Hudson Bay Railway expanding role in western Canada mineral exports

The Arctic Gateway Group (AGG), which operates the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) and the Port of Churchill, is expanding HBR’s role in western Canada’s growing mining and critical minerals sector with the launch of new concentrate shipments from northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

Eldorado Gold Saskatchewan will ship concentrate from northern Saskatchewan to eastern Canada along HBR’s Flin Flon subdivision. In Manitoba, Hudbay Minerals Inc. is shipping zinc concentrate from the company's Snow Lake operations north to the Port of Churchill, where the material is unloaded and prepared for export to European markets, AGG officials said in a press release.

“The Hudson Bay Railway is moving the materials that are helping build Canada’s future economy,” said Chris Avery, CEO of AGG. “The fact that concentrate from a nation-building critical minerals project, who like the Port of Churchill has been identified as a nationally significant project, is about to move on our railway speaks to the improved strength of the railway and growing role the HBR can play in supporting Western Canadian mining, industrial development, and trade diversification.”

The growing industrial activity across the corridor comes as the AGG works with federal and provincial partners, including Canada’s Major Projects Office, on the next phase of modernization for HBR and the Port of Churchill, AGG officials said. The HBR has undergone significant upgrades and rehabilitation work as AGG continues to modernize the railway network. Plans include upgrading the HBR to modern North American industrial weight standards capable of fully interoperating with Canada’s Class I network.