At the Wellcox railyard in Nanaimo, Via RailB次元官网网址檚 two passenger cars have sat cocooned in silver plastic since May 10.
Their removal from storage inside Vic WestB次元官网网址檚 Roundhouse has former advisors to the Island Corridor Foundation scratching their heads.
B次元官网网址淚t makes no sense to me,B次元官网网址� said Jack Peake, former mayor of Lake Cowichan and former chair of the ICF board.
Draping tarps over the rail cars will keep the moisture in, he explained.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a no-no, mildew will form,B次元官网网址� echoed Jim Sturgill, who drove the train for many years.
Until recently, both men were volunteer members of the rail operations liaison advisory committee, tasked with advising ICF board members who have no background in the industry.
Peake and Sturgill now find themselves following the evolving fate of the E&N rail line from the sidelines.
The five-member advisory committeeB次元官网网址檚 role has ended B次元官网网址� though theyB次元官网网址檝e received no official letters of termination from ICF executive.
Hostilities have boiled over at a critical time for the E&N. By mid June, the ICF expects to learn if a long-awaited grant needed to relaunch the passenger line will be awarded or denied.
The service was shut down in March for minor repairs, then indefinitely when more track problems came to light B次元官网网址� though freight service continues.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e at a crisis point B次元官网网址� but we knew that was coming when we acquired the railway,B次元官网网址� said ICF board co-chair Judith Sayers.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been lobbying for funds to try to up the infrastructure but have not been successful to date.B次元官网网址�
The closure, however, only aggravated an existing rift between several of the ICFB次元官网网址檚 former advisors and its executive and board.
A major sticking point is the ICFB次元官网网址檚 $15-million grant application to the federal and provincial governments.
Whether itB次元官网网址檚 an adequate amount is the question.
B次元官网网址淲e identified many years ago that the true rehabilitation of the railway corridor required somewhere around $100 million,B次元官网网址� said Peake. B次元官网网址淭he number of years that have gone by since that figure was identified probably means the number is higher now.B次元官网网址�
But ICFB次元官网网址檚 executive director, Graham Bruce, puts the disagreement in context.
B次元官网网址淣o oneB次元官网网址檚 disputing that thereB次元官网网址檚 not more that needs to be done,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�($15 million) is what gets us back in operation, and secures the future safely for rail.B次元官网网址�
Further track upgrades will happen incrementally as demand grows, he explained.
Bruce has been executive director for two years. In the past, he has served as mayor of North Cowichan and a B.C. cabinet minister.
The ICF board backs his plan.
In July 2010, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation released a viability study, concluding B次元官网网址渃urrent volumes of freight and passengers do not support significant infrastructure investment at this time.B次元官网网址�
Three months later, the ICF recrafted its funding request.
It abandoned its loftier pursuit of securing $104 million, and submitted a more modest request of $15 million, in part to address issues raised in a letter of non-compliance from the B.C. Safety Authority.
The repairs, according to the rail operator, Southern Railway of Vancouver Island, would be adequate to ensure continued safe operation of the line.
B次元官网网址淭he main issue with the track relates directly to the track ties,B次元官网网址� said Don McGregor, general manager of Southern Railway. If gifted $15 million, one quarter of all ties could be replaced, steel joints repaired and the track straightened for a smoother ride. The money would also fund an in-depth assessment of all bridges.
Southern Railway employees have taken over the former advisorsB次元官网网址� role, giving updates to the board on rail operations issues.
Sturgill likens this to letting the fox guard the hens.
Wayne Stewart agrees. The retired Canadian Pacific Railway officer resigned from the advisory committee in September.
B次元官网网址淭here was no expertise in trying to go out and find people besides Southern Railway to evaluate the track condition and to maintain it,B次元官网网址� Stewart explained.
Sturgill also feels advisorsB次元官网网址� concerns were sidelined. His request to meet and review a safety inspection report was denied.
B次元官网网址淣one of these topics and safety matters are of concern to the committee,B次元官网网址� Bruce replied to him by an email, Jan. 20. B次元官网网址淲e also no longer need to use the committees.B次元官网网址�
Last week, Bruce explained the reasons behind the move.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 need a volunteer advisory group,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 actually want to know from professional people, in respect to being able to advise the board, that we are B次元官网网址� running a safe and reliable railway. That doesnB次元官网网址檛 come from volunteers.B次元官网网址�
Rail is a heavily regulated industry, he said, adding both the B.C. Safety Authority and Via Rail ensure the line runs according to standard.
Bruce also points to Southern RailwaysB次元官网网址� track record of safety and success.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very fortunate on Vancouver Island that we were able to B次元官网网址� attract a railroad operator and a company thatB次元官网网址檚 got a very high reputation.B次元官网网址�
The company, McGregor added, is in B次元官网网址渂reak even modeB次元官网网址� because it reinvests any surplus into track improvements.
B次元官网网址淭he reason weB次元官网网址檝e agreed to do that is we believe in the future of the railway,B次元官网网址� he said.
As for the passenger-car relocation issue, McGregor explains: Via Rail made the decision.
The Roundhouse, while covered, has suffered vandalism in the past, he said. In Nanaimo, the railyard is near Southern Railway headquarters and is surveilled by the Nanaimo Port Authority.
Possible moisture problems have been addressed, McGregor reassured.
B次元官网网址淰ia said they would pay for us to do weekly inspections,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 can foresee us monitoring inside moisture and getting fans and heaters and having a periodic drying out of the equipment.B次元官网网址�
rholmen@vicnews.com
By the numbers
The Ministry of TransportationB次元官网网址檚 viability study of the E&N, released July 2010, costed out several repair options. They include:*
B次元官网网址� Rail Service preservation: $70 million
B次元官网网址� Central corridor upgrades: $40.5 million
B次元官网网址� Central corridor and Port Alberni subdivision improvements: $103 million
B次元官网网址� Limited upgrades Victoria to Langford: $64 million
