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Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the federal government and province of Manitoba will jointly provide $40 million for upgrades to the Hudson Bay Railway Co.'s line between The Pas and Churchill, Manitoba.

The federal and provincial governments also appropriated $8 million for Port of Churchill improvements.

OmniTRAX Inc. — which owns the 810-mile short line and port — agreed to spend $20 million to improve the Hudson Bay line.

The track upgrades will help prevent derailments and maintenance disruptions on the line, which also is used by VIA Rail Canada Inc.

The port upgrades will help the Churchill facility “expand business,” said Harper in a prepared statement. Currently, the port is only open four months a year, when Hudson Bay isn't iced over.