Kelowna Pacific Railway
Encyclopedia
Kelowna Pacific Railway is a shortline
railway, formerly a Canadian National Railway
line which is now leased by Knighthawk Rail. The KPR’s line runs from Kelowna
to Kamloops through the Okanagan Valley. Operations started on 30 January 2000.
The mainline track is 167.7 km (104.2 mi), with an additional 10.3 km (6.4 mi) of associated spurs and sidings. In addition 41.2 km (25.6 mi) of running rights of Canadian Pacific Railway
are held by KPR. It connects with CN's Kamloops Rail Yard. In between Vernon
and Armstrong
/Lumby
, the Canadian Pacific Railway
shares the line with the KPR, although no trains are currently run by CPR along that line.
Currently CPR plans to abandon their line from Armstrong to Sicamous, but it is unclear whether KPR will take over the line.
If KPR takes over operations on the former CPR line from Armstrong to Sicamous, there will be two more potential customers:
ShortLine
Short Line is a brand name for three different Coach USA companies, Hudson Transit Lines, Hudson Transit Corporation, and Chenango Valley Bus Lines that provide local, commuter and intercity bus service in lower New York State, primarily along the Route 17 and Southern Tier corridor.-Service...
railway, formerly a Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
line which is now leased by Knighthawk Rail. The KPR’s line runs from Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
to Kamloops through the Okanagan Valley. Operations started on 30 January 2000.
The mainline track is 167.7 km (104.2 mi), with an additional 10.3 km (6.4 mi) of associated spurs and sidings. In addition 41.2 km (25.6 mi) of running rights of Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
are held by KPR. It connects with CN's Kamloops Rail Yard. In between Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
and Armstrong
Armstrong, British Columbia
The City of Armstrong is located in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Vernon and Enderby. It overlooks the Spallumcheen Valley, which forms a broad pass between the Okanagan Valley to the south and the Shuswap Country to the north, and is about from each of...
/Lumby
Lumby, British Columbia
Lumby is a small community of 1,804, located at the northeast corner of the Okanagan Valley, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is mainly a logging, manufacturing and agriculture community, but tourism is a growing trend within the area....
, the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
shares the line with the KPR, although no trains are currently run by CPR along that line.
Currently CPR plans to abandon their line from Armstrong to Sicamous, but it is unclear whether KPR will take over the line.
Operations
KPR transports over 16,000 carloads per year. Most of the goods transported by KPR are wood products; although grain, cement, scrap metal and industrial products can be seen. Currently KPR runs trains 5 days per week and their schedule is as follows:- Kelowna: Monday and Wednesday (Trains stay overnight and return to Vernon on Tuesday and Thursday)
- Lumby: Tuesday and Friday
- Kamloops: Can run any day of the week as needed
Customers
- Tolko Industries, Kelowna Division (Kelowna - lumber)
- Sun-Rype (Kelowna - fruits and fruit products, beverages)
- OK Builders Supplies (Kelowna - building materials)
- Knox Mountain Metals (Kelowna - scrap metal)
- Action Metals (Kelowna - scrap metal)
- Superior Propane (Kelowna - propane)
- Ashland Canada (Lake Country - industrial chemicals)
- Tolko Industries, Winfield Reload (Lake Country - lumber)
- Coldstream Lumber (Coldstream - lumber)
- Tolko Industries, Lavington Division (Lavington - lumber)
- Tolko Industries, Whitevalley Division (Lumby - veneer)
- Rogers Flour (Armstrong - grain)
- Tolko Industries, Armstrong Division (Armstrong - lumber and plywood)
- Unifeed (Armstrong - feedgrains and seed)
If KPR takes over operations on the former CPR line from Armstrong to Sicamous, there will be two more potential customers:
- Okanagan Fertilizer (Enderby)
- Sure Crop Feeds (Grindrod)