# Tsal'alh Seton Train

The Tsal'alh Seton Train is a Lillooet–Seton Portage passenger bus and rail service along the northern shore of Seton Lake in the Squamish-Lillooet region of southwestern British Columbia. By BC Highway 99, the eastern terminus is about 252 kilometres (157 mi) northeast of Vancouver.

## Earlier railway shuttles

In 1934, a Lillooet–Shalalth shuttle was established, and a 23-metre (75 ft) diameter turntable was installed 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) east of Seton Portage, because the initial gasoline-powered cars could only be operated from one end. This was not the case for gas car no. 107, bought in 1949, but built in 1926. In 1958, the western terminus moved to Seton Portage. The railbus hauled one or two trailers loaded with automobiles and trucks on a twice daily return service. The completion of access roads and the introduction of new Budd Rail Diesel Cars on the BC Rail daily intercity service in the late 1950s prompted the end of this shuttle in 1961.
In 1979, a Seton Portage–Lillooet morning school shuttle commenced. The cost was shared equally between the Lillooet School District, Seton Lake First Nation, and BC Hydro (which operates the Shalalth powerhouses). The high school pupils named the single passenger car behind the locomotive as the "Budd Wiser". Students returned home on the southbound intercity passenger train.
In November 2002, BC Rail ended all passenger service between North Vancouver and Prince George. It was replaced by the service of a train known as the "Kaoham Shuttle". In the St’at’imc language, the word kaoham means "to meet the train". In 2001, the railway purchased a pair of gasoline-powered railbus units from Jim Busby Services in California, who had rebuilt the Fairmont A8 speeders. West Coach International of California carried out further modifications, with the work completed by BC Rail upon arrival in Lillooet. After the inaugural run on October 31, 2002, regular operation started the next day. "Budd-Lites" was soon their nickname. These units were initially numbered TU-108 and TU-109 by BC Rail to maintain the gas car numbering sequence but later renumbered to 10800 and 10900 by Canadian National Railway (CN) after acquiring BC Rail.
The Kaoham Shuttle operated between 2001 and 2021. It was replaced with a high-rail bus and renamed the Tsal'alh Seton Train in 2022.

## Historic Operation

If the duplicate rear car was attached, only the lead car motor was used. Each car contained 20 school-bus type seats for the journey. This enterprise on the CN Squamish Subdivision is a partnership between CN and the Seton Lake First Nation. The former provided the driver and train. The latter handled bookings and ticketing. The service primarily exists for the isolated residents (mainly First Nations) of Seton Portage and Shalalth to reach Lillooet for school, shopping, or medical needs. Consequently, most days, the train departed Seton Portage in the morning and returned in the afternoon. On Fridays, two round trips occurred. When the train arrived, the crew briefly opened the Lillooet station waiting area. Being CN's only non-freight operation, passengers on the shuttle are classified as "groceries" for cargo reporting purposes. With an intermediate stop at Shalalth, the trip lasted just over an hour each way.
The BBC described the picturesque journey beside the lake and through the tunnel as "Canada's greatest hidden rail trip".
Service farther west to D'Arcy is advertised as available by advance appointment. However, as of 2024, service to D'Arcy is no longer available.

## Shalalth Tunnel

The tunnel lies immediately west of Shalalth. The initial 130-metre (427 ft) tunnel, behind the "Bridge River 2 Generating Station" building, was timber lined and opened in 1915. The second 320-metre (1,060 ft) tunnel, built in the mid-1950s, resulted from a line relocation to accommodate the hydro building construction. The new trackage emerged from the tunnel directly in line with the old turntable, which was removed at this time. The third 1,200-metre (3,940 ft) tunnel, opened in 1989, was a relocation to bypass a dangerous rock slide area. The increased height clearance was to accommodate any future electrification of this section of the line.

## Operation

The vehicle is a modified International 3300, using the pre-existing railway between Lillooet and Seton Portage. Service runs 7 days a week, with a modified school schedule. The journey takes approximately an hour and 40 minutes to complete one way.
From Monday to Sunday, the train departs westbound from Lillooet Station at 9:00 am, stopping at Ohin Station (east of Shalalth), Shalalth Station, and South Shalalth before arriving at the Highline Pub & Restaurant in Seton Portage at 10:15 am. At 10:30 am, the bus makes a return trip, stopping only once at South Shalalth before arriving at Lillooet Station at 11:35 am.
A secondary trip is also made at 3:15 pm, starting from the ByLow Foods store in Liloeet. It departs at 3:30 pm, travelling south and then west until Liloeet Station. It stops at Ohin, Shalalth, South Shalalth and arrives at Seton Portage at 4:55 pm. After this, a return trip is made again; stopping once at South Shalalth at 5:10 pm before arriving at Liloeet at 6:00 pm.
On school days, a third trip is also made. The bus departs westbound at Ohin at 7 am, stopping at Shalalth Station, South Shalalth, arriving at the Highline Pub & Restaurant in Seton Portage at 7:25 am. It then returns eastbound, stopping once at South Shalalth before reaching Lillooet, where it drives to Lillooet Secondary School, arriving at 8:40 am. For the return trip, students use an extended version of the westbound 3:15 pm trip; on school days, the point of departure is Lillooet Secondary School, from which it leaves at 3:10 pm before resuming ordinary service.
Although bookings are encouraged, uncertainty exists as to whether the bookings have been recorded. Where recorded, a high ranking on the list is no guarantee of being able to purchase a ticket. Payment is due at the time of boarding. Tour parties have been known to push in front to secure a seat on the shuttle, since standing is prohibited. Local residents have priority over visitors. As of December 2024 only cash payments are accepted for the round trip. The service costs $5 for residents with a reservation, $10 without a reservation, and $25 for tourists. The space beside the driver is often filled with packages, groceries and other supplies.