The Manitoba government is taking another step toward potentially moving freight train traffic out of Winnipeg’s urban core. A newly launched feasibility study and consultation with primary stakeholders will assess the costs and benefits of a proposed southern bypass that would relocate the railway and train yards into Manitoba Hydro’s transmission corridor at the southern edge of the city.

This comes after the provincially appointed advisor, Lloyd Axworthy, conducted an initial study and recommended the route, which is favoured because it’s on Crown land that is already cleared, serviced and readily available for use. He’ll also lead the next phase of the investigation, which has been scoped to 90 days with a mandate to confer with rail operators, Manitoba Hydro, municipal and Indigenous governments, the business community, shippers and other rail customers.

“Lloyd Axworthy has spent his career seeing possibilities for Winnipeg and creating opportunities to realize those visions, which is why we chose him to lead this study,” says Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. “This is a historic opportunity to move freight out of the urban core.”

Proponents suggest that’s both an opportunity to reduce risk and improve the environment for existing residential neighbourhoods in close proximity to current freight traffic, and to free up centrally located lands for housing, green space and other kinds of economic development. The proposed new alignment is also judged to be a good fit with the trimodal (air, road, rail) logistics and shipping hub, CentrePort Canada, and east-west and north-south trade connections.

Axworthy is expected to consider requirements for practically and safely co-accommodating hydro infrastructure and rail operations, and to gauge the potential relocation costs. As well, he will examine the feasibility of adding a green belt alongside the rail and hydro corridor.

“This is an opportunity to think ahead about the kind of city we want Winnipeg to become,” Axworthy maintains. “We have a chance to plan for growth in a way that brings communities together, protects the land around us and leaves future generations a stronger, more connected city.”