Allandale25 Posted December 30, 2018 Report Share Posted December 30, 2018 I didn't see a thread for a discussion for commuter, VIA and freight railway activity and proposals for Vancouver Island so I thought I'd start one. Admin/Mods: please let me know if there's already a thread for this. I saw this update from the Island Corridor Foundation and this recent media article. "Hi Everyone, During our town hall meetings in November we talked a lot about upcoming meetings with the Province in regards to the future of rail on the island. A meeting was held on December 10, 2018 in Victoria which brought together First Nations, island mayors, representatives from Regional Districts, the Island Corridor Foundation, and Provincial officials including the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Claire Trevena, and Premier John Horgan. This was a round table discussion wherein participants were asked for their thoughts on the future of rail on the island and how to move forward. Overwhelmingly participants agreed that the rail must be part of any comprehensive transportation plan going forward, it must include the entire island, and that the unique requirements of each region needed to be addressed within the plan. Participants asked the Province to commit to the development and implementation of such a plan and to do so without delay. We have talked with Minister Trevena since the meeting and she advises that she, and the Premier, clearly heard the views of the participants. The Province is committed to moving forward and as a first step will work with the Island Corridor Foundation to do an assessment of track and bridge conditions on the entire corridor. It was agreed this process needs to start immediately so we will be meeting early in January to develop a plan to complete the assessment. Although this is only the first step, in what promises to be a multi-step process, we view this as a significant step forward. We are very pleased the Province is moving forward and look forward to working with them to bring rail back to the island! Larry Stevenson Chief Executive Officer Island Corridor Foundation" 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted January 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2019 Further articles here: https://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/news/province-commits-to-rail-track-bridge-survey/?fbclid=IwAR0w5mEIBLMEQBNHNmwkTQ1Q7Tv-y6qluPqyFiu6UcaNhLF6Y7KAVHXHi3E# https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/mobile/meeting-between-mayors-province-sparks-new-hope-for-restored-e-n-rail-line-1.4240022?fbclid=IwAR0DOv4yukojlbrFPNzypaDCk1Jb5Xe_o8do8d9YpNL38p4NqHuHZRrq0rw Storm clean up post here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millennium2002 Posted January 5, 2019 Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 I've been following the ICF / SVI situation for some time... and honestly, I'm starting to have doubts about whether this railroad will come back from the brink. Perhaps there should be more "road trains" in its place... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted January 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2019 CBC News article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-island-railway-1.4967170 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted January 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2019 "Governmental delays frustrate Island Corridor Foundation head Larry Stevenson says ongoing studies taking too long" https://www.chemainusvalleycourier.ca/news/governmental-delays-frustrate-island-corridor-foundation-head/?fbclid=IwAR02oTPpq1M0rDvpjxNOM1_VG5uOdHKVCC-bbQhfxT0yEcy5SvNBqolwFVM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Latest article: https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/13-capital-region-mayors-urge-b-c-to-act-on-commuter-rail-for-e-n-line-1.23626082?fbclid=IwAR32z_410jWm_b9q_hB9k2fs6faSORF5fp3UpCiMykWTNekeGV_VT8RcgHQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyA Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Nice to hear there are new developments and there is still some momentum behind this. I have fond memories of taking the Malahat in 2006. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted February 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Latest article here: https://www.vancourier.com/government-calls-for-assessment-of-disused-vancouver-island-railway-1.23638320 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dowlingm Posted March 8, 2019 Report Share Posted March 8, 2019 If there are no or few freight movements over the SRVI between Victoria West and Langford, it might have been somewhere the Ottawa Talents could have landed (assuming the third one was repaired and the other two weren't wrecked from Ottawa winters). It could also be somewhere that some UPX cars could suit if/when no longer required in Toronto (as long as high platforms available) given their commuter door placement. I think the biggest issue with a "commuter" service is how far a Victoria West terminus would be from the downtown east of the Johnson Street Bridge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 I gotta say, this is welcome news right in time for my birthday... The track assessment for the reinstatement of services on the island corridor is apparently done and the ICF is once again making quiet grumbling noises pretending they'll actually accomplish something. Here's to hoping that their actions will one day yield results. The Parksville Qualicum Beach News kind of hit the nail on the head with a great editorial that sounds more like an Onion or Beaverton headline than anything. In other news, I'm really happy to see some volunteers have fixed up the old Ladysmith Station (at least in appearance). Last time I was up there it was in a sorry state. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted October 31, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2019 https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/we-ll-get-a-railway-up-and-running-says-island-corridor-foundation-1.23991959 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted October 31, 2019 Report Share Posted October 31, 2019 "Analysis Paralysis" is a new term that I'm happy to use whenever talking about anything to do with passenger rail in Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted November 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2019 https://www.facebook.com/329632833804362/posts/2076024879165140/ "Hi-rail trip with North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted November 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2019 https://www.vicnews.com/business/island-corridor-foundation-joins-partnership-pursuing-rail/ "Island Corridor Foundation joins partnership pursuing rail: South Island Prosperity Partnership continues to grow" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted November 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Track work. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted November 24, 2019 Report Share Posted November 24, 2019 Just curious, who is funding these repairs? I was under the impression that the biggest hurdle for the ICF was the lack of appropriate funding to revitalize the corridor. While this is obviously not the entire route, this looks like some seriously expensive work... especially for areas beyond Nanaimo where freight services aren't even used any more. Super glad to see it happening, I just want to know more of the story behind the construction! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandale25 Posted January 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 In the local paper re Vancouver Island passenger service LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Rail model can work Service could benefit commuters and tourists, says letter writer https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-rail-model-can-work/# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 3 hours ago, Allandale25 said: In the local paper re Vancouver Island passenger service Quote much-delayed Vancouver fast ferry While I am a huge supporter of rail being brought back for both commuters, and tourists, where on earth did the topic of Fast Ferries ever come up? Yes, Fast Ferries are a serious topic of discussion that isn't brought up enough any more, but can we please leave that entirely separate from the E&N Corridor? They are entirely unrelated. Not that the Nanaimo Bulletin is some bastion of high-stakes journalism, but that's a pretty low-quality letter to feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM5000 Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 On 10/30/2019 at 10:04 PM, InfiNorth said: "Analysis Paralysis" is a new term that I'm happy to use whenever talking about anything to do with passenger rail in Canada. Absolutely! In most cases, doing more "studies" is just a way to say something's happening when in reality it's just putting off real action. The other phrase that applies is "NIMTOO" (not in my term of office...). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 There's something coming towards Victoria, even if it's just a showpiece for the company redeveloping the roundhouse lands in Victoria: An SW8 Switcher was spotted in New Brunswick. It bears the markings of Bayview Place, which previously even had a boxcar in mock-CP livery inexplicably up an embankment. If anyone knows of when this will be arriving in Victoria (and how), I would love to know. It's being transported by CN, which means it's probably paralyzed somewhere in central Canada right now with the shutdown. Another post shows it passing through Belleville, ON, meaning it made it past the nightmare that is the blocked tracks out east. If this thing is actually going to be rolling into Victoria on its own wheels, I absolutely need to know when so I can get footage and photos of something more than a work truck running on E&N trackage. Quoted from the Facebook post by Rob Scrimgeour: Quote This had been stored inside at American Railcar Services in Moncton. The site was previously Industrial Railway Services Inc., and the SW8 was IRSI 1001. Before that is was Royal Polymers 8620, Lambton Diesel 8620, CR 8620, PC 8620, NYC 8620, and originally NYC 9620. I'm more excited than I should be for what is more likely than not just a bricked showpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viafreak Posted February 16, 2020 Report Share Posted February 16, 2020 22 hours ago, InfiNorth said: There's something coming towards Victoria, even if it's just a showpiece for the company redeveloping the roundhouse lands in Victoria: An SW8 Switcher was spotted in New Brunswick. It bears the markings of Bayview Place, which previously even had a boxcar in mock-CP livery inexplicably up an embankment. If anyone knows of when this will be arriving in Victoria (and how), I would love to know. It's being transported by CN, which means it's probably paralyzed somewhere in central Canada right now with the shutdown. Another post shows it passing through Belleville, ON, meaning it made it past the nightmare that is the blocked tracks out east. If this thing is actually going to be rolling into Victoria on its own wheels, I absolutely need to know when so I can get footage and photos of something more than a work truck running on E&N trackage. Quoted from the Facebook post by Rob Scrimgeour: I'm more excited than I should be for what is more likely than not just a bricked showpiece. According to a Facebook group that I am a member of, that unit is stuck in Winnipeg for the time being. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted September 19, 2020 Report Share Posted September 19, 2020 Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) has a new survey... haven't even opened the link yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted November 28, 2020 Report Share Posted November 28, 2020 Does anyone know what happened to the Bayview Place SW8 1001 bound for Victoria? I haven't seen any sign of it in Victoria. Is it in the lower mainland awaiting its journey over? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted January 20, 2021 Report Share Posted January 20, 2021 On 11/27/2020 at 7:28 PM, InfiNorth said: Does anyone know what happened to the Bayview Place SW8 1001 bound for Victoria? I haven't seen any sign of it in Victoria. Is it in the lower mainland awaiting its journey over? sitting in the yard in Nanaimo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiNorth Posted January 21, 2021 Report Share Posted January 21, 2021 8 hours ago, TheAverageJoe said: sitting in the yard in Nanaimo Gotta ask... where'd you get that info? If we weren't supposed to stay in our own town I'd pop up for some photographs. Will it be brought down on the rails or will be put on a flat-bed? The things I would do to get my hands on the schedule of that train if it actually were coming down under its own power... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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