Valemount Connecting Line

The Valemount Connecting Line is an electrified 8.8 mile railway line of the British Columbia Railway (BC Rail) running from Tete Jaune Cache on the Grand Trunk Line to Valemount Junction on the Inter-Dominion Line.

The Valemount Connecting Line is Line 704 of BC Rail's Grand Trunk Region.

History
The Valemount Connecting Line was opened by the Dominion Northern Pacific Railway (DNP) in 1916, to connect the DNP mainline to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway's Prince Rupert–Edmonton mainline, as between Red Pass and Jasper, Canada, the lines built through the Rocky Mountains by the DNP and the GTP run almost parallel to each other. Since the opening of the line linking Valemount with Tete Jaune Cache, trains between Jasper and Vancouver or Prince Rupert can use either line as needed. In 1918 the DNP was nationalised, becoming the British Columbia Railway; the line received its current name in 1922, after the GTP was absorbed by the BCR.

Services
Aside from a Rapid and two Local passenger services, passenger and freight trains use this line only as needed.

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.

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 in advance at any station on the route that has passenger service. . The Valemount Connecting Line has one Rapid service.


 * 711.1–2/712.1–2 Ktunaxa Rapid (BCR): Prince George – Tete Jaune Cache – Valemount
 * Two daily return trips operated by express EMU (class EM31) with first- and second-class chair cars and a cafeteria compartment; these trains do not have baggage handling. The short-trip surcharge applies regularly to this train. Scheduled intermediate stops: Willow River, Sinclair Mills, Loos, McBride, Tete Jaune Cache

Local
Local trains are passenger trains that make scheduled stops at all stations and halts along the route they serve. The Valemount Connecting Line has two Local services.


 * 7041.1-2/7042.1-2: Kamloops – Valemount – Tete Jaune Cache
 * Two daily round trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.


 * 7043E.1-6/7044E.1-6: McBride – Tete Jaune Cache – Valemount
 * Six daily round trips operated by EMU, first and second class with a cafeteria compartment.

Route
A yellow background indicates an electrified section.

Although not part of the Valemount Connecting Line, the section of the Inter-Dominion Line from Valemount Junction to Valemount is included here.

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