Railway restarted in B.C.'s southern Interior

Teamsters Canada says railway service along a line in British Columbia's southern Interior is about to resume thanks to a deal with Canadian National.

Service was suspended on a so-called short line between Kelowna and Kamloops in the early summer after a receiver was appointed for Kelowna Pacific Railway.

But the union says Canadian National has now agreed to bring up to standard the track that served about 16,000 rail cars annually.

The union says the two weeks of negotiations were tough, but the company has agreed to a five-year deal that will see workers receive a 15-per-cent wage increase over the life of the contract.

It says 20 employees will return to work on Monday, and more jobs could be on the horizon.

The deal must still be ratified by union members.