Local politicians, representatives from organizations with a vested interest and members of the public gathered at the Langford train station near the Goldstream Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway intersection to call for action on the E&N corridor.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e at the point where we have to stand up and make some noise B次元官网网址� LetB次元官网网址檚 get on with it,B次元官网网址� said Jack Peake, E&N Railway Roundtable (ENRR) spokesperson and chairman. B次元官网网址淭here have already been so many studies done B次元官网网址� just take the facts and figures and make it go.B次元官网网址�
Peake, co-founder and former co-chairman of the Island Corridor Foundation, noted the track between Langford and Victoria is in relatively good shape and the upgrades needed would not be as extensive as some believe. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not an insurmountable amount B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e not talking about a major hurdle.B次元官网网址�
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Combined, Peake noted the 15 members of the ENRR have roughly 115 years of experience in the railway industry. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what we bring to the table.B次元官网网址�
The ENRR hired a private rail contractor to give them an estimate of the cost of repairs between Langford and Victoria. Based on that, the groups predicts it would take an investment of less than $25 million to get a commuter rail service running between Langford and Victoria.
B次元官网网址淚f this wasnB次元官网网址檛 here, think of what you would have to go through,B次元官网网址� Peake said, noting the cost of upgrading the corridor is nothing compared to what it would be to start from scratch. B次元官网网址淵ou couldnB次元官网网址檛 put it in today, you couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to.B次元官网网址�
However, he did note one of the biggest hurdles rail is facing is the lack of cohesion between the different levels of government, public groups, the Island Corridor Foundation and First Nations involved in the conversation. He added that not once has everyone sat down at the same table to work on a plan.
B次元官网网址淚t needs co-operation from everybody and thatB次元官网网址檚 not what weB次元官网网址檙e getting right now,B次元官网网址� Peake said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 time we pull together in one group B次元官网网址� if the province is the main organization so be it.B次元官网网址�
Langford Mayor Stew Young was in attendance, along with Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins.
B次元官网网址淥ur main concern in Langford is preserving this corridor. We have to find a way to relieve the congestion going downtown for our residents,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淭his is a corridor that should be preserved. ItB次元官网网址檚 been around for a hundred years and it should be for another hundred years. YouB次元官网网址檒l never replace or duplicate this corridor anywhere on southern Vancouver Island.B次元官网网址�
Young noted itB次元官网网址檚 important to move forward as quickly as possible so the track doesnB次元官网网址檛 deteriorate any further.
B次元官网网址淥ur council envisioned there would be a train service,B次元官网网址� Young said, adding council changed the cityB次元官网网址檚 official community plan to accommodate and promote residential units along the tracks so people would be able to walk to the service.
B次元官网网址淟angford has spent $2 million in putting in controlled crossings when thereB次元官网网址檚 no train B次元官网网址� this is costing tax payers up and down the Island.B次元官网网址�
A little more than a dozen people gathered in the rain for the Friday event. Due to scheduling conflicts, several politicians and groups sent their regrets along with statements in support of reviving rail traffic to be read.
Langford Mayor Stew Young speaks at the E&N Railway Roundtable's event today.
B次元官网网址� Goldstream Gazette (@GoldstreamB次元官网网址)
Dick Faulks, a member of the Island Transformations Organization, also shared his thoughts at the event.
B次元官网网址淲e have a problem with the ministry B次元官网网址� corridors across the province are not being used.B次元官网网址�
He noted the Ministry of Transporation and Infrastructure favours highways, buses and the SkyTrain over surface rail transportation.
While he said the IslandB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渢ransportation spineB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� the E&N corridor B次元官网网址� rots and rusts, other major cities are working to expand their rails systems. B次元官网网址淭his terrible situation we have must be addressed by changing the policy,B次元官网网址� he said.
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