EDMONTON's troubled $C 665m ($US 501.4m) Metro Line light rail project began limited operations on September 6, around 16 months after the line was due to enter service.

CANADIAN transport minister Mrs Lisa Raitt and Mr Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, president and CEO of Via Rail, announced on July 31 that the Canadian government will invest $C 102.5m ($US 77.6m) over two years to improve the safety and efficiency of passenger operations on the 187km Ottawa - Montreal corridor.

CROSSLINX Transit Solutions, the consortium selected in June by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario to finance, build, and maintain Toronto's Eglinton Crosstown light rail line has reached financial close on the $C 5.3bn ($US 4.3bn) project.

TRANSPORT Canada has uncovered serious violations under Canada's Railway Safety Act and the Fisheries Act in connection with the horrific 2013 oil train derailment in Lac-Mégantic.

TORONTO celebrated the launch of its airport rail link on June 6, when Union Pearson Express was inaugurated in the presence of Ontario provincial minister of transportation Mr Steve Del Duca, Canadian minister of tourism, culture and sport Mr Michael Coteau, and Mr Bruce McQuaig, president and CEO of regional transport authority Metrolinx.

CANADIAN national passenger rail operator Via Rail has awarded IVU Traffic Technologies, Germany, a contract to supply resource planning software for duty scheduling and dispatching.

CONSTRUCTION of Toronto's 11km Finch West LRT project will commence in 2017, Ontario's minister of transportation Mr Stephen De Duca announced this week.

CANADIAN Pacific Railway (CP) announced its results for the first three months of 2015 on April 21, revealing the railway achieved its lowest-ever first quarter operating ratio and highest-ever net income for the period.

ONTARIO minister of transportation Mr Seteven Del Duca confirmed on April 21 that the province will fund the entire $C 1.6bn cost of the Hurontario-Main LRT project west of Toronto without assistance from the Canadian government.

CANADIAN National (CN) announced on April 16 that it has launched a $C 500m ($US 410m) programme of infrastructure enhancements with the aim of accommodating rising freight traffic on feeder lines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.