Rail line should be turned into trail
Re: ICF art competition
That lovely design by Darrell Thorne would look even better on the side of an electric bus running from Victoria to Courtenay!
The ICF deserves credit for stubbornness and wishful thinking in continuing to pursue its pipe dream of “modern rail service” on the E&N corridor. Perhaps they did not read the South Island Transportation Strategy by the province that recently came out. Interestingly that study did not mention anything about rail north of Langford. Obviously they recognize that there is absolutely no business case to be made for trains at this point, or any time in the foreseeable future. There is just not the population to support the hundreds of millions of dollars it would take to build it, let alone run it.
I know many of us, myself included, have nostalgic memories of riding the train, and would like to see it return. However, we have to be realistic and recognize that the corridor, instead of lying there in disrepair, has a much better use as a trail corridor that would link the communities along it, bring in tourists, and provide a safe alternative route for commuters and pedestrians, especially through the First Nations that it runs within.
Rails to Trails have been hugely successful around the world, bringing economic opportunities and benefits, along with active transportation on a safe, level trail accessible to all.
Let’s get behind a movement to convert the E&N corridor to a multi-purpose community and tourist trail.
Alan Philip
North Cowichan