements will help the transport of raw materials like petroleum, coke and sulphur go along smoother.
“The additional sidings will help dispatch trains on the line,” he said.
CN says they have seen a substantial increase in the number of trains passing through Lac La Biche and going to Fort McMurray in recent years.
“It certainly is an important line,” said Hallman.
Talks between CN and Lac La Biche County on possibly moving the switching yards out of town are still ongoing, according to CN spokesperson Warren Chandler, who would not specify what the discussions entail or when a decision will be made.
The railway tracks have been an ongoing issue in the community, with many residents feeling like the train yard creates an unnecessary barrier through the middle of the community. The train crossings and the railyard have been a concern to area residents for several years. The current discussions are the latest in a long history of talks.