The work to repair Island rails and bridges that will allow passenger trains to resume is expected to start this winter.
While Southern Rail of Vancouver Island, which operates the railway, has yet to issue tenders to find a contractor to do the work, Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the track, expects that to happen soon.
The poor state of the track killed the service in spring 2011. That led to negotiations with Via Rail, which funds passenger rail service in Canada, for a new Island rail-service agreement.
Finalization of an agreement this summer will trigger the release of nearly $20 million in federal, provincial and local government funds for track and bridge restoration.
Each Island regional district served by the rail line will pay a share of the costs, and, with a Via agreement in place, regional boards are ratifying the agreement, which Mary Ashley, ICF co-chairwoman, said is really just a formality.
“I know [Southern Rail] intends to go to tender fairly soon,” Ashley said. “They hope to get the work done over winter.”
Ashley said the plan is to start repairs between Nanaimo and Victoria, where the track is in a better state of repair, then launch service on that stretch.
After that, work will move north, and passenger service will follow after repairs are completed.
“It’s going to happen. I know Southern Rail are planning to introduce services [that are] more tourist-related.”
Don McGregor, Southern Rail Vancouver Island project manager, could not be reached for comment.
