Service agreement deadline looming for rail corridor
SARAH SIMPSON / COWICHAN VALLEY CITIZEN
JULY 25, 2013
JULY 25, 2013
Officials with the Island Corridor Foundation are hopeful B.C.’s transportation minister will be able to coax Via Rail back into talks to resume a passenger train service on Vancouver Island — and in short order.
ICF Executive Director Graham Bruce said time is of the essence, as a train service agreement must be reached by the end of August to meet a November date for the start of construction.
It gives Minister Todd Stone very little time to push the issue federally.
Members of the ICF and Southern Rail met with Stone on Monday to brief him on the progress of the proposed project.
“He was well aware of the issues and understands how vital this train service agreement is to maintaining rail on Vancouver Island,” Bruce said, adding Stone mentioned he’d be reaching out to Lisa Raitt, the new federal transportation minister for talks on the matter.
Following the meeting with Bruce and partners, Stone told the Times Colonist he understands the holdup is with Via Rail’s reluctance to sit down and talk with the other partners.
Via Rail has publicly stated it won’t bring back the service if there’s any chance it would cost the Crown rail corporation additional money.
Stone hopes he can persuade them to at least come to the table.
“If there is the ability to provide some encouragement, some moral suasion perhaps with our federal partners, including Via Rail, I’m absolutely prepared to do that,” Stone said.
The project has already secured $18 million in funding — $15 million from the federal and provincial governments and another $3.2 million from regional districts up and down the Island. The money is supposed to pay for track, bridge and trestle upgrades along the 223-kilometre Island E&N line, which runs from Victoria to Courtenay.
While the money has been committed, it is only accessible if and when the ICF reaches a deal with Via Rail.
With files from the Times Colonist
© Copyright 2013
ICF Executive Director Graham Bruce said time is of the essence, as a train service agreement must be reached by the end of August to meet a November date for the start of construction.
It gives Minister Todd Stone very little time to push the issue federally.
Members of the ICF and Southern Rail met with Stone on Monday to brief him on the progress of the proposed project.
“He was well aware of the issues and understands how vital this train service agreement is to maintaining rail on Vancouver Island,” Bruce said, adding Stone mentioned he’d be reaching out to Lisa Raitt, the new federal transportation minister for talks on the matter.
Following the meeting with Bruce and partners, Stone told the Times Colonist he understands the holdup is with Via Rail’s reluctance to sit down and talk with the other partners.
Via Rail has publicly stated it won’t bring back the service if there’s any chance it would cost the Crown rail corporation additional money.
Stone hopes he can persuade them to at least come to the table.
“If there is the ability to provide some encouragement, some moral suasion perhaps with our federal partners, including Via Rail, I’m absolutely prepared to do that,” Stone said.
The project has already secured $18 million in funding — $15 million from the federal and provincial governments and another $3.2 million from regional districts up and down the Island. The money is supposed to pay for track, bridge and trestle upgrades along the 223-kilometre Island E&N line, which runs from Victoria to Courtenay.
While the money has been committed, it is only accessible if and when the ICF reaches a deal with Via Rail.
With files from the Times Colonist
© Copyright 2013
