Which railroads have connected British Columbia with the rest of Canada and the United States?

British Columbia has been connected to the rest of Canada and the United States through several major railway systems that were instrumental in the province's development and integration into the national confederation.

Major Transcontinental Railroads

• Canadian Pacific Railway (CP): Established to fulfill the government's 1871 agreement to connect British Columbia to the Canadian network, the CP completed its main transcontinental line to Port Moody in 1885. It remains a primary link between Vancouver and eastern Canada, with a network extending into various U.S. cities.1234
• Canadian National Railway (CN): Formed by the nationalization of several lines, including the Canadian Northern Railway and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, CN provides transcontinental service to British Columbia. Its network serves both southern and northern parts of the province, with terminals in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, and connects to extensive rail systems across North America.254

Other Rail Connections

• Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF): This U.S.-based railway also serves British Columbia, providing direct rail access between the province and the United States.4
• British Columbia Railway: Originally the private Pacific Great Eastern Railway, this line was taken over by the province to support regional resource development.2