CN shuts down eastern rail network, Via service due to anti-pipeline blockades

OTTAWA – Canadian National Railway Co. says it must shut down its entire train network in Eastern Canada due to protesters blockades.

The company says that means stopping all transcontinental trains across its Canadian network and it may lead to temporary layoffs for eastern Canadian staff.

Via Rail says that also means shutting all its passenger service in Canada, which mostly uses CN track.

CN Rail says in a statement it has sought and obtained court orders and requested the assistance of enforcement agencies for the blockades in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.

It says while the blockades have been dismantled in Manitoba and may be ending imminently in B.C., the court order in Ontario has yet to be enforced and continues to be ignored.

Protesters across Canada have said they’re acting in solidarity with those opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline, which crosses the traditional territories of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in northern B.C.

(The Canadian Press)