With a federal election looming in October, the head of the Island Corridor Foundation, Larry Stevenson, is not worried the drive to restore passenger train service on the Island would be derailed again.

B次元官网网址淚 really think that when you look at what weB次元官网网址檙e trying to accomplish and the reasons behind it, this is a public policy discussion,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going to go away no matter which government is sitting there. TheyB次元官网网址檙e going to have to deal with the issue. WeB次元官网网址檙e now at the point where something is going to happen and I think itB次元官网网址檚 going to happen relatively soon.B次元官网网址�

The province is currently undertaking an in-depth assessment of the track and bridge to determine the cost to bring the Island line back to standard.

Stevenson, who attended the recent Railway Days at the Parksville Museum, said the assessment is expected to be completed at the end of October.

B次元官网网址淎fter that, I think, youB次元官网网址檙e going to see a move to get it rebuilt,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson, who added that there is strong support on the Island to bring back the rail line.

B次元官网网址淭he people on the Island had made their intentions clear. They have been very clear about wanting it restored and they want it restored now. I donB次元官网网址檛 see it stopping.B次元官网网址�

Stevenson stressed this issue is not a discussion about tomorrow, or next week. Traffic on the Island, he pointed out, is not going to get any better as the IslandB次元官网网址檚 population continues to grow.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 really where we need to centre our discussion,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淏ecause if we think we have problems today, just imagine what weB次元官网网址檙e going to have 30 years from today. And this corridor, it should service the backbone, as an efficient transportation system. So this is a 30-year discussion. I keep pushing this toward public policy discussion because investment needs to be made today to make sure that we have it 30 years from today.B次元官网网址�

Passenger train service was stopped in 2011 due to safety concerns, and freight service has also been discontinued on many parts of the Island.

If the railway line gets restarted, it will be done in stages, said Stevenson. And the first in line would be the south end of the corridor.

B次元官网网址淲e have to do this in pieces,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檒l never going to go out and build the entire railroad in a week. I think obviously itB次元官网网址檚 going to start in the south, in Langford and Victoria because thatB次元官网网址檚 where the biggest need is today. But then itB次元官网网址檚 going to march north. One of the things the ICF has long maintained is that you donB次元官网网址檛 get to do one without the other. ItB次元官网网址檚 important to tie the whole Island together.B次元官网网址�

The ICF, Stevenson said, is willing to work with the government and come up with a plan on what they would do for the entire Island.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 no sufficient to say weB次元官网网址檒l deal with Langford today and talk about the rest in 10 years,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not going to work.B次元官网网址�