WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is taking another look at the possibility of moving freight rail traffic away from central Winnipeg and onto a route south of the city.
The province has announced a 90-day feasibility study and consultation process led by Lloyd Axworthy to determine how realistic it would be to shift freight traffic onto a corridor that would run alongside existing Manitoba Hydro infrastructure.
The initiative builds on a previous rail relocation study that Axworthy was asked to lead in 2024. The new work will examine the practical potential of the southern route and gather input as the province considers the next steps.
Supporters of relocating Winnipeg’s rail lines have long argued that moving freight traffic away from residential areas could improve public safety, particularly by reducing the movement of hazardous materials through densely populated neighbourhoods.
Rail relocation advocates have also pointed to the opportunity to remove major rail yards that currently act as physical barriers between communities, potentially changing how neighbourhoods connect across the city.
The proposal is far from new. The idea of relocating Winnipeg’s rail infrastructure has been discussed since the 1960s, although the scale of the project remains a major challenge.
Previous estimates have placed the potential cost at well above $1 billion, making the feasibility study an important step in determining whether such a large-scale rail bypass could eventually become reality.
