Dawson Creek, B.C. (Rural Roots Canada) – Regional officials in northeastern B.C. are pushing for better freight rail service, years after part of the network went inactive in 2018. 

The line between Grande Prairie, Alta., and Dawson Creek, B.C., has been out of service since then. 

The change has altered how agricultural products move through the region, with more grain and other commodities now transported by truck. 

Leonard Hiebert, vice-chair of the Peace River Regional District, says the shift from rail to road has had significant impacts. 

“As soon as you take any type of commodity off the rail, it right away is you’re hauling it with trucks,” Hiebert said. “That now affects your road infrastructure. It gets beat up a lot more because you have a lot more trucks on the road.” 

READ MORE: Benefits, Challenges as Farmland Values Continue to Rise

The regional district has joined the Community Rail Advocacy Alliance, a cross-border group working to restore and maintain rail service. Hiebert says the partnership makes sense given that restoring the line would benefit both provinces. 

Rail lines remain active between Fort St. John and Chetwynd, and between Chetwynd and Dawson Creek, continuing to move some grain by rail. 

“All those commodities that they’re currently sending by rail, which is mainly grain now, would have to get hauled,” he said. 

Hiebert says the regional district is still reviewing advocacy work already underway, but expects to have more to report in the coming months. 

He plans to follow up with BC Grain Producers to get a clearer picture of how much product is still moving by rail out of the region. 

“I know the information is there,” he said.