Katherine Bickford

The E&N spur for Top Shelf Feeds

Top Shelf Feeds was the last major customer served by rail south of Nanaimo – rail service was suspended due to speed restrictions on the line and the dismal state of the bridges over the Chemainus and Cowichan Rivers.

Passenger service on the line was suspended in March 2011 after rail conditions reached unacceptable safety levels. Freight, which could move more slowly, continued between Duncan and Nanaimo until service was finally finally suspended in November 2014.

“This week, after completion of a detailed risk assessment, it was determined that the safest course of action was to temporarily discontinue the freight service to Duncan and Parksville,” says a statement posted on the Island Corridor Foundation website.

The service cancellation followed a recent track inspection jointly conducted with the B.C. Safety Authority, an independent organization responsible for safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment, including railways, under the Railway Safety Act.

“It is the responsibility of railway owners and operators to ensure the safe configuration and operation of their technical systems and equipment,” said Quinn Newcomb, BCSA spokesman.