Manitoba Trains

The province of Manitoba in Canada hosts two major freight railways, one passenger railway, one tourist railway and several shortline railways.

Class 1 Railways in Manitoba

CN in Winnipeg, Manitoba
CN in Winnipeg, Manitoba

CN operates in Manitoba through their main line stretching east-west through Winnipeg, as well as the Letellier subdivision south from Winnipeg to the US border to interchange with BNSF. CN’s “Prairie North Line” runs west from Portage la Prairie through Gladstone, Dauphin and into Saskatchewan.

CP’s operations in Manitoba consist of their main line running through Winnipeg, as well as branch line operations in southern Manitoba and short runs of track north of Winnipeg.

Manitoba Short Line Railways

CEMR passing the Sanford, Manitoba grain elevator
CEMR passing the Sanford, Manitoba grain elevator

There are several short line railroads in Manitoba.

Passenger Rail in Manitoba

VIA Rail's Canadian leaving Winnipeg
VIA Rail’s Canadian leaving Winnipeg

VIA Rail operates three trains in Manitoba:

  • The transcontinental Canadian between Vancouver and Toronto, with stops in Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie and Rivers
  • The Winnipeg-Churchill train VIA 692/693, formerly known as the Hudson Bay
  • VIA 290/291 between The Pas and Pukatawagan, on the Keewatin Railway

Tourist Railways

Prairie Dog Central #3 at Warren, MB
Prairie Dog Central #3 at Warren, MB

The sole Manitoba tourist railroad is the Prairie Dog Central, operating on the former CN Oak Point subdivision in the northwest section of Winnipeg. They operate using a steam engine and several diesel locomotives.

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