Transport minister plans train talks

ROB SHAW / TIMES COLONIST
AUGUST 22, 2013
B.C. Transportation Minister Todd Stone plans to talk to Via Rail and the federal transport minister during the first week of September in an effort to sort out the Island rail dispute.Stone said he has scheduled phone calls with Via president Marc Laliberte and Transport Minister Lisa Raitt to discuss the holdup in restarting passenger rail service on the E&N line.
The provincial and federal transportation ministries have millions in funding on the table for track upgrades, but the money is contingent on Via agreeing to a new service contract with the Island Corridor Foundation.
The foundation has accused Via of bargaining in bad faith for not responding to a proposal it made in April.
Stone’s intervention comes at the request of Premier Christy Clark, who campaigned on restarting the E&N rail service and who directed Stone to make the issue a priority when she appointed him as transportation minister.
© Copyright 2013

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *