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Rail advocates push for Vancouver Island passenger service restoration
The bridge in the photo is long gone as is the direct connection to downtown Victoria.
Then how would trains get to Downtown Victoria?
It was once a beautiful scenic ride. Just as with all the by-gone railways of my youth. when we realized what was happening to the railroads of this country , with my wife we rode as many lines as was left. We scheduled rent cars at various locations…filmed or video sites, talked to residents, met people all over the US…its great to have films of places that use to be. like having your own history library…we are contacted from people or groups wanting information.
It was once a beautiful scenic ride. Just as with all the by-gone railways of my youth. when we realized what was happening to the railroads of this country , with my wife we rode as many lines as was left. We scheduled rent cars at various locations…filmed or video sites, talked to residents, met people all over the US…its great to have films of places that use to be. like having your own history library…we are contacted from people or groups wanting information.
I rode the train in July,2012. The roadbed and right of way certainly needed major work. The ride going into Victoria was bbrautiful. It would not be that great without the bridge.
I rode the train in July,2012. The roadbed and right of way certainly needed major work. The ride going into Victoria was bbrautiful. It would not be that great without the bridge.
Missing bridge isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s literally the last 400 ft (130m) that is severed. Bigger issue is condition of track and twisty ROW- this is not an opportunity for a commuter service. Don’t see how flipping the direction makes any sense - the VIA schedule was set up for folks to day trip from Victoria to the “interior” and that seems like the best market.
So if the restored passenger-train service doesn’t get to “downtown” Victoria, what is the point? Would there be enough ridership to make restoration of this service viable?
Also, will this service use RDC cars or have all of the VIA Budd RDCs been retired?
ICF has done a great job of setting up the funding. The proposal to have VIA supply the Equipment, Insurance, and some funding makes perfect sense. The new proposed schedule will substantially increase the ridership to and from Victoria. Southern Railway of V. I. did a fine job of running the Train, and has the qualified personnel necessary. They can maintain the track, and with local help maintain simple stations. Ticketing and reservations can be also handled locally ! Shuttle Busses can handle the connection from the Depot across the Bridge to destinations downtown (and this is an improvement over the old location.) KEEP IT SIMPLE !