Alaska Railroad Extension through Delta to Yukon Studied

In 1942 the US Army did a survey of having the railway run parallel with the Alaska Highway, and today the concept is much nearer to becoming a reality. Even though few details are being released at this time, a new study study points towards a future that may include a Delta/Greely stop on the rail link between Alaska and Yukon.

"The $5.5-million study looking at the feasibility of building a rail link between Alaska and the Yukon has been completed. But the full results are not yet being released to the public.When and how the findings are released will be up to the management working group, Kells Boland, the project’s manager, told a media briefing this morning.The group includes Premier Dennis Fentie, Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski and Andy Carvill, the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations.

The report examines the rail link’s feasibility from a 50-year life cycle perspective, said Boland, and proposes a T-route, which would see Carmacks become a hub.From Carmacks, the route would have three branches. The first branch would go south to New Hazelton, B.C., to connect to a Canadian National Railway line.The second segment would head north to Delta Junction in Alaska, while the third would go to the Inside Passage, connecting to either Skagway or Haines. All three branches would end in deep water ports."

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