UPDATE: CN reopens Alberta Main Line after forest fire

Updated: July 26, 11 a.m. Mountain Time

By Justin Franz

Canadian National reopened its main line through Alberta on Friday morning, two days after a wildfire swept through the resort town of Jasper, forcing the freight railroad to suspend operations and impacting passenger services on VIA Rail Canada and Rocky Mountaineer.

On Monday, the town of Jasper was evacuated because several forest fires were raging nearby. Then on Wednesday evening, one of these fires reached the town in dramatic fashion. On Thursday, the extent of the damage was still unclear, but Mayor Richard Ireland reported that the destruction was “indescribable and unfathomable.”

Earlier this week, CN closed its main line through Jasper but was able to reopen it briefly on Wednesday afternoon. However, when the fire reached town a few hours later, the rail line had to be closed again. Ashley Michnowski, a spokeswoman for CN, said the situation was “dynamic” and changing rapidly.

“Initial reports indicate that the wildfires have caused significant damage in the city. We stand in solidarity with the community where many of our CN team members and their families live,” she said. “CN is coordinating its work with the Unified Command Centre and is in contact with all parties responding to this incident. We will continue to closely monitor weather and fire changes.”

While the main line was closed, some high priority trains were diverted south via CPKC’s main line. Although there are reports that CN lost some buildings in Jasper, it appears that the depot and platform used by VIA were not damaged.

Jasper is a stopover for VIA’s flights from Toronto to Vancouver Canadian and it is the origin of its services in Price George and Prince Rupert. VIA announced that Canadian Service between Vancouver and Edmonton has been suspended until at least next week. Trains 5 and 6 (Jasper to Prince George and Prince Rupert) will not run between Jasper and Prince George for the remainder of the week and will be cancelled completely until next week. Rocky Mountaineer The tour train also announced that it would not operate to Jasper until further notice. Instead, passengers would be rebooked on tours to Banff and Lake Louise along the CPKC route.

It could take days to determine the true extent of the damage in Jasper, especially as fires continue to rage throughout the town. One building that reportedly survived was the Jasper Park Lodge, a historic railroad hotel built by CN in the 1920s.