I haven’t been to Victoria since 1990. Is Canadian National still doing business there, along with the American Railroad that bought out the Canadian Pacific section? I imagine the E&N Dayliner is still going strong. Is there anyone that can fill me in? Thanks.
I believe CN also left Victoria in 1990.
The Dayliners still leave every morning for Courtenay, usually 2 RDC cars run during the summer.
The Southern Railway Vancouver Island only travels to Victoria a couple of times each year, and usually not involving freight. They do serve Top Shelf in Duncan, 40 miles north of Victoria, twice a week.
I lived in Victoria @ 1000 years ago and don’t remember any trains around town, Was or is there a train station in Victoria??? and where was(is) it? I’m sure there were trains hauling wood etc to the mills in town.
I’ve enjoyed two visits in recent years. Staying at the West Bay campground (also a marina), and walking along the excellent bay-side walkway that leads downtown.
There’s a station stop just at the west end of the bridge - pedestrians use Johnson Street and comuters take to rail. I heard rail traffic but I couldn’t give detail.
John
The station is downtown Victoria on the city side of the Johnson St. Bridge. The rail yard and roundhouse is not even a mile up from there, along Esquimalt Road. The old CN is now the Galloping Goose trail.
Yes, the VIA rail service still exists. We just ran a story about the train in our May 2008 issue. The passenger train runs with RDCs (either a 1- or 2-car train, depending on the time of year).
The former CP line is owned by a group called the Island Corridor Foundation, which contracts with the Southern Railway of British Columbia for freight operations.
Matt Van Hattem
Senior Editor