Media Release: City of St. Thomas and MP Andrew Lawton Continue to Push for Progress on Key Rail Projects
The City of St. Thomas and Member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Lawton continue to work collaboratively with CN Rail to address long-standing rail infrastructure issues that affect local residents, including the condition of the First Avenue rail crossing, the reconnection of the London & Port Stanley (L&PS) Rail, and the long-delayed reconstruction of the Barwick Street bridge.
Following months of correspondence, City officials and MP Lawton recently met with CN representatives to demand answers and firm commitments on these priority projects. While the discussions have been productive in some areas, both remain concerned by the lack of timely action and incomplete information.
“Residents deserve transparency and action,” said Mayor Joe Preston. “The City has been patient and cooperative, but our community has waited long enough. These are matters of safety and access, and we need CN to work with us toward lasting, permanent solutions.”
First Avenue Rail Crossing
In response to community concern earlier this year - and in the absence of timely action by CN - the City contracted a trusted paving company to complete temporary surface repairs to the First Avenue rail crossing in July 2025. While those repairs initially improved driving conditions, the surface has begun to deteriorate once again due to underlying issues with rail ties and subgrade infrastructure, which remain CN’s responsibility.
CN has recently acknowledged the need for additional work to address these root causes. While the City and MP Lawton are disappointed these issues were not resolved earlier, both remain committed to working with CN to ensure the crossing is permanently rebuilt to meet proper safety and engineering standards.
L&PS Rail
While the revitalization of the L&PS Rail was not a focal point in the most recent discussions with CN, the City of St. Thomas and MP Lawton continue to prioritize this important project. Both remain committed to exploring opportunities to reconnect and enhance this line, recognizing its value for local transportation, economic growth, and the community’s long-term infrastructure needs.
Barwick Street Bridge
The City has been working with CN for nearly 40 years to secure a partnership for the reconstruction of the Barwick Street bridge. In April 2024, the City again offered to collaborate on the project. CN’s formal response did not arrive until August 2025 - more than a year later - and allowed only five days for the City to reply.
The City promptly responded, raising a number of important technical and procedural questions that remain unanswered. Despite a follow-up meeting with CN last week, full details have yet to be provided.
The following key questions regarding the Barwick Street bridge remain outstanding:
- What is CN’s latest cost estimate and proposed timing to reconstruct the Barwick Street bridge?
- If the City were to assume lead agent, to minimize our respective costs, will CN provide a copy of the current design package, including the latest engineering design files (i.e. AutoCAD), model, and calculations from Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Management (AECOM)?
- If the City assumes the lead role, a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) would be required under the Environmental Assessment Act, 1990. As the owner of Barwick Street bridge, is CN prepared to participate fully and share costs through this process?
- Is CN prepared to accept and implement the preferred design solution determined through the MCEA process?
“We value CN’s willingness to meet and discuss these projects, but the time for discussion has passed,” said MP Lawton. “What St. Thomas needs now are clear commitments, firm timelines, and lasting repairs.”
Mayor Preston added, “We’re proud of our history as The Railway City and value strong partnerships - but partnership must come with accountability. The state of these crossings and bridges directly affects safety, mobility, and our community’s growth. We’ll continue to push until the job is done right.”
The City and MP Lawton’s office remain united in their commitment to securing timely, transparent solutions and will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.
Click here to read the media release in PDF format.