A major washout of the White Pass and Yukon Route railbed at MilePost 37, located between Log Cabin and Bennett, B.C., has delayed the start of passenger rail service to Carcross.

Service between Fraser, B.C. and Carcross, scheduled to start May 22, will be suspended until further notice, White Pass said today from Skagway.

Passengers booked for travel during the suspension period are being accommodated with a combination of rail and bus service.

"This is a very challenging situation, but we are confident that together with our partners, we will be able to adapt and still provide a memorable experience to our visitors,” said White Pass president Gary C. Danielson.

"As soon as we are able to restore the line, we will resume service. However, in the short term, we are exploring options to provide day trips from Carcross into Bennett.”

The beauty and history of the Southern Lakes area is a unique experience that has been well received by the cruise lines and independent travellers, Danielson added.

"(The railway's) historic eating house at Lake Bennett, and Parks Canada's Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site are iconic elements of this experience,” he said.

"We'll get through the challenge of this major washout and consider developing a new product in the interim.”

The narrow gauge railway was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, and is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

That designation is shared with such icons as the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.

The White Pass is Alaska's most popular shore excursion and North America's busiest tourist railway, carrying 437,660 passengers in 2008.

White Pass is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tri-White Corp. based in Toronto.