Frigid weather halts Winnipeg-Churchill train service

VIA Rail has stopped selling tickets for trains between Winnipeg and Churchill for fear the extreme cold may cause equipment failure.

Thursday evening's northbound train leaving Winnipeg for Churchill has been cancelled, though VIA's southbound train between the two cities will run as scheduled.

VIA has also cancelled Saturday's train from Winnipeg to Churchill.

VIA spokeswoman Catherine Kaloutsky said the extreme cold temperatures across the Prairies prompted the temporary suspension of service.

"It's very taxing on the equipment," she said. "Under these types of extreme conditions we don't like to take the chance — we like to have a second locomotive. We don't at this point in time have a second locomotive we can attach to that train."

VIA has been contacting ticket holders to see if they can change their travel plans and delay their trips.

"In the event that they have no flexibility to change their travel plans and it is possible to get alternate transportation to the location they were going to — in most cases that would be a charter or a bus service — then we would make arrangements for them to be transported by bus," she said.

Temperatures in Churchill were expected to fall to -41 C Thursday evening.