Photo by Vince Fedoroff
NO RECURRENCE IN 2022 – A White Pass and Yukon Route is seen in September 2018 in Carcross.
Trains to remain on Alaska side of border
The White Pass and Yukon Route railway has once again cancelled its cross-border tours for the year.
The White Pass and Yukon Route railway has once again cancelled its cross-border tours for the year.
A statement has been posted on the company’s website with the announcement.
“After months of working towards restoring the Carcross and Fraser Train Service Combination, we unfortunately must announce that we are unable to provide these offerings for the 2022 Season,” the statement reads.
“We have delayed this difficult decision for several months in the hopes that we could find a workable solution for all involved and provide passenger service on these international routes.
“The challenges of logistics, restrictions, and uncertainty around wait times would have made it impossible for us to provide a consistent high quality service without delays and would create significant disruption to the passenger experience.”
The company added it appreciated the efforts to come up with a solution to the problem.
“We respect and appreciate the time and efforts of our communities, staff, partners, customers, and governmental agencies at all levels in both Canada and the United States over the last year to try to bring this to fruition.
“Though we could not complete the task in time for this season, we will continue to work together towards restoring this service for 2023.”
The Star reached out to the company for further comment this week but has been unsuccessful so far.
The company has not operated from the Canadian side of the border since the summer of 2019.
The Yukon government has worked in partnership with a Border Working Group.
It’s been comprised of the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Border Services Agency and many tourism industry stakeholders, with the goal of resolving challenges around the Yukon’s international border restrictions.
“I am immensely proud of the results achieved by the Border Working Group to streamline international crossings as we look forward to a strong recovery for the Yukon’s tourism sector,” Tourism and Culture Minister Ranj Pillai said Thursday.
“While we are disappointed that the train will not be resuming service to Carcross and Fraser this summer, it is great to see that visitors in our territory will continue to be able to reach our communities and experience all that the Yukon has to offer.”
Skagway is anticipating the return of cruise ships carrying approximately 1.2 million passengers this summer, many of whom are expected to take land excursions into the Yukon.
Cruise ship passengers in Skagway will still be able to take land excursions and travel by bus to Carcross.
As well, Holland America Lines will still operate their Yukon Land and Sea Journey cruise tours through the territory, including stops in Whitehorse and Dawson City.
Regular rail service between Skagway and Whitehorse ended in 1982 after the Faro lead-zinc mine began a four-year shutdown. Concentrates had been trucked to Whitehorse and loaded onto trains bound for Skagway.
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Comments (12)
Up 10 Down 11
Mitch Holder on Apr 13, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Should probably change the name too, according to some CBC freelance opinion columnists amongst us locally, the name White Pass implies white colonialism and should be replaced by a more sexually inclusive name like Yukon Rendezvous Route or Daffodil Way.
Up 4 Down 1
Jack on Apr 12, 2022 at 10:00 pm
@ North_of_60, the summit loop is actually inside Canada and built by Yukon firm.
Up 7 Down 1
One possible solution on Apr 12, 2022 at 8:05 pm
We just flew back to Canada. Before getting on the plane, airline staff checked our Arrivecan information to make sure it was complete. White Pass could do the same in Skagway, with little effort, and streamline the process at Fraser.
Up 16 Down 2
Sheepchaser on Apr 12, 2022 at 8:11 am
Great example of what happens when a successful company has to choose between a slight increase in overall profit at the cost of dealing with our governments. And in this case, the tracks are already laid. Speaks volumes.
Up 17 Down 2
North_of_60 on Apr 12, 2022 at 12:34 am
Nearly all the passengers on the train rides don't care if they cross the border into Canada or not. The most spectacular scenery is between Skagway and the Summit. The recently constructed Summit Loop eliminates the need to cross the border and go to Fraser to turn the train around. WP&YR can make the most revenue with the Summit excursion, and more quickly get the passengers back to town where they can shop before boarding the ship to sail on.
Up 11 Down 7
Jeff Bikaboom on Apr 11, 2022 at 4:12 pm
“The challenges of logistics, restrictions, and uncertainty around wait times would have made it impossible for us to provide a consistent high quality service"
There are 600 people per train, sometimes 2 trains per day. For each of these trains, if there are two border guards checking passports and vaccination status, and they need 1 minute for each person, they will need 5 hours to check everyone.
Even if there was 10 border guards and they could check each person for passports and vaccination status in 30 seconds it would still take half an hour if everything was perfect and there was zero complications or additional questions needed.
White Pass is owned by Blackstone so not one, other than maybe Bill Gates who is a major partner, should care if they are profitable or losing business. But does this hurt the Yukon? It probably hurts the 6 ice cream shops in Carcross.
If Yukoners are being hurt by the restrictions at border crossings perhaps they should have joined the trucker convoy protests. The only way to fix the wait times, other than just not checking vaccination status, is to microchip everyone and scan them like you would a sea can arriving at a port.
Up 10 Down 4
comen sense on Apr 11, 2022 at 11:27 am
Our Great governments back 15 years ago I think it was the NDP had a parcel of land by Dyea they purchased by the water specifically for our own Yukon port for exporting goods but one of our great governments sold it.
Up 12 Down 5
Moose101@ on Apr 11, 2022 at 7:08 am
There was no way that Canada Customs could process a trainload of people in a timely manner when all of them had to show there arrive Canada App to the officers there. That being said they are going to have problems with bus loads what do they do if just one person on the bus doesn’t have all their paper work in order - kick him off the bus and tell them to hitch hike back to Skagway.?
Up 28 Down 18
motive unclear on Apr 9, 2022 at 12:09 pm
Did you think we were joking about lowering your carbon footprint?
your friends,
the liberals
Up 18 Down 7
iBrian on Apr 8, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Minto ships 3 trucks a day on average. At 49,900 kg payload per truck.
There's more then enough work for the trains.
Nope, drop shipping containers in Vancouver and truck up.
Up 24 Down 23
Stefan on Apr 8, 2022 at 7:36 pm
Thanks Liberals!
Up 64 Down 6
YD on Apr 8, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Sad.