Alberta Midland Rail Celebrates Important Milestone

Alberta Midland Rail Celebrates Important Milestone

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Alberta Midland Railway Terminal, (AMRT) celebrated an important milestone on Dec. 15 with the official opening of its headquarters in Lamont County.

Located a few kilometres west of the Town of Lamont, the company has operated a rail logistics centre since 2017. AMRT provides services to industrial, energy and agricultural customers.

Some of the services it provides include: custom switching and staging, storage, inspections and onsite safety as well as live rail operations training centre. AMRT continues to expand and completed phase two in 2020.

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk attended the opening and said it was important to recognize that the opening coincides with an important day in Canadian railway history.

Attendees at Dec. 15 event.

(AMRT/Submitted Photo)

“One hundred and twenty-five years ago, on December 15th, 1896, the first ever revenue train, which was run by the Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company went from Gladstone to Dauphin, Manitoba.

That day in December was the first day of business for what is now known as the Canadian Northern Railway. What started as a pioneer short line through Manitoba continued to grow and is now a 9,500-mile transcontinental railway system.

The founders of this railway were visionary Canadians, Sir Donald Mann and Sir William Mackenzie. Their Canadian Northern Railway main line to Edmonton is now a core part of CN’s system that serves shippers in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and Lamont County.”

She pointed out that the Government of Alberta currently has a taskforce that is looking at various ways to improve transportation and energy corridors in order to help get products to world markets. “Through railways, we can bring our goods to tidewater, giving Albertans more bang for their buck. Exploring new potential corridors is a key part of the Alberta Recovery Plan.”

“I look forward to our continued partnerships with the rail services and the AMRT in Lamont County,” said Lamont County Reeve, David Diduck. “Access to rail gives tremendous opportunities for industry in the region.”

“We appreciate having Alberta Midland Rail within Lamont County and the Industrial Heartland, it is a great fit for industry that connects both CP and CN rail lines. It is significant for our County and investors to the region, as the recent expansion increases capacity for rail services. It also provides a place for companies in the Heartland to store rail cars at the terminal,” added Lamont County Communications Coordinator Jay Zaal.