Island Corridor Foundation’s Letter to Minister Claire Trevena

After years of indifference by the Island Corridor Foundation, a new provincial government seems to have brought some life to the Island Corridor Foundation.

Now the ICF is a political creature, which was believed by many, to oversee the demise of the E&N Railway on Vancouver island.

Enter the NDP and Vancouver Island MLA and premier, John Horgan.

The ICF has come to life, like a bear out of hibernation.

I guess those receiving stipends for being on the ICF board want to continue receiving a stipend under the new administration and with talk of a commuter style rail servcie, the ICF has miraculously risen from the dead.

ICF Letter to Minister Claire Trevena

Posted November 15, 2017

Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure

The Honourable Claire Trevena

Victoria, B.C.

Via Email: Minister.Transportation@gov.bc.ca

 

Dear Minister

 

Re: Island Rail Train Service & Infrastructure Plan

 

Thank you for meeting with the Island Corridor Foundation and Southern Rail delegation November 9th.

We presented to you a plan that would provide significant train service to the people of Vancouver Island through a modest track infrastructure investment by your government and by Canada.

 

We know you are specifically focused on the section of rail between Langford and Victoria. Our plan provides a path to satisfy the western communityai??i??s transportation needs and also communities north of the Malahat.

 

As mentioned it is imperative that track infrastructure improvements are made so we donai??i??t lose this wonderful Island asset.

 

You also heard of the commitment that our rail operator has to Island rail. To assist them and the Foundation in planning for the future we asked four specific questions;

1.Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai?? Does the provincial government support Island train service?

2.Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai?? What is the government response to the SVI/ICF Train Service & Infrastructure Plan?

3.Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai?? Should SVI/ICF make a formal submission?

4.Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai??Ai?? Will the province support the submission?

We respectfully request a timely response to these questions.

 

Madam Minister the Island Corridor Foundation and Southern Rail of Vancouver Island are keen to assist you in whatever way we can. Please let us know how we can help.

 

 

Yours Truly

 

Dr. Judith Sayers

Chair

Comments

One Response to “Island Corridor Foundation’s Letter to Minister Claire Trevena”
  1. Bryan William Vogler says:

    Rail for the Valley was a group that asked others to join in proposing a passenger rail service between Chilliwack and Surrey (Skytrain).. As Founder of The Lower Mainland Commuter Rail Consortium, John Buker then President of Rail for the Valley asked me to join the group and we had a wonderful town hall meeting in Chilliwack. In 2008 with no response from B.C. Abbotsford City started a Regional Transportation group in 2008. This group got Abbotsford City Council to pass its results to the Province. In 2008 Priemer Gordon Campbell made a decision to put Skytrain up the Valley and appoint Southern Rail of B.C. to take over Vancouver Island Operations. He made the right rail decision and now B.C. owns the track from Chilliwack to Vancouver Island and leased by one rail company. The ICF group fought a huge battle for passenger rail service on the Island. Since 2003 when CP Raill did not renew its 99 year lease, the Island had only temporary operators. None of which wanted passenger service but lived with the lone VIA service. VIA served a wake up call and left because the track was in bad shape. Today ICF in rail terms as arrived at the station with bells ringing and whistles blowing to B.C. to supply a commuter rail operation. We all got passenger rail in the Fraser Valley and the Island from a permanent freight operator and Translink. The Consortium started lobbying for the Island in the mid 1990’s and indecision is not the governments fault. It is the same problem with passenger freight rail we have had since the C.P.R. started. It took legislation to do the job. That is what the ICF is asking for in the most recent letter. Legislation to expand te West Coast Express west to the Island on Southern B.C track. Next the regional governments will meet and recommend B.C shares infrastructure funds on both shores..

    Zwei replies: It would be a massive fiasco if a West Coast Express style of commuter servcie is installed on the E&N, what is needed is a simple hourly (30 minute servcie rush hours) servcie from Nanaimo to Victoria, with a “TramTrain” style servcie in the near future.

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