31 July 2010

Discussions Revolve Around Fate of Railway Track

Okanagan Valley unit number 1038 in Chicago, Illinois, USA - 20 May 2005 David Hummel.

Vernon British Columbia - Senior B.C. cabinet ministers have joined the fight to try and save a transportation corridor.
 
Aboriginal Relations Minister George Abbott met with representatives from several communities Thursday to discuss the closed rail line between Spallumcheen and Sicamous, while Agriculture Minister Steve Thomson participated via conference call.
 
"It was a good and constructive meeting to explore the next steps in the abandonment process Canadian Pacific Rail has," said Abbott, who is Shuswap MLA.
 
"We will be doing further work on the options that exist."
 
Okanagan Valley Railway stopped operating the 13-kilometre, CP-owned line last summer, and there is concern CP may attempt to completely abandon the track, negatively impacting several businesses and the North Okanagan-Shuswap economy.
 
"There's Sure Crop Feeds and Okanagan Fertilizer but there's also Rogers Foods and Tolko," said Dee Wejr, Enderby mayor, who took part in Thursday's meeting with Abbott in Salmon Arm.
 
"Nothing definite was said but they (province) see the importance to the area of that rail line."
 
Will Hansma, Spallumcheen mayor, insists the provincial government must be directly involved in the process before its ability to try and protect the corridor runs out 18 Aug 2010.
 
"Time is running tight. We're at the point where our backs are against the wall," he said, adding that he appreciates the support shown by Abbott and other ministers.
 
"They've partnered with us to try and find solutions."
 
Hansma believes the next step is for all jurisdictions to remain united in trying to preserve the track, and once it is secured, to launch a feasibility study into future use.
 
He points out that local communities don't want to run the rail line themselves but want to turn the track over to a private operator.
 
Also at Thursday's meetings were Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper, Vernon Coun. Mary-Jo O'Keefe, rural Sicamous director Rhona Martin, Sicamous Mayor Malcolm MacLeod, and representatives from the ministries of transportation and community development.
 
"I am pleased with the leadership role of the provincial government and the local communities," said Tate Bengston, with the Enderby Chamber of Commerce, who also attended the session.
 
"They recognize the strategic importance of this section of rail line. There's a path forward that's emerged because of the leadership."
 
It's anticipated North Okanagan politicians will meet again with Abbott and other officials from the provincial government in early September.
 
Richard Rolke