Sarah Glen Times Colonist(Victoria) A deal to rescue the historic E&N railway between Victoria and Courtenay will be announced Monday -- just a week before the line was to be shut down. The deal, reached Friday, aims to boost the amount of freight carried on the lines as well as the number of passengers, said Tanner Elton, operating director of the Vancouver Island Railway Development Initiative, a group of investors and municipal leaders fighting to save the railway. Further details of the plan will be released after Monday's announcement. "In the past we were preserving the line until we found a solution, and now we feel we have come to the solution," said Elton. The 118-year-old railway has been a hit with Island residents and tourists flocking for a final scenic ride since the railway was slated for shutdown. But Elton emphasized the railway's staying power hinges on its ability to carry freight, such as chemicals, along the tracks. "Companies like Superior Propane don't want to see their chemicals shipped on the highway," said Elton. "This isn't about maintaining an inadequate passenger service." Superior Propane is the railway's largest freight customer. Other investors in the Initiative include Victoria's Point Hope Shipyards and Duncan's Cowichan Development Corporation. The railway has faced a death sentence for years -- from both the freight and passenger side of its operations. RailAmerica, a company based in Boca Raton, Fla., bought the E & N railway in 1999 and has been struggling to keep it running since it lost a contract to carry freight between Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Via Rail operates a daytime passenger service, which it has tried to end since 1989, on the tracks between Courtenay and Victoria. This year alone, the railway has almost been shut down three times. "For this railway to succeed it needs to carry freight, an improved passenger service and (have) a secure infrastructure. All three must work in combination," said Elton. Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, nailed the railway's last spike on his only visit to B.C.
That is terrific news. That is an unbelievably beautiful stretch of rail. I have always wanted to take a RDC along that line. Perhaps I will still have that chance.
Is it still operating? We just got more of the Atlas GP-38s in stock for this route. So it tis interesting to know current status.
George- Here are a couple of brief threads from a few months ago: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=70017 http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=70018 Boxcab E50
Was out there in May. Still the RDC's back and forth twice a day. No freight though. The RDC is a great trip. Our cottage (Parksville) to Vic was $22cdn last fall. Stopped at Namino and a gut truck pulled up and we bought Cokes and sandwiches, it was great!
They are still running freight, depending on the day you went, they sometimes do their work while the RDC's are up around Courtenay. No freight on the weekends though.
Hope they get this done soon. It's sure been ongoing for a long time! Please pass along any news. Boxcab E50
george, are you referring to esquimault/nanaimo paint schemes ? could not find any on your website :-(
The latest news : http://www.sryraillink.com/SRY-ICFUS_press_release.pdf Congratulations to the (SRY)Southern Railway of BC a sister company to (MRL)Montana Rail Link. The Island should have many prosperous years of rail operaions ahead.
Let us hope so. Of the short line and regional operators existing, the new company is part of a higher class organization. :thumbs_up: Boxcab E50
