Tshiuetin Rail Transportation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tshiuetin |
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A train at Sept-Îles departing for Schefferville
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| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | North Wind |
| Status | Active |
| Owner | |
| Locale | Quebec and Labrador |
| Coordinates | 53°04′04″N 66°12′11″W / 53.0676959°N 66.2031418°W |
| Termini | Emeril Schefferville |
| Website | www.tshiuetin.net |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| History | |
| Opened | December 1, 2005 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 217 km (135 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. (also known as TSH) is a special railway company in Canada. It owns and runs a train line that is about 217 kilometers (135 miles) long. This line goes through the wild areas of western Labrador and northeastern Quebec.
The railway connects a place called Emeril in Labrador to Schefferville, Quebec. Tshiuetin Rail also runs trains on another 356-kilometer (221-mile) line. This line links Sept-Îles, Quebec to Emeril. What makes this company unique is that it's the first railway in North America owned and operated by Indigenous peoples. It is owned by three Indigenous groups: the Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John, the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, and the Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam.
How the Railway Started
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation runs on a part of the railway called the Menihek Subdivision. This line goes from Emeril Junction all the way to Schefferville. This section of the railway was built between 1951 and 1954.
For many years, this railway was used to transport iron ore from mines. However, in 1983, the iron mine in Schefferville closed down. After that, the main railway company, QNSX, focused more on its line between Sept-Îles and Labrador City. The line to Schefferville then had very little freight service. It mainly offered passenger service for the First Nations communities living in the area. This passenger service was supported by the government.
By 2006, the Canadian government saw that trains were the only way for people to travel to and from Schefferville by land. The old railway company, QNSX, wanted to sell the Menihek Subdivision. But no other railway companies were interested in buying it. That's when three local First Nation councils decided to work together. They formed a new company to buy the railway line.
Becoming an Indigenous-Owned Railway
In 2004, Tshiuetin Rail received a special permit from the Canadian Transportation Agency. This permit allowed them to operate a railway. The company then bought the Menihek Subdivision "as is, where is." This means they bought it in its current condition, without any guarantees.
Tshiuetin Rail agreed to provide all passenger train services. They also offered limited freight services on the line. The company also agreed to run passenger trains on the part of the line still owned by QNSX. This section goes from the port of Sept-Îles to Emeril Junction and then on to Schefferville.
Tshiuetin Rail officially started running trains on December 1, 2005. This happened after an agreement was made between the three First Nations who own Tshiuetin Rail and the owners of the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway (QNSX). As part of this agreement, QNSX sold its Menihek Subdivision for a very small amount of money: just $1.
This agreement was a big step. It made Tshiuetin Rail the first railway line in Canada to be owned by Indigenous peoples.
An Isolated Railway Network
The Tshiuetin railway is part of a unique railway system. This system also includes the QNSX line, Chemin de fer Arnaud, and Wabush Lake Railway. These railways are "isolated," meaning they are not connected to the larger North American railway network. However, there is a special train ferry service run by Compagnie de gestion de Matane. This ferry connects to Sept-Îles, allowing goods to be moved to and from the isolated network.
