Fact Sheet – Port Alberni to benefit from rail renewal
The $103.8-million Vancouver Island rail corridor renewal program includes $20.6 million in overdue rail bed and track improvements for the Port Alberni-Parksville line as well as $78.8 million for the Victoria-Courtenay section and $4.4 million to renew the heritage stations.
The list of benefits include:
• A revitalized Alberni rail line could trigger a $2-million expansion of the immensely popular Alberni Pacific Railway steam excursion train which was voted the number one shore excursion in the Vancouver Island tourism survey of cruise ship passengers last year.
• Currently, cruise passengers take the bus to Port Alberni and then go on a short train excursion to the historic McLean Mill site. With the Island Corridor upgrade, passengers could travel to the site directly by train along the scenic route to Port Alberni.
• Rail operator Southern Railway of Vancouver Island (SVI) is developing opportunities to ship bulk products such as coal through Port Alberni, which can be transferred to deep sea freighters for customers throughout the Asia Pacific region.
• Renewal of the Port Alberni section will also support Island lumber producers. With Saga Shipping Lines no longer calling at the port of Port Alberni to take on lumber shipments, the Island Corridor can help deliver lumber destined for Mainland container ports.
• It will also provide alternatives for local inter-plant product transfers and loading of bulk barges in Nanaimo.
• SVI’s proposed barge terminal will play a vital role in this traffic by providing access to lumber markets throughout North America and Asia. A revitalized Alberni rail line will also provide alternatives for local inter-plant product transfers and loading of bulk barges in Nanaimo.
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