SPR Ganiks Laxha–Dease Lake line

The Ganiks Laxha–Dease Lake line is an electrified, 333.6 mile railway line of the Skeena Pacific Railway in northwestern British Columbia, running from Ganiks Laxha on BC Rail's Grand Trunk Line to Iskut Junction on BC Rail's Stikine Line; the Skeena Pacific has running rights over the 22.5 miles from Iskut Junction to Dease Lake. There is also a connection to the Skeena Pacific's Gitlaxt’aamiks–Gingolx line at Spencer Junction.

The line is divided between three subdivisions: the Ganiks Laxha–Nass Camp section (68.2 miles) is under the jurisdiction of the Second Subdivision (HQ Gitlaxt’aamiks), the Nass Camp–Meziadin section (73.2 miles) is under the jurisdiction of the Third Subdivision (HQ: Meziadin), and the Meziadin–Iskut Junction section (192.2 miles) is under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Subdivision (HQ: Iskut).

History
In the 1950s, the Dominion government began implementing a farsighted, long term plan for development of the North, the New Towns Project. Inspired by the British undertaking of the same name, this project envisioned the transformation of a number of towns and settlements in northern BC into planned "model cities". Two of the settlements selected for this project were New Aiyansh (renamed Gitlaxt’aamiks in 1988) and Meziadin. As railway service was vital to the success of the project, the SPR was offered a 25-year subsidy by the government to build and operate the line. Accepting the offer, the SPR built a new electrified trunk line north from Terrace (renamed Ganiks Laxha in 1980), reaching Nass Camp, 6.5 miles north of New Aiyansh, in 1957, and extending to Meziadin in 1963.

After the BCR finalised its plans for a line to Dease Lake, the Skeena Pacific began another extension of its northern trunk line north from Meziadin to Dease Lake, completing it in 1973. When the BCR completed its Stikine Line from Fort St James to Iskut Junction in 1975, the 22.5-mile Iskut Jct–Dease Lake section was sold to the BCR and was incorporated into the Stikine Line; after the sale, the SPR retained running rights into Dease Lake - the Iskut Jct–Dease Lake section is the only electrified section of the Stikine Line.

Passenger
The Skeena Pacific operates five passenger trains on this line, one of which are Rapid services, and four which are Local services. All of these services are operated with electric multiple-unit trainsets, with first and second class seating and a cafeteria compartment. Baggage handling is free of charge for both classes; large parcels are handled for a surcharge.

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 SPR passenger trains are based on the Ministry's Schedule of Railway Fares.

Rapid
Rapid (also known as "semi-express") trains are similar to regular Express trains, making a limited number of scheduled stops, but stops can be booked up to an hour in advance at any station on the route that has passenger service.


 * 1/2 Nisga’a Rapid (SPR): Kemano–Ganiks Laxha – Meziadin
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end. Scheduled intermediate stops: Kitimat, Airport, Ganiks Laxha, Gitlaxt’aamiks

Local
Local trains are passenger trains that make scheduled stops at all stations and halts. No baggage handling; large parcel handling can be booked at least three hours in advance. The trains between Meziadin and Dease Lake are amongst the fastest Local trains in BC, reaching speeds up to 70 mph in some places. All SPR local trains are operated with EMUs.


 * 201/202, 203/204, 205/206, 207/208: Ganiks Laxha – Gitlaxt’aamiks – Gingolx
 * Four daily return trips.


 * 250/251, 252/253, 254/255: Gitlaxt’aamiks – Ganiks Laxha
 * Three daily return trips.


 * 301/302, 303/304, 305/306: Ganiks Laxha – Gitlaxt’aamiks
 * Three daily return trips.


 * 401/402, 403/404, 405/406, 407/408: Gingolx – Gitlaxt’aamiks – Meziadin
 * Four daily return trips.


 * 500/501, 502/503, 504/505, 506/507: Meziadin – Gitlaxt’aamiks
 * Four daily return trips.


 * 601/602, 603/604, 605/606: Meziadin – Dease Lake
 * Three daily return trips.

Freight
A number of freight trains operate on this line; like all freight trains on the SPR, they run as non-scheduled extras.

Timetable

 * "Down" is towards Ganiks Laxha; Down trains are superior to Up trains.
 * ƒ - flag stop by reservation only

Route
A blue background indicates that that section of line (Iskut Jct–Dease Lake) is owned by BC Rail.

♦ - Scheduled Rapid stop • - Local service only; between Ganiks Laxha and Meziadin, Rapid trains stop here only with advance booking. No Rapid service north of Meziadin.