On Sept. 20, 2010, Rail for the Valley released the groundbreaking Leewood Study regarding the reinstatement of a passenger service using the former B.C. Electric, now Southern Railway of B.C. route.
Why groundbreaking?
The Leewood Study was an independent study done regarding passenger rail for the Fraser Valley, without political or bureaucratic bias and illustrates how passenger rail should be reinstated on the former passenger rail route at an affordable cost.
Today, an ever increasing number of passenger rail services are being restored on previously disused passenger routes and on rail routes long abandoned and now rebuilt. Today’s educated politicians and planners see both the wisdom and economy of using existing railway infrastructure, instead of building more roads and highways.
In 2022, the cost to implement the 130-kilometre line connecting Vancouver to Chilliwack, offering three trains per hour per direction, is now estimated $1.5 billion; a good bargain when compared to the now $3 billion 5.8 kilometre Broadway subway and the now shockingly estimated cost of $4.95 billion for the 16-kilometre Expo Line extension to Langley. $1.5 billion for 130 kilometres of passenger rail seems like a bargain in comparison.
The E&N railway, would provide a platform for a government that they truly understand the implications of global warming and climate change.
Rehabilitating the E&N, providing a modern regional rail service that would cater to commuters, students, tourists, the casual user, as well as carrying freight, would send a strong message to the electorate that government takes the issue of global warming seriously.
Do not be swayed by dreamy eyed rails to trails types, nor the rubber on asphalt crowd, wanting ever bigger highways to carry more and more traffic, creating more congestion and pollution.
The E&N offers a 21st century solution: a modern regional railway, providing a much-needed alternative building new roads and highways.
Imagine traveling to Victoria on a modern diesel multiple unit, sipping a coffee purchased at the on-board bistro, passing stopped traffic on congested roads and highways and arriving on time to do one’s business.
To let the E&N rot away into history would be one of the greatest political mistakes made by a sitting government. The regional railway is the future, just not for Vancouver Island, but B.C., and Canada, and it is time our politicians and bureaucrats realize this.
