TRRY No. 1842 and TRRY No. 3582 at Tillsonburg, Ontario.

(Milan Suvajac, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

 

TRILLIUM RAILWAY

Not to be confused with the Trillium Line, a diesel-powered light-rail line in Ottawa operated by OC Transpo.

The Trillium Railway (reporting mark TRRY) is a Canadian short-line railroad operating in the province of Ontario. Much of its right-of-way in the Niagara area was formerly part of the "Welland Canal Railway" (also known as the Welland Railway) that closely followed the route of the second Welland Canal.

Trillium Railway began operations in 1997 with only eleven km (6.8 mi) of railway, all of which were located in Port Colborne.

With an expansion in 1998, Trillium added 55 km (34.1 mi) of track between Delhi and St. Thomas. Another expansion in 1999 added another 55 km (34.1 mi) of track in Welland, Thorold, and St. Catharines.

In the Niagara Region, Trillium's trackage, referred to as Port Colborne Harbour Railway, is made up of Canadian National's former secondary and branch lines, including a number of urban spurs, on the west side of the Canal. CN and Canadian Pacific interchange with Trillium at CN/CP Feeder. Trillium no longer operates on the south tracks of the Townline Tunnel under the Welland Canal.

From July 2018 until the line's closure in December 2021, Trillium operated the Orangeville Brampton Railway under contract from the Town of Orangeville, taking over operations from Cando Rail Services Ltd. The train was discontinued in 2019

In 2018 Trillium Railway was purchased by Gio Rail.

 

ST&ER logo

Closed subdivision - St. Thomas and Eastern Railway

The St. Thomas and Eastern Railway operated over the former CN Cayuga Spur, the historical "Canada Air Line". It reached the city of St. Thomas via trackage rights over CN.

The St. Thomas and Eastern Railway (reporting mark TRRY) was a shortline railway division of the Trillium Railway, operating near St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. The main commodities transported on the railway were grain, salt, and chemicals. St. Thomas and Eastern connected to Canadian National at Sarum, east of St Thomas, and Ontario Southland Railway (OSRX) in Tillsonburg. Total trackage was 33.6 miles. Trillium Railway ceased operations of the STER on December 20, 2013.

 

PCHR logo

Port Colborne Harbour Railway

The Port Colborne Harbour Railway (reporting mark TRRY), formed in 1997, serves various industries in the Port Colborne area and along the New Welland Canal. The principal commodities transported are wheat, scrap, woodpulp, bauxite, and lumber. The Port Colborne Harbour Railway connects with CPR in Port Colborne and with CN Rail in Merritton. Normal operation of the PCHR is Monday to Friday with weekend service done at an extra charge. The PCHR is a division of the Trillium Railway. In business since 1997, it currently operates two short line railways in Southern Ontario: the Port Colborne Harbour Railway and the Saint Thomas and Eastern Railway. Combined trackage length of the two shortlines is over 100 km (62 mi).

 

Trillium Railway Overview

Headquarters Port Colborne, Ontario
Reporting mark TRRY
Locale Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
Dates of operation 1997–
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Port Colborne Harbour Railway Overview

Headquarters: Wainfleet, Ontario
Reporting mark: TRRY
Locale: Port Colborne, Ontario
Dates of operation 1997–present
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Saint Thomas and Eastern Railway Overview

Headquarters Wainfleet, Ontario
Reporting mark TRRY
Locale St. Thomas, Ontario
Dates of operation 1998–2013
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge