Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe

Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe
Map of Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe
Reporting mark	CHMG
Locale	Mont-Joli, Canada
Dates of operation	2008–
Track gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters	Mont-Joli, Quebec

The Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe, (Matapédia and Gulf Railway in english), is a railroad in eastern Québec, that links up Rivière-du-Loup to Chandler, Quebec.

History

The Governments of Canada and Québec reached an agreement on the 1st of February, 2008, in order to sustain a restructuring project for the Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe (CFMG), evaluated at 14,6 millions canadian dollars.

The Honorable Lawrence Cannon, minister of Transportation, and Mrs. Nathalie Normandeau, Vice-Premier, and Minister for Municipal Affairs and of the region of Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine; and Mr. Claude Béchard, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, and Minister of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, announced an investment of more than 9,7 millions dollars by the Governments of Canada and Québec.

The Government of Canada will give more than 5,8 millions dollars and the Government of Québec, more than 3,8 millions dollars in a five year period, in order to sustain the project in joint efforts by both governments to restructure the infrastructures of the local railroads (CFIL) in Québec. This ambitious program, in which the CFIL also contributes, will generate global investments of more than 75 millions dollars within a five year period. It aims at maintaining the rail transport effectively, competitively, and better integrated to the continental railway service.

The work necessary consists of placing north american norms to the capacity of CFMG railway. The customers using the CFMG are also hopeful that the infrastructures will be ameliorated, in order to to facilitate adaquate transportation and railway cars of larger capacity. The work which will be affected on a distance of 347 kilometers, will permit to improve the condition and function of the rails.

The local railways will service the local interest, and constitute for Quebec compagnies the essential elements for commercial exchanges. These railroads provide more than 38% of the Quebec railway service, which represents 2 300 kilometers of rail in the province. In Québec, more than 80% of products expediated by CFIL have as final destination the United States. The merchandise transported by these regional railroads are mainly wood products, paper, pulp, particle boards, iron or, and aluminum. The CFIL plays an important role in the economy of Quebec.

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