
A foremost Canadian rail company is shutting trans-continental train services in the midst of blockades descending a pipeline in British Columbia.
CN Rail says it will be strained to close down their eastern networks that will stop all freight trains across the country, as a matter of fact.
The strike will impact the passenger trains all over the nation, which deploys CN tracks.
No less than 150 routes have been called off before, due to protests against the coastal gaslink pipeline.
Blockades against future pipeline, that Justin Trudeau deems to stimulate natural gas export, commenced last week.
Indigenous Canadian land is the cut through route.
The train stoppage is regarded “regrettable” scenario as stated by chief executive of CN, JJ Ruest, but “beyond our control”.
Mr. Ruest said, “Our shutdown will be progressive and methodical to ensure that we are well set up for recovery, which will come when the illegal blockades end completely”.
About 5 million Canadian travelers’ use the intercity rail services, mostly owned by CN. Thousands are urged to find alternative mode of traveling.
CN said the blockade might lead to layoffs for the interim.
Prime Minister Trudeau vowed chief blockade leaders to reach a solution. He wrote “As you know, our government has been clear that there is no more important relationship to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous peoples”.
The 670 km long gaslink pipeline ships natural gas from North Eastern region of the province to the coast.
The C$6bn project in far-off region of the province has been in progress since 2012. About 28 percent of pipeline route is through Wet’suwet’en lands.
Coastal gaslink said it has reached solution with about 20 indigenous councils elected over the route to proceed construction, including Wet’suwet’en councils.
But the Wet’suwet’en chief oppose this, maintaining that authority of the traditional lands rest with the community’s elected officials. They have raised concerns against the project as it will cause pollution and dangerous for wild life.
Activists have put up camps near the proposed pipelines for years to deny access to construction. All across the Canada, followers of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief are protesting. Police cleared up the camps in February, following law courts decision. In the mean time, further camps have been erected to show solidarity with dissidents, disrupting rail services and ports.–Worldwide News