Quebec contracts CANARAIL to study proposed iron-ore rail line

Province of Quebec officials have contracted CANARAIL to perform the first phase of a feasibility study on the development of a 190-mile, iron-ore rail line from Sept-Iles to the Labrador Trough.

A Quebec-based rail consulting and engineering firm, CANARAIL will serve as the prime contractor for the study, which will cover the project's technical, economic and financial aspects. A final report is expected at 2015's end.

The province recently allocated up to $20 million in its 2014-15 budget to fund the feasibility study, which would help determine if a new rail line should be built or capacity should be expanded on an existing rail line between iron-ore mines and the Port of Sept-Iles to help miners better serve international markets. The Labrador Trough hosts one of the world’s largest iron-ore accumulations, with annual production totaling about 50 million tons.

"[We] have the necessary expertise to actively participate in the development of this vast territory rich in natural resources," said CANARAIL President and Chief executive Officer Miguel Valero in a press release.

The study will consider the concerns of all potential users to ensure the creation of a multi-user rail system favoring joint investment, according to provincial officials.