E&N Railway track and bridge repairs are now on hold until fall as negotiations to resume Island passenger rail service drag on with Via Rail.
Politicians on five regional boards representing voters between Victoria, Courtenay and Port Alberni have committed $3.2 million in taxpayer funds toward E&N Railway track restoration so passenger rail service can resume. The Island Corridor Foundation represents five regional districts and the First Nations served by the E&N.
A $15-million federal-provincial fund for track and rail bed repairs, hinges on the ICF funding, but ICF members, including the Regional District of Nanaimo, attached strings linking the funding to a passenger service agreement with Via.
Graham Bruce, ICF executive director, expected to have that agreement in place by now, with the work to start in the spring. That didn't happen.
Bruce could not be reached for comment, but he said by email this week the group is still "dealing with items" and with the delays, "we hope to start work in late fall."
On the ICF website the group says it hopes "to have this completed by the end of February 2013... Our goal is to tender the work by April 2013."
The delay is a concern for Joe Stanhope, Regional District of Nanaimo board chairman. "Let's face it, as we speak there's even further delays," Stanhope said
Until early 2011, Budd passenger cars ran daily up Island to Courtenay and back to Victoria. ICF proposes to start and finish the day in Nanaimo, to better serve commuters who work in Victoria.
"It's pretty disappointing news," said Chris Cathers, spokesman for the Young Professionals of Nanaimo. "The Young Professionals of Nanaimo believe in supporting a sustainable, green transportation model."
Three years ago, YPN raised $410,000 to restore the badly burned Nanaimo train station. Should the poll-leading New Democrats win the May 14 provincial election, the setback isn't expected to affect the provincial share of the funding.
"Obviously, commitments made would be honoured," said Nanaimo NDP candidate Leonard Krog. "Clearly we would want to sit down with the ICF and get a clear picture of where they're at and what can we do to assist."
Krog said Island NDP members are all "strongly supportive of the E&N," so a change of government would not change funding for the project.
Via Rail spokesman Jacques C. Gagnon said talks are "dynamic, but there is no resolution."
