Société du chemin de fer de la Gaspésie, or the Gaspésie Railway Society, ran its first train from New Richmond to Port Daniel, Que., in more than a decade on January 7.
The Province of Quebec has been spending millions of dollars to reopen the 200-mile-long former Canadian National line along the Gaspé Peninsula. In December, track work was completed on the section of rail line between Caplan and Port-Daniel, a distance of 45 miles. With the line to Port-Daniel now open, the short line can now serve a cement plant.
Originally built in the early 20th century, the 202-mile line from Matapedia to Gaspé, Que., is arguably one of the most scenic in eastern Canada. CN operated the line until the 1990s, when it was spun off to a short line. Passenger service, provided by VIA Rail, continued into the 2010s but was suspended after track issues arose.
—Justin Franz


