Premier pressing for a decision on future of E&N rail corridor

Touted for commuter line

Premier John Horgan said he wants to see a decision soon on the future of the E&N corridor, which has been touted as a possible commuter route between Victoria and the West Shore.

“We want to move on this quickly as possible,” he told reporters Friday at a transportation announcement in Sooke.

“I’ve been 12 years an MLA and I’ve been talking about this almost every time I get an opportunity. Is it going to be a train? Is it going to be a bus corridor? That’s a decision that we have to make as a community.”

Horgan said Esquimalt-Metchosin NDP MLA Mitzi Dean is leading discussions with First Nations and regional governments on the issue.

“We have an unused corridor that stretches from Comox right into the city and it’s underutilized,” he said.

“That’s stupid and we need to fix that. I know everyone here agrees with that. The challenge is what’s the mode and what’s the least [costly] way to make that happen?”

He stressed, however, that it’s time to stop wasting time on further studies.

“I know the ministry has a room full of studies on the E&N corridor,” he said.

“We want to make progress, we want to get something done there and my government commits to making sure that that corridor will be used by the people in this region so the economy can grow and people can get home faster and more safely.”

Asked if he would like to see a decision within the next two years, Horgan said: “No, well before the next two years. I’m a minority premier.”