B.C. considers southern Vancouver Island commuter rail service

The B.C. government says it is considering upgrading the old E&N railway to create a new commuter rail service for southern Vancouver Island.

On Thursday, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon announced he will commission a half-million-dollar study to look at the options for commuter rail and freight on the historic route.

Currently a VIA rail passenger train makes one daily run along the old north to south line between Victoria and Courtenay on the island's east coast.

For years, island communities, which now own the rail bed, have pleaded for money to upgrade the tracks to provide a more reliable and more frequent service, with no result. Now, however,it seems the B.C. government has taken an interest.

"Theres growing interest in alternative forms of transportation on Vancouver Island, so the time is right to do a thorough business case analysis," said Falcon on Thursday.

"Obviously you've got to do your homework before you commit hundreds of millions of dollars potentially into a project," said Falcon.

New Democrat MLA John Horgan welcomed the commitment, saying any commuter line would pass through his riding of Malahat-Juan de Fuca, but noted the timing six months before the election.

"Someone obviously dragged Mr. Falcon kicking and screaming into this position, but I'm delighted with that," he said.

Horgan estimated upgrading the tracks would likely cost more than $100 million.

The E&N railway once known as theEsquimalt and Nanaimo has along history that dates back to 1871, when the federal government agreed to build a railway as part of the colony of British Columbia's decision to join Confederation.

In recent years, however,the route has changed hands several times as a range of companies tried and failed to make it profitable.

In 2006, the route was donated to the Island Corridor Foundation, a registered non-profit foundation created by local municipalities and First Nations to preserve the rail corridor.

A daily passenger service is operated by VIA Rail. The route stillcontains several historic trestles and railway stations.