The tracks along the E&N trail fall into further disrepair every day and many groups say now's the time to let the old dream die. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

Rail to Trail

Calls for scrapping E&N Rail for lengthy recreational trail gaining steam across Vancouver Island

May 12, 2020 | 12:41 PM

NANAIMO — With the idea of a rail line re-opening along Vanocuver Island’s east coast effectively dead, many communities are now looking at alternative ways to use the old E&N Rail line.

Alastair Craighead, chair of the Friends of Rails to Trails-Vancouver Island group, told NanaimoNewsNOW there’s no reason to hold on to the idea of rail when alternatives have worked elsewhere.

He pointed to the Galloping Goose in Victoria and Okanagan Rail Trail as ways to reclaim the hundreds of kilometres of rail along the E&N Rail line.

“It’s an old Victorian railway and it doesn’t matter how much you spend on it, it will still be an old Victorian railway,” he said.

Everything has been tried and nothing has attracted passengers in any quantity. _{Alastair Craighead}

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Craighead was part of the group initially pushing for the Galloping Goose trail, which stretches roughly 60 kilometres throughout the Capital Regional District.

“We had to convince politicians all along the corridor that this would work. It wasn’t easy in the beginning, but now everybody in every jurisdiction wants people to believe the idea was actually theirs. That’s a good situation to get to.”

The idea of replacing the rails with a recreational trail is catching on in communities along the E&N corridor.

Snaw-Naw-As Chief Brent Edwards in Nanoose Bay is now pushing for a similar idea.

“Yes the railway has benefitted Vancouver Island in the past. Now…it’s time to see and explore how else it’s going to benefit us now and in the future. This doesn’t mean just rail.”

Snaw-Naw-As is one of 14 First Nations in partnership with the Island Corridor Foundation, a registered charity who owns the land the E&N Rail lines are built on.

Despite a seat at the table, Edwards said there were no efforts to communicate with stakeholders about how to best use the land.

“They have this tunnel vision on rail and rail at all costs. (They) have done nothing to open up space and dialogue with the citizens of Vancouver Island, First Nations and municipalities to talk about what the Island’s priorities are for the corridor.”

Like Craighead, Edwards has a vision for the E&N Rail trail based on a success story from Vancouver Island.

He pointed to the Kinsol Trestle, which is part of the Cowichan Valley Trail and one of eight major trestles drawing in thousands of sightseers and hikers every year.

“Why not the East Coast trail, a level, acceptable space that promotes recreation?”

Public opinions about leaving the idea of the E&N Rail line behind became stronger after a provincial report was released in late April. It showed the costs of bringing rail back online would cost more than $1 billion.

The Island Corridor Foundation released a statement on Monday, May 11, agreeing with the reports assessment of the track but disputing the high cost of the project.

Passenger rail service along the E&N rail line between Victoria and Courtenay shut down in 2011 due to unsafe track conditions.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit