Restoring the Vancouver Island Railroad is a topic on the minds of most Island residents. The dormant rail line runs across my backyard and I have waited for this time to come since the last train passed by many years ago.
People are currently filled with excitement and nostalgia recounting the days when they travelled on the dayliner. Children were taken in school groups by train for an unforgettable day-long excursion where they travelled through areas that many had never seen before.
Not everyone speaks enthusiastically. Some voice concerns about the loss of the present trails that have informally been established along the line. Others raise the alarm that the costs will be far too high to justify the restoration. I have looked into some of the organizations involved and their plans for the future of the rail. I conclude that this is the most exciting and positive opportunity for Vancouver Island since the heyday at the turn of the last century.
Island Rail Corridor currently holds lands for five Regional Governments and fourteen First Nations Bands. Funds have been made available by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for the Regional Districts involved to conduct Public reviews of the use of the rail corridor lands.
CVRD’s “planyourcowichan.ca” website explains that the CVRD is working with Stantec {Global} Consultants. According to their website, Stantec is “a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture and environmental consulting.” They further claim “Today’s communities transcend geographic borders. At Stantec, community means everyone with an interest in the work that we do – from our project teams and industry colleagues to our clients and the people our work impacts. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure”
CVRD states they are working with Stantec to “develop a process towards the development of a shared visioning” . I predict that the consultation process to develop a process and a vision will be very costly and will lead to further consultations requiring the need to hire further consultants to develop Action Plans. This will be time-consuming and could further delay the commencement of the needed upgrades to the corridor infrastructure.. The final Stantec report is supposed to include these key elements, “A comprehensive technical review of rail history, climate change resilience review, environmental constraint, land use planning, transportation and mobility planning, and business case.”
They will also summarize findings and present a report and video to CVRD. The CVRD already produced one video about the rail that is on their website. Now tax money will pay for yet another one. This plan to pay a globalist Consulting company for such an extensive and expensive study that will only pertain to a total of 42,520 meters [26.4 miles] of the CVRD [publicly owned] rail appears to focus on broader land use planning and other issues well beyond the corridor.
I was anticipating having a dialogue with some of the CVRD directors about the restoration project when I attended their Public Information gathering on Saturday, September 14, 2024 behind the Duncan train station. I was unable to locate any of the directors, however I spoke to staff from the CVRD office. They directed me to the “planyourcowichan.ca” website and encouraged me to take their survey. They were eager to tell me that consultants will be releasing full reports sometime in 2025 and that would be the time to have my questions answered.
CVRD states on their website that the Island Corridor Foundation was established “for the purpose of owning and managing the rail corridor on Vancouver Island. ICF is the landowner of the corridor.” ICF statements contradict this claim.
The Island Corridor Foundation was incorporated in 2004 and achieved charitable status. Please refer to their website for more details at “islandrail.com”
The Foundation acquired the former E and N corridor in 2006 when an Asset Donation Agreement was finalized seeing a tax credit issued to CPR for a significant amount of money. The ICF is not a railway operations company. It functions much like a landlord managing the lands and tracks but not the operations of the railway itself. Nanaimo has approximately nine miles of rail that has continued to provide industrial train service and is run by Southern Rail, [the operator.]
The Island Corridor lands are owned by the people and communities of Vancouver Island. The ICF website states “The Rail Corridor is an incredibly valuable asset owned by the people and communities of Vancouver Island.” In bold letters they state “THAT MEANS IT’S YOURS’
The ICF website claims to “be on the verge of accomplishing a historic achievement.” They are presently asking for public support in order to acquire Federal and Provincial funding to work on commuter rail service plans between Victoria and Langford. They state “as demand for commuter rail service grows over the next two decades the rail may extend northwards.”
The ICF website also details their objectives to create trails and facilitate opportunities for parks, gardens, greenways and other public areas along the length of the corridor. The ICFs broad non-rail interests are of concern when public focus is on getting the railway back in service. I predict that there will be significant development opportunities in the future and we currently have Economic Development Committees to explore business possibilities with investors. We also have plenty of environment, trail and park advocacy groups.
The ICF is a charitable Society and I was provided with a copy of their most recent financial statement. Their balance sheet needs to be reviewed by all to determine whether our trust should rest with this Foundation. They propose billion-dollar projects yet their financial statement reveals a staggering deficit. Will taxpayers be liable to repay the ICF debt?
I recently became aware of the Island Rail Corporation. Their mandate, vision statement and all the detailed information can be found on their website,
“Island Rail Corp [IRC] is a privately held corporation at the forefront of bringing together a consortium of local, national and international companies that can support Vancouver Islands vision to rebuild the Island Rail Corridor for future generations; all within the framework of Reconciliation with the First Peoples as our partners.”
I recently met with Alex Stuart, former Mayor of Ladysmith and presently the Managing Director of IRC. I learned that The IRC executive team brings over 200+ years of knowledge and experience in the Railroad Industry. Dave Hayden, President of IRC alone brings 35 years in Senior Management positions with CPR. His responsibilities included managing budgets over one hundred million dollars.
I have learned a great deal from Alex. The IRC has been engaged in detailed and complex planning for the rails’ future for over three years. The plans are well documented on their website. Contact information allows questions to be asked directly to the Corporate Executives.
IRC publicly recognizes that there are rail lands belonging to the 14 First Nations along the corridor and they are” First Partners” Several agreements with First Nations are already in place. The most recent agreement to be finalized is a Joint Venture Partnership with First Nations-owned West Marine Express for rebuilding the rail-marine leg of the railway. This project will link Vancouver Island Rail with Metro Vancouver utilizing custom-built barges and infrastructure. The IRC is in current talks and negotiations with over fifty Businesses, local interest groups and suppliers. A current list is on their website. Multiple MOUs [memos of understanding] have been signed with First Nations and the private sector to provide a wide range of materials and services required to complete the project.
IRCs clear vision recognizes that First Nations must be involved to guarantee the success of the project and the resulting prosperity for their People both socially and economically. Reconciliations through inclusion in planning, employment, business and development opportunities.is a cornerstone of the project. The First Nations will be 51% owners of the IRC. They will receive 51% of the profit with the IRC owning 49%. This profit-sharing arrangement will benefit First Nations communities and families well into the future.
The restored rail service will be comprehensive. Freight, passenger service and seasonal excursions for visitors are all part of the planning. Benefits include reduction of vehicles and transport trucks on the Island highways, relaxed travel with convenient schedules for commuting workers, shoppers and other riders, reduced vehicle emissions and decreased reliance on private vehicles and on oil and gas, reduction in wear and tear on the roads that lead to costly repairs and upgrades, increased public safety, trains offer more reliable travel even in extreme weather conditions. The destinations will also be linked up with transit routes, seasonal tourist buses and trail networks.
The mainstay of the economic benefits will be in the freight component. Port Alberni is a Federal Port and Vancouver Island is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone.. Plans are progressing to expand the Port Alberni terminal facilities to accommodate the increasing volume of domestic and international freight. Freight-rail service will streamline the movement of goods and alleviate congestion at Vancouver Port terminals. Service will also be restored and expanded along the corridor. The details are explained on the IRC website.
The IRC is a member of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance and due to Vancouver Islands designation as a Foreign Trade Zone it is well situated to benefit directly from International Shippers. IRC and its principles are in discussions with the State of Nayarit, Mexico on several opportunities that will impact rail and technology licensing agreements.
IRC is committed to ensure that the project is environmentally friendly, the goal of reducing emissions is a priority. The first operational phase will showcase their intentions and ability to meet public expectations. The First Nations that own the Malahat Skywalk have requested that the first trains bring guests up to the Malahat. A plan is in place to showcase a Hydrogen train that will be met by shuttle buses linking the CRD up Island.
Once the first phase is operational the next phase will follow rapidly. Work will commence simultaneously at multiple locations to expedite the progress. Once complete, the entire infrastructure will have been replaced, upgraded and modernized including the port facilities.
The IRC website details its plan to pilot an Alsom “State of the Art” hydrogen-powered passenger train. The excitement is building as the public is now able to acquaint themselves with the progress made by IRC.
The restoration project will be primarily funded by the private sector. Some grants and Federal/Provincial capital will be necessary but once the the rail is operational it will be profitable,
BC and Vancouver Island need this investment to regain prosperity and positive outlook for the future of all Island residents. The benefits will be extraordinary for First Nations and all residents
The BC Conservative Party Leader, John Rustad as well as The Nanaimo Airport Authority have publicly and unanimously shown support for both passenger and cargo.
We need to ask all candidates, “Will you support the Private Sector Partnering with First Nations wherein the island corridor lands can be owned and operated by a First Nations/Private sector company.
I conclude by saying, “we have waited for 20 years for this moment to arrive”
There’s a new dawn of prosperity right here and right now.. We all need to do our research then Get on Board.
Ruth Waddell
