Alberni Rail Study released

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The regional rail study has been completed and released, after months of public engagement around re-purposing the rail corridor.

While ideas around restoring the rail line for freight and passenger service to the east coast of the island were popular ideas when the study started, the Wesley Ridge fire destroyed massive trestles along Cameron Lake, making full restoration of rail service unrealistic.

The study now focuses on expanding tourist train services to McLean Mill, rail pedal cars to Loon Lake, and multi-use pathways for recreation and tourism.

The Port Alberni line initially took 4 years to build and was opened in 1911, and was mostly used to haul logs and lumber to and from Nanaimo.

The $600,000 study on the rail’s future was released yesterday by the ACRD along with a YouTube video we have posted on our website.