Over the past week we have received hundreds of letters of support to bring back passenger service to Vancouver Island here are just a few;
Jonathan Whitworth, Chief Executive Officer, Seaspan
Dear Minister Raitt,
RE: Island Corridor Passenger Rail Service
It was a pleasure to meet with you yesterday.
On behalf of Seaspan and in particular our Victoria Shipyard employees at the Esquimalt Graving Dock, I’d like to express our strong support of the proposed Island Corridor Passenger Rail service.
We have over 1,000 employees working at the Esquimalt Graving Dock which is located along the E&N Line. These employees reside in lower Vancouver Island with the majority living in the western communities and the communities north of the Malahat. Parking and ever increasing commute times are their number one concern. With over 2,000 people working on the Canadian Forces Bases next to our yard, the traffic congestion in the area is a huge challenge. Unfortunately, there is no viable alternative at this time as any existing transit service is lengthy and inconvenient. We see the implementation of a daily passenger rail service as having the potential to alleviate these issues and also greatly reduce the vehicle congestion on the Island Highway into and out of Greater Victoria. The proposed enhanced service between Nanaimo and Victoria would provide a convenient solution for our employees, and it would also have a positive impact on the environment with the reduction of vehicle emissions.
Our employees are keenly following this issue since we first communicated our support of the project to the Prime Minister in 2012. I urge you to approve the funding request for track upgrades for the E&N Line and request you have VIA Rail sign the improved train service agreement by the end of August 2013.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Whitworth
Chief Executive Officer
Seaspan
Brian Thacker, Owner, Pacific Industrial & Marine LTD
Dear Minister Raitt,
Our Company with 35 employees would like put forward STRONG SUPPORT for the reinstatement of Vancouver Island Rail.
The benefits are greater than the cost to:
- Tourism – there are many possibilities where the rail line could benefit tourism
- Island Traffic – Victoria traffic congestion needs all the extra options available to assist
- To benefit the commuter – with Greyhound cutting schedules it would leave the commuter more options
- Heritage that would never be able to be re-introduced once gone
It would be a great loss and a great waste to deactivate this rail line.
Brian Thacker
PACIFIC Industrial & Marine Ltd.
Fred Pattje, Councillor, City of Nanaimo
Dear Prime Minister,
Not so long ago Minister Van Loan came to Nanaimo, cheque in hand for the Nanaimo Port Authority in order to improve their handling of container shipments, this in the context of Asia Pacific trading and shipping.
You may ask why I am starting my request to you, to exhort Via Rail, at arm’s length as they may be, to get going with Vancouver Island passenger rail service, with the above first paragraph, so please allow me to explain.
While the Island Corridor Foundation has done amazing work thus far, to make sense of a renewed passenger rail service between Courtenay, Nanaimo, Victoria and points in between, it is a fact of life that freight shipping is the bread and butter of railway operations in almost every conceivable situation.
With that and the future in mind, it is inconceivable to me that your Government would not see the value of freight shipping possibilities, such as container shipments from Annacis Island in New Westminster by barge, to a rail connection from Nanaimo to Port Alberni, thereby cutting valuable shipping time between Canada’s West and practically all of Asia.
None of this will ever happen if we lose the rails, and we certainly will be losing them if Via Rail is not spurred into action, by the end of August of this year, to become serious about assisiting this Island in regaining the passenger rail service it deserves!
Sincerely,
Fred Pattje
Councillor
City of Nanaimo
Francis Blundel, Resident of View Royal
Moving people and goods by train on the Island corridor is desperately needed now and for the future.
The people and businesses of Vancouver Island need an alternative to the congested, accident-prone Trans-Canada Highway. A new Island Highway would be financially and environmentally outrageously expensive.
The people of Vancouver Island are extremely fortunate that the Island Corridor Foundation owns what was the E&N right of way and rail track from Victoria to Courtenay. We are also fortunate that, for a fraction of the cost of a new highway, the ICF can start moving passengers and freight along the Island Corridor, which will relieve congestion on the Trans-Canada Highway between Victoria and the Western Communities and over the Malahat. It will also reduce traffic congestion, pollution and parking problems in downtown Victoria.
The federal government and its Crown corporation, Via Rail, should listen to the people and mayors of Vancouver Island and co-operate with the ICF to achieve a low-cost solution to the major transportation problems on Vancouver Island by restoring upgraded, properly run train transportation on the Island railway corridor.
All the people on Vancouver Island should follow their local governments by writing letters to the federal and provincial transportation ministers, and Island MLAs and MPs requesting co-operation on rail transportation on the Island corridor.
Francis Blundel
Steve Koerner, Resident of Victoria
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
I am one of the many people here on Vancouver Island who strongly supports the plan to restore passenger rail service on the E&N railway. As you probably know, that service was suspended over two years ago because of the poor condition of the track and other infrastructure.
As you probably also know, the Island Corridor Foundation, owner of the E&N and the rail corridor that runs from Victoria to Courtenay, has a plan with the necessary funding lined up which will enable the necessary repairs to the E&N track and infrastructure that could restore our rail passenger service in the near future. All that remains at this point is for an agreement to be negotiated between the ICF and VIA Rail.
Unfortunately, although the ICF tabled a formal offer with VIA to re-instate passenger rail services, no reply has yet been received, even though the offer was made months ago.
Consequently, I urge you intervene as soon as possible and have VIA Rail sign the improved train service agreement by the end of August 2013. Without VIA Rail’s participation the infrastructure funding will be lost and it is likely all rail service will subsequently end on Vancouver Island.
I look forward to your reply – and for some action to be taken by you and your government to restore our much needed Vancouver Island passenger rail service.
Yours Sincerely,
Steve Koerner
Larry Cross, President of AVICC
Dear Mr. Laliberté:
RE : SOUTH E RN RAIL WAY OF BC PROPOSAL
The Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (AVICC) represents the interests of its 51 member municipalities, regional districts and other local governments of Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Powel River and Central Coast. Reintroducing passenger service is very important to our island members in terms of the overall economy and wellbeing of communities on Vancouver Island. The Island Corridor Foundation and our members have worked hard to get all the pieces in place to enable passenger rail service to be reinstituted and we are seeking your support in finding a viable service alternative that meets the needs of all parties.
We understand that Southern Railway of BC submitted a proposal in the spring for the reintroduction of passenger service. Passenger service is a critical component to the viability of island rail as an overall service to communities. AVICC members strongly support the proposal that has been put forward offering an early morning train originating out of Nanaimo approximately 6:00am heading southbound arriving at Victoria around 8am. The train would then depart Victoria arriving at Courtenay approximately 12:30pm and then make an afternoon run back to Victoria for a 5:30pm arrival. It would depart Victoria at 6pm for an 8pm Nanaimo arrival. This service
would provide a valuable alternative to commuters, tourists and the general public to transit between these communities.
Local government members and their communities acknowledge that adequate funding and a sound business plan are key to being able to offer services that are efficient, valuable and sustainable. Effective communication between the parties and the desire to work collaboratively is imperative to being able to achieve what we hope is a common goal of offering an effective and sustainable passenger rail service to communities on Vancouver Island.
At this time, we ask for your commitment to review the Southern Railway proposal with a view that it has the potential of being a viable service for Via Rail and reopen the dialogue with Southern Railways and the Island Corridor to clarify questions, discuss concerns and work together to problem solve in order to reach a passenger service agreement that incorporates a strong business plan. If at the end of the day the business case is sound but is not within the budget that has been allocated to Via Rail for island passenger service, then we need to know so that we can have further discussions with our partners.
There has been much discussion of late about deadlines, but the reality is that all parties are challenged with holding on to funding that has been set aside for island rail service and, as time passes, the infrastructure itself continues to decline. In
particular, the regional funding is tied to the 2013 and 2014 years and may not be able to be carried over because of a lack of decision-‐making. The winter season is also
cost effective timing to have the rail infrastructure work completed. It would be expedient to conclude discussions to allow for this work to be done in the winter of 2013. Therefore, time is of the essence and we are asking that you respond
accordingly.
We appreciate your consideration of our request and look forward to hearing that frank discussions are in process.
Sincerely,
Mayor Larry Cross
President
Mayor John Douglas, City or Port Alberni
Dear Mr. Laliberté:
RE: Southern Railway of BC Proposal
We are in receipt of a letter written by Mayor Larry Cross, President of AVICC and are in support of the efforts put forth by the Island Corridor Foundation and its members to reintroduce rail service on Vancouver Island.
Local government members and their communities acknowledge that adequate funding and a sound business plan are key to being able to offer services that are efficient, valuable and sustainable. Effective communication between the parties and the desire to work collaboratively is imperative to being able to achieve what we hope is a common goal of offering an effective and sustainable rail service to communities on Vancouver Island.
We kindly ask for your commitment to review the Southern Railway proposal with a consideration that it has the potential of being a viable service for Via Rail and reopen the dialogue with Southern Railways and the Island Corridor to clarify questions, discuss concerns and work together to problem solve in order to reach a service agreement that incorporates a strong business plan. If at the end of the day the business case is sound but is not within the budget that has been allocated to Via Rail for island service, then we need to know so that we can have further discussion with our partners.
Port Alberni, as well as the Alberni Valley is embarking on a future economic path which will soon embrace a new Asia Pacific Gateway initiative. As well as becoming a regional distribution centre for Vancouver Island Transportation corridors such as rail will hopefully have a key role to play in this development over the next few decades. We invite you to the opportunity of being a partner in this endeavour.
We are hopeful that all parties can come together and support rail service on Vancouver Island.
Yours truly
Mayor John Douglas
CITY OF PORT ALBERNI
David A. McCormick, Director, Public Relations & Business Development, Port Alberni Port Authority
Dear Mr. Laliberté:
On behalf of the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) I express its support of the efforts of Island Corridor Foundation and Southern Railway to develop a viable, sustainable, passenger rail service on Vancouver Island. Therefore, PAPA strongly encourages VIA Rail to review the proposal by Southern Railway and engage in an open-minded dialogue towards assessing the feasibility of its business model.
PAPA is presently focused on the development of both a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal and a Container Trans-Shipment Terminal to be co-situated in the Alberni Inlet. Both of these projects will require substantive capital and human resources to construct. With a present population base of approximately 25,000 people within the Alberni Valley these projects will require the sourcing of the skilled labour that exists throughout Vancouver Island. The existence of a reliable passenger rail service that can effectively and efficiently move a skilled labour force throughout the region will be of great benefit towards not only the construction of these projects but, ultimately, meeting their ongoing labour requirements.
Vancouver Island is increasingly becoming a cohesive market of a singular regional trading zone; not unlike the Windsor-Toronto and Montreal-Ottawa corridors. Many families have members living in one community but working in others separate and distinct from each other and from where they live. This is a trend that is expected to continue. We also believe this is a trend that is important to the economic development and diversification of all communities on Vancouver Island, such as Port Alberni into the future. Thus, not only are more efficient and effective means to transport people becoming more important for economic, environmental and social reasons, this necessity also creates strong business opportunities for those companies that share in the vision and contribute progressively to the future that PAPA, Island Corridor Foundation and Southern Railway sees for Vancouver Island.
PAPA looks forward to supporting Island Corridor Foundation and is happy to provide any further information about our projects that may assist Via Rail to give greater consideration to the proposal forwarded by Southern Railway in support of a passenger rail service on Vancouver Island.
Sincerely,
David A. McCormick, MBA
Director, Public Relations & Business Development
Port Alberni Port Authority
Randall Garrison, MP – Esquimalt Juan de Fuca
Dear Minister Raitt
Today’s Victoria Times Colonist has a banner headline urging the public to put pressure on you and the government to encourage VIA Rail to enter into discussions about the immediate need for a passenger rail deal here on Vancouver Island.
The Island Corridor Foundation has a private operator, “Southern Railway of BC,” that is ready to negotiate with Via Rail. Indeed they submitted a proposal in April in an attempt to get Via to negotiate – to date no reply!
The Island Corridor Foundation is a non-profit corporation run on behalf of local governments and First Nations along the E&N route from Victoria to Courtenay. It took ownership of the E&N line in 2006 after it was donated by Canadian Pacific Railway and Rail America.
One of the primary beneficiaries of the resumption of E&N rail service would be capital region commuters who need to get from the Westshore to Dockyards and Esquimalt Naval Base. These two employers have thousands of workers who live in the Westshore and would use the E&N to get to work – work that includes the federal government program to build Naval ships for the Canadian government. We already face severe congestion at peak traffic times, a problem that will only get worse as the new jobs at the Shipyards come on line.
As Minister responsible for Via Rail, I urge you to encourage them to negotiate with Island Corridor Foundation and Southern Railway of BC so that commuters on southern Vancouver Island can again access the E&N railway to improve transportation, green commuting and business and tourism development on Vancouver Island.
Sincerely
Randall Garrison, MP
Esquimalt Juan de Fuca
