Parties interested in reopening defunct rail line

VERNON – It may not be the end of a working railway between Vernon and Kelowna.

The deadline for expressions of interest to be submitted is today, and CN spokesperson Emily Hamer says several groups have come forward.

CN is not providing further details at this time, such as the actual, number of applicants, who they are or whether it’s likely the line will reopen.

“It’s too early to speculate on that,” Hamer said Monday.

CN will now provide information to the interested parties, such as a map of the railway, and give them until Jan. 30 to submit conditional offers. The former operator of the line, Kelowna Pacific Railway, went bankrupt in July. The loss of rail service has impacted Okanagan manufacturing businesses who transported products by freight.

Meanwhile, trains began moving on the northern section of track over the weekend.

If efforts to revive the rail are unsuccessful, a group of citizens is encouraging the idea of a rail trail along the corridor.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helson at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.