Celgar responds to midnight train controversy; CPR to appear before council
By Kyra Hoggan
Zellstoff Celgar is responding to a misconception that it was at the pulp mill’s request that CP Rail has started running nighttime trains through Castlegar.
Celgar spokesperson Sandy Hinter told The Source that, in fact, the opposite is true.
“CP Rail recently implemented changes to its service policy and schedule on the Kootenay Valley Railway (KVR) short-line,” she said. “Celgar currently relies on the KVR to supply process chemicals to the mill and ship finished pulp product to market.
“CP Rail informed the mill in late August that changes were being made to reduce the operating costs of the KVR,” she said, adding this has actually created some difficulties for Celgar.
“Both changes to its billing policy and its service schedule were imposed on the mill,” she said. “These changes were not made at the request of the Celgar operation and have created new challenges for the mill … we are currently adapting our processes to adjust to the new policy and service level.”
A CP Rail representative will be appearing before council as a delegation at council’s regular meeting Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Community Forum (across from City Hall).
City councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff said she hopes to see plenty of residents in attendance.
“This is an opportunity to hear what CP has to say about it, and an opportunity for CP to learn how deeply this decision has, and will, impact our community,” she said. “If you want your perspective to be heard, you have to join the conversation. Let’s show CP how we want them to be responsible corporate citizens.”
