SURREY: Inter-urban rail line to launch
Brian Lewis
Province
Having a one-track mind is proving to be a valuable asset for the small, dedicated group of enthusiasts in the non-profit Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society.
It’s proving, for example, that it takes more than a thumbs-down from the bureaucrats at TransLink to derail the dream these rail buffs have of establishing a new high-tech community rail system on parts of the long-abandoned inter-urban rail line between Vancouver and Chilliwack.
In fact, at its regular meeting tomorrow, Surrey city council will help push that dream further down the track to reality.
That’s when Surrey officially launches its Heritage Rail Project, through which it hopes to run several restored inter-urban cars along part of the inter-urban line.
“A heritage rail project like this is clearly of tourist interest,” says
Coun. Bob Bose, who heads Surrey council’s transportation committee.
“But the underlying objective here is to pursue the idea of a community rail system that would run at higher frequency to serve communities along the existing inter-urban route such as Cloverdale, Sullivan Heights, Newton and Kennedy Heights,” he adds.
Bose also says they’re all town centres that Surrey council wants to support for further urban development.
In the longer term, project supporters envisage this light-rail service extending through Langley and Abbotsford to Chilliwack.
“We’re also looking at this as a demonstration of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell systems,” Bose says, “and we’re in a very unique position to have it in place for the 2010 Olympics.”
Powertech, B.C. Hydro’s research subsidiary, would provide the hydrogen fuelling from its location beside the inter-urban line near 88th Avenue in Surrey.
At tomorrow’s meeting, Surrey council is expected to endorse a staff report that recommends the city undertake the Heritage Rail Project as a first step toward establishing community rail. The hiring of two heritage project consultants by Surrey, at a cost of $100,000, is also being authorized.
“Staff holds the view that it is more realistic to initiate a smaller scale Heritage Rail service on a section of the inter-urban line, then gradually expand this service on to the full length from Cloverdale to Scott Road,” the staff report says.
The report adds that an earlier feasibility study by TransLink called for much more elaborate and expensive commuter rail systems on the inter-urban line than backers of the lighter and less expensive community rail system say is necessary.
Preliminary capital costs for community rail in Surrey are estimated at $110 to $150 million; TransLink estimates its costs for an inter-urban in the $360-to-$700-million range, depending on the technology adopted.
The staff paper also notes a TransLink concern that any rail service on the inter-urban line would divert riders away from TransLink’s proposed bus rapid transit/light rail options for King George Highway and 104 Avenue.
“They’re not interested in community rail, so we’ve decided to put some money up to take advantage of an opportunity that TransLink has no appetite for,” Bose says.
However, it’s not a project that Surrey can finance by itself, so it’s hoped that this pilot project will draw potential third-party partners, he explains.
Adds Peter Holt, executive director of the Surrey Board of Trade and a spokesman for the railway society: “This project will alert the people of Surrey to the fact that we have a wonderful diamond in the rough here with the inter-urban rail line.”
© The Vancouver Province 2007
