Re: “E&N passenger service gets support,” July 23.
Let’s tell the Minister of Transport (by highways) and Infrastructure to give up on Via and this federal government for the E&N. Services to people here have zero priority for them.
We need a modern rail service such as the states of Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Utah have established. The line can carry more than one passenger train a day.
For a fraction of the cost of four lanes over the Malahat, the entire E&N can be rebuilt so we can have fast service from Victoria to Courtenay. With some “highways” money, finance the Island Corridor Foundation to do the work. Start in Victoria and as the track is done, have B.C. Transit run the service with suitable rail vehicles, first from Langford and then from further north as work progresses.
The service should be transit, not just commuter service. For example, we should be able to take in an evening play at Chemainus and be home at a reasonable time.
With auto density at saturation, added road space just fills with more cars, and traffic still creeps. Rail services have demonstrated that drivers will switch when the service is fast and reasonably frequent.
In 1962, the Budd rail diesel cars did 90 km/h on much of the route. In Europe, light, low-floor equipment operates at similar speeds. It has quick acceleration and deceleration, easily maintaining a fast schedule.
Add local transit service and car rentals at the stations, and we can have a winning operation.
Bob Trotter
Victoria
