Restoration of passenger rail service on Vancouver Island is a step closer following a $7.5-million investment from the B.C. government.
Premier Christy Clark arrived at the Nanaimo train station on Selby Street Tuesday aboard a pair of Southern Vancouver Island Rail locomotives to make the announcement.
The funding is in two parts, with $7 million for track repair and $500,000 toward an engineering inspection of about 40 rail bridges and trestles on the line.
The $7 million is conditional on the Island Corridor Foundation raising an additional $7.5 million to complete essential repairs to the Island service.
Passenger rail service was shut down in April due to safety concerns arising from the deteriorating condition of the tracks, which were found to be far worse than anticipated during routine maintenance and inspection this spring. Island freight service continues, although with trains running at reduced speeds due to the condition of the tracks.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really important for people on the Island to have a passenger service for tourism, but also for freight,B次元官网网址� said Clark. B次元官网网址淲e want to do what we can for people on the Island because it would be shortsighted to stop here and say thereB次元官网网址檚 no more rail on Vancouver Island. We have to look a little bit further ahead than that.B次元官网网址�
Clark said whether additional money gets spent on the rail service is up to the foundation and its business case.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see what happens with the money weB次元官网网址檝e committed now,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey can put together their plans and hopefully keep attracting new customers and that will tell us whether or not the railway is sustainable in the longer term. I believe it is, otherwise we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have committed the seven and a half million dollars that we did today.B次元官网网址�
Graham Bruce, ICF executive director, said the provincial commitment enables the foundation to embark on more comprehensive planning around passenger and freight service and heB次元官网网址檚 confident he will hear from the federal government on matching the $7.5 million.
B次元官网网址淲e know now weB次元官网网址檙e going to be here,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat [$15 million] secures the future and allows us as a foundation and Southern Rail to work co-operatively to really improve the rail service on the Island.B次元官网网址�
Bruce said the foundationB次元官网网址檚 timeline requires federal support as soon as possible.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been clear we needed an answer B次元官网网址榶esB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址榥oB次元官网网址� by June. To maintain train service, we need [funding] now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e had a provincial leadership race and a federal election, but weB次元官网网址檙e quite confident as these things work through we should hear from the federal component in the next couple weeks.B次元官网网址�
James Lunney, Nanaimo-Alberni Conservative MP, said Ottawa was in on the file from the beginning and he knows how important it is to the community.
But funding challenges include the governmentB次元官网网址檚 economic action plan winding down and less money for infrastructure.
B次元官网网址淭here was tons of money over the last two years, but thatB次元官网网址檚 all winding down,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he cruise ship terminal got money, the airport got money B次元官网网址� this one got delayed for various reasons.
B次元官网网址淲e know how important it is, and while thereB次元官网网址檚 more competition for those dollars, as long as thereB次元官网网址檚 a dollar in infrastructure left, IB次元官网网址檒l be pounding on the door to make sure it comes this way.B次元官网网址�
The Island Corridor Foundation is a non-profit partnership representing a variety of Island municipalities, regional district and First Nations which has owned the rail infrastructure since 2006.
