Anyone who wants to travel overland from Winnipeg to Churchill has to take the train.
Only one track leads through Canada’s tundra to Hudson Bay. There’s only one thing for passengers to do – relax, unwind and admire the wild beauty of the landscape through the carriage window. The train journey begins in Winnipeg, the multicultural capital of the Canadian province of Manitoba, characterized by Canada’s indigenous population and immigrants from all over the world.
As soon as the train leaves the city, the vast prairie opens up. Grain now grows where bison once grazed. Further north, we encounter swampy coniferous forests. First Nation communities live here, and rely on the railways to access their reserves. They bought and renovated parts of the line when the tracks were washed out in 2017 – an event that led to railway operations being interrupted.
Last but not least is the treeless Arctic tundra. After 1,700 kilometers and a 45-hour train journey, we reach the terminus in the small town of Churchill with around 900 inhabitants. In autumn, when the waters begin to freeze, polar bears gather here and the aurora borealis sparkles in the night.
DW Documentary
