Slahaltkan Line

The Slahaltkan Line is an electrified and double-tracked 71.3 mile railway line of the British Columbia Railway (BC Rail) running from Kamloops on the Inter-Dominion Line to Armstrong, where it connects with the Okanagan Line and the Canadian Pacific Railway's Okanagan Subdivision. It also connects to the CPR's Thompson and Shuswap Subdivisions at Labyrinth

The Slahaltkan Line is Line 31 of BC Rail's Fraser Region.

The section between Labyrinth and Campbell Creek is colloquially known as "the iron expressway" by locals, as there are four tracks side by side along this section - the two tracks of the Slahaltkan Line, and the two tracks of CP's Vancouver-Calgary main line.

History
The Slahaltkan Line was opened in 1925 by the British Columbia Railway. It was double-tracked and electrified in 1942.

Freight
The Slahaltkan Line is important for freight service moving goods between the Okanagan the rest of BC - fruits, as well as automobiles and aircraft components, and other commodities.

Passenger
The various categories of passenger service are defined by the Ministry of Labour, Industry & Railways in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport & Communications; these categories are applicable to and used by all railways providing passenger service in British Columbia. Like all other railways in BC, ticket prices for BC Rail passenger trains are based on the Ministry's Schedule of Railway Fares.

Limited Express
Limited Express trains are BC Rail's fastest and most prestigious trains, making very few or no intermediate stops. They feature free baggage handling for both first and second classes, along with a cafeteria car open to both classes. The Syilx Line sees one international Limited Express service.

All international Limited Express trains feature full-service dining cars open to first and second class passengers, sleeping cars (first class) and sleeperette cars (second class), as well as baggage handling, free of charge for first class passengers, or for a surcharge for second class passengers. International services may be used for domestic travel, but for travel between three or fewer domestic stops a surcharge is applied.


 * 131/132 International Hiawatha (North Western Pacific/BCR): Vancouver, BC (Pacific Central) – Chicago, Illinois, USA
 * Twice-weekly service with eastbound trains departing Vancouver on Wednesdays and Saturdays, westbound trains leaving Chicago on Tuesdays and Fridays; all trains consist of NWP consists. This train runs over the trackage of the BC Rail between Vancouver and Castlegar, and over NWP trackage between Castlegar and Chicago; locomotive changes take place in Castlegar. Intermediate stops:
 * BC: Hope, Princeton, Penticton, Grand Forks, Castlegar, Salmo, Nelway (BC and US customs checks)
 * Washington: Metaline Falls, Newport
 * Idaho: Spirit Lake
 * Washington: Spokane
 * Idaho: St Maries
 * Montana: Alberton, Missoula, Butte, Harlowton, Miles City
 * South Dakota: Morristown, Mobridge, Aberdeen
 * Minnesota: Ortonville, Minneapolis, St Paul, Winona
 * Wisconsin: La Crosse, Milwaukee
 * Illinois: Racine

Express
Regular Express trains stop more often than Limited Express trains, but do not make unscheduled stops, featuring baggage handling free of charge to first class passengers, and available to second class passengers for a surcharge, and all include either a full-service dining car or a cafeteria car open to all classes. For travel between three or fewer stops a surcharge is applied. There is one Express train on the Tullameen Line.


 * 23/24 Phthauntac: Vancouver (Pacific Central) – Penticton
 * One daily overnight trip in each direction with sleeping cars (first class) and sleeperettes (second class), a cafeteria car, and one second-class chair car. The usual short-trip surcharge does not apply to this train. Intermediate stops: Chilliwack, Hope, Brodie, Brookmere, Tullameen, Princeton, Demuth

Local
Local trains are passenger trains that make scheduled stops at all stations and halts along the route they serve. There are three Local trains on the Syilx Line.


 * 2101.1-2/2102.1-2: Hope – Brodie – Princeton
 * Two daily return trips, first and second-class with seat-side drink and snack service.


 * 4101.1-2/4102.1-2: Penticton – Princeton
 * Two daily return trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.


 * 4103.1-2/4104.1-2: Penticton – Brodie – Merritt
 * Two daily return trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.

Route
Italic text indicates a closed station or connection.

● - Scheduled Limited Express, Express, and Local stop ▲ - Scheduled Express and Local stop • - Local stop | - No passenger service