Columbia Rail Eyes BC Rail Corridor Takeover

0:00It's April 7. This is Vancouver News today, your AI-powered local news. Seeing rail just dropped a notice, to shut down about 344 kilometers of track from Brackendale near Squamish up to Exeter by 1. Hundred Mile House. That means proposals to save it have until July 11, or it could get sold off or ripped up under Transport Canada rules. Columbia Rail, a U.S. short line operator running about 480 kilometers across Washington, Idaho and Oregon, Center Vice President, to tour Squamish, the North Shore, and Leluit last March. Join by local advocates like Prince George Counselor Trudy Classen and Squamish Counselor Eric Anderson, they're checking out a takeover of the old BC Rail corridor for local freight switching. Folks of North see this as huge for business since rail costs way less than trucking, seven to ten times cheaper for long halls. Schools are pushing First Nations co-ownership, with a coalition of mayors and communities

1:01meeting regularly to make it happen. Squamish views it as key to its roots, as a rail hub, and gateway to the interior. The plan needs an initial government boost for maintenance to build of traffic density in turn self-sustaining. Columbia Eyes teaming with Squamish Port for Southbound mines and lumber, Northbound goods like housing parts, and even adding passenger service to, Sweden, the deal. With Columbia as the only operator doing real due diligence out of 24 pitched, momentum's building fast, but that July deadline looms large. So watch this quarter fight to stay on track.