A derailment of a grain train near Edmonton means that rail passengers will have to fly in and out of Winnipeg, instead of riding the tracks.

VIA Rail said the derailment happened near Wainwright, Alta. about 200 km southeast of Edmonton, on Saturday. About 31 cars jumped the tracks, with 17 of those plunging off a bridge and onto the ground below.

Two employees on board the train at the time were not injured.

Starting at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23, westbound rail passengers will be stopped in Winnipeg and flown to Edmonton on Tuesday morning.

Eastbound passengers will be stopped in Edmonton and flown to Winnipeg Tuesday morning.


- VIA's toll-free hotline is 1-888-842-7245