The Government of Canada has allocated C$7.4 ($5.5m) to explore the possibility of extending the Dolbeau-Mistassini rail line to boost international trade.
The proposed plan involves extending the line to the rail and marine terminal at Baie-Comeau, a city located approximately 420km north-east of Quebec City.
The project is part of the government’s plan to give companies easy access to a deep sea port in order to boost their international exports.
If found feasible, the project would serve approximately 800 wagons per day in the initial phase. It is expected to generate 105 jobs during construction.
Canada Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said: “Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors.
“We are supporting projects to efficiently move goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient.”
Through its National Trade Corridors Fund, the Canadian Government is investing in projects that generate new overseas trade.
Earlier this month, The Government of Canada announced plans to invest C$20m ($15.1m) to increase rail capacity near Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The project will remove the last section of singletrack within the 40km-long CN rail corridor that links with the Port of Vancouver, and twin approximately 5.6km of Canadian National Railway (CN) tracks.
In August last year, Canada and Quebec’s Government jointly allocated C$12m ($9m) and C$24.1 ($18.1m) respectively for the construction of a rail link over the Mistassini River in Dolbeau-Mistassini.
