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Rail ambivalence fuelled by rising costs

Island rail

While the promise of investment by the province has improved the chances for the Island Corridor Foundation, the level of service required to maintain the endeavour may be the least of the challenges, as some conditions of the facilities and rail infrastructure may come at the expense of other categories in mass transit.

There remains a significant backlog of repairs and potential new construction.

Like any system that means, rail track requires maintenance and improvement all the time to reach good condition. Investments will be required to improve conditions at rail maintenance facilities and yards, yet many buildings and yards remain in fair to poor shape.

If the province and feds fail to invest adequately in the rail, the level of service will suffer, and they will find themselves off the rails again, and we the taxpayers will never recover that investment.

William Perry

Victoria