Seven years of unmet promises and inactivity has led to a sizable amount of skepticism about Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 rail future, or at least the people in charge of resurrecting it.

The Island Corridor Foundation is taking steps to change that.

The group B次元官网网址� a consortium of Island communities and First Nation that owns the E&N rail line B次元官网网址� has been hosting a series of open houses this month to answer questions and grow support for the restoration of Island rail service, which has been largely dormant since 2011.

The discussion was hosted by the ICFB次元官网网址檚 new CEO Larry Stevenson, along with Andrea Thomas, manager of corridor development, and Nicole Norris, the ICFB次元官网网址檚 First Nations liaison.

READ MORE: Island Corridor Foundation optimistic about restoring rail service

Stevenson wants to change the way ICF may be perceived.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 no secret that the foundation had been kind of a closed door for some time,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 a first step of doing a better job of communicating with the public.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he whole thing was designed to have an open and interactive forum to discuss issues and whatB次元官网网址檚 going on. I set these meetings up because I felt it was time the ICF get out there and get in front of people. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of information out there and unfortunately not all of it is accurate.B次元官网网址�

Town hall-style events are being held around the Island. One meeting was held in the ballroom at NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Coast Bastion Hotel last Monday. Black Press spoke to Stevenson following a meeting Thursday night at the Beach Club in Parksville B次元官网网址� the fifth of seven scheduled discussions.

Stevenson was surprised by the amount of people B次元官网网址� close to 200 B次元官网网址� who showed up in Parksville.

B次元官网网址淚t was the largest turnout weB次元官网网址檝e had so far for our town hall meetings,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson, who talked about the ICF structure and the work they are doing to get the railway line back in operation and gauged the sentiments of the people in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area about the railway corridor.

B次元官网网址淧arksville has not had a strong showing relative to rail so it was interesting to see them out there,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淚 think by far and large, most were being supportive of where weB次元官网网址檙e going. They have a lot of concerns and theyB次元官网网址檙e valid.B次元官网网址�

The issues raised at the meeting include the cost to get the railway running and the amount of taxes required to keep and maintain the service; the conditions of track (highlighted by several people from the audience who have worked in the railway industry at some point in their lives), environmental protection, the lack of a business plan that would show that the service was financially viable, the trails along the rail line and the utilization of the commercial activity at the port in Port Alberni to enhance the commercial aspect of the rail service.

To revive the rail service, Stevenson said, the provincial and federal governments needs to help with subsidies, similar to what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing for the roads, buses and ferries.

B次元官网网址淲e as residents on this Island either want to have a transportation network that includes rail or one that does not include rail,B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淥f course I am biased and I think we need to have rail because any modern transporation system is built around a rail system in most cases. You look at Europe, the bigger cities. To me itB次元官网网址檚 a much bigger issue.B次元官网网址�

Among those in attendance was Parksville Chamber of Commerce president Kim Burden, who was also impressed with the huge turnout and what he heard from the ICF.

B次元官网网址淭he ICF has provided some clarity and a greater willingness to get information out,B次元官网网址� said Burden, who supports the restoration of rail services on the Island.

Stevenson believes there is a political will and support to get this going.

B次元官网网址淚 had discussions with the premier and minister of transportation and infrastructure and they recognize that weB次元官网网址檙e now at a point where it has to happenB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� said Stevenson. B次元官网网址淭he time is now to start addressing the issue of transportation and not 40 years from now when we have all the people here.B次元官网网址�