Environment and Climate Change
February 16, 2017

Working Together to Achieve Common Goals

T'Railway Provincial Park Open to Snow Enthusiasts

Through the cooperative efforts of the Departments of Environment and Climate Change, and Transportation and Works, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation (NLSF), interim repairs to the T'Railway Provincial Park have now been completed. The last section of T'Railway, in the vicinity of Glenwood to Gander, is now open. Assessments, interim repairs and grooming were undertaken by NLSF as short-term measures in order to allow snowmobiling enthusiasts access to the T'Railway for the remainder of the winter 2017 season.

"I was very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet, identify solutions and implement repair options that addressed the needs of community officials, snowmobilers and the tourism industry. The collaboration has resulted in critical portions of the T'Railway now being accessible for the rest of the 2017 snowmobile season."
- The Honourable Perry Trimper, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Portions of the T'Railway, which includes a 180-kilometre section west of Badger to Gander, and an area near Port Blandford, had been closed since October 2016 due to extensive washouts and damage caused by a Thanksgiving storm.

"I recognize the T'Railway as being of social and economic importance to the central region and was relieved to hear solutions that allowed the T'Railway to be reopened. I would like to thank Minister Trimper, the staff of Transportation and Works, and volunteers with the NLSF, for working together on this issue. I would also like to thank my fellow Members of the House of Assembly for helping facilitate this meeting."
- The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works and MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans

An updated map of the open sections of the T'Railway can be found here: www.ecc.gov.nl.ca/parks/parks/trailway/.

"We would like to thank the Department of Environment and Climate Change for working with the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation and its clubs in the areas affected to allow these trails to be open. We remind all snowmobilers to use caution when riding in these areas as these fixes are only temporary and will be in place as long as snow conditions allow. We also remind all riders to obey any closed or warning signs that are currently posted or will be posted when snow conditions deteriorate once the spring melt begins."
- Bob Blundon, Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation

By supporting local tourism, collaboration on T'Railway repairs complements the Provincial Government's commitment to increasing physical activity as outlined in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. The document is available online at www.gov.nl.ca/pdf/the_way_forward.pdf PDF Icon.

QUICK FACTS

  • Through the cooperative efforts of the Provincial Government and the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation, interim repairs to portions of the T'Railway Provincial Park have now been completed.
  • The last section of T'Railway, in the vicinity of Glenwood to Gander, is now open.
  • Assessments, interim repairs and grooming were undertaken by NLSF as short-term measures in order to allow snowmobiling enthusiasts access to the T'Railway for the remainder of the winter 2017 season.
  • An updated map of open sections of the T'Railway is available here: www.ecc.gov.nl.ca/parks/parks/trailway/.
  • Collaboration on T'Railway repairs complements commitments outlined in The Way Forward: A Vision for Sustainability and Growth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contacts:

Chrysta Collins
Media Relations Manager
Department of Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5783, 690-4436
chrystacollins@gov.nl.ca 		Chad Budgell
Constituent Assistant to the
Honourable Al Hawkins,
MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans
709-489-3401
chadbudgell@gov.nl.ca
Bob Blundon
Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation
709-660-0111
bblundon@alinegreetings.com

2017 02 16                              4:25 p.m.