Transport links into the Port of Vancouver are slowly recovering following catastrophic flooding and landslides that hit the region earlier in November.
In a 23 November operations update, the Port of Vancouver wrote that rail and highway infrastructure restoration work has re-established some of the key connections between the British Columbia (BC) interior and the west coast.
On rail operations, Canada Pacific (CP) operated two trains on their mainline between Vancouver and Kamloops to enable engineering teams to perform full infrastructure inspections and undertake additional repairs.
At the time of writing the Port anticipated that the restored line would reopen for the start of regular rail service later on Tuesday 23 November.
“Both CP and Canada National (CN) trains will transit over the restored line and will operate with slow orders in place and additional track patrols,” the port wrote.
CN has revised their estimated opening of their mainline from 24 November to 25 November.
On highways, truck operations at all four container terminals remain steady.
Reconstruction and repairs continue on major roadways impacted by flooding throughout the BC interior.
Restored highway routes include detours, intermittent closures and essential traffic-only restrictions.
Hapag-Lloyd wrote in a customer advisory that Highways 7, 99, 3 are now open for essential travel only. Highway 5 remains closed.
For marine operations, anchorage demand remains high across all vessel types.
“The provincial state of emergency declared by the British Columbia Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General remains in place,” the port added.
The state of emergency effective 17 November 2021 applies to the entire province of BC for an initial 14-day period and may be extended or rescinded as conditions require.
