All aboard for rail meeting
Introduction of new executive, changes to structure on agenda
The Scotia Rail Development Society will hold a general meeting Sunday to discuss the future of rail in Cape Breton.
The society advocates for maintaining rail on the island. The meeting was planned prior to last week’s announcement that the province will subsidize operational costs for the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway Ltd., with the deal coming up for renewal in March.
In its notice advising of the meeting, the society noted that Cape Breton’s rail infrastructure has been central to the island’s economic prosperity for at least a century. It also said that Cape Breton has abundant maritime, mineral and export opportunities, but leveraging them requires access to rail.
The society meeting will take place Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. at the Lighthouse Concourse at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion on the Sydney waterfront.
Among the items on the agenda is the introduction of the society’s new executive and changes in structure and membership following the death earlier this year of Rev. Greg MacLeod. MacLeod was a vocal supporter of maintaining Cape Breton’s rail line and often served as a spokesperson for the society.
The meeting will also discuss an assessment by Universal Rail regarding the feasibility for construction of a Donkin-Sydney rail line for coal transportation — to be used rather than motor vehicle transport.
The society will also provide an update on its discussions with officials from the Port of Sydney and their support of maintaining the rail, as it is seen as a critical feature for development of a Sydney container terminal.
Elected and non-elected officials have also been invited to give commentary and updates on the rail issue.
Last week, the province announced it had reached an agreement with the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway that would see the Cape Breton portion of the railway preserved for a period of time in exchange for the province reimbursing operational expenses, up to $60,000 a month. Repairs or improvements to the line won’t be reimbursed. Expenses directly attributed to the line such as salaries, insurance, security and building maintenance will be eligible.
Parent company Genesee & Wyoming had threatened to apply to abandon the line, which hasn’t had any traffic since October 2015, and rip up the tracks. Also last week, the Port of Sydney Development Corp. announced that work has started on an analysis of the rail line and a cost estimate to improve the line so that it can accommodate double-stacked container traffic. The work will be done by consultant Hatch, with the first phase budgeted at just over $80,000, plus expenses.