Mayor Armand Hurford has penned a letter expressing concern and requesting consultation with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit over the decommissioning of portions of the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) rail line through the Sea to Sky Corridor.
On July 11, CN sent a letter to the District of Squamish via Chief Administrative Officer Linda Glenday.
The letter, which was attached to a July council agenda, stated that the company was decommissioning the Squamish railway from Mile 43 to Mile 157.60 and the Lillooet line from Mile 157.60 to Mile 257.
“Canada's railways fund and maintain their own infrastructure of rail, ties, bridges, and the right of way, including vegetation control,” reads the letter. “Where there is not sufficient rail traffic, railways cannot invest sufficient capital to maintain safe and efficient operations. Unfortunately, that is the situation we are dealing with on the portions of these Subdivisions,” the letter from CN continues. “Traffic volumes on these lines have fallen dramatically in recent years and are now far below levels needed to maintain the lines.”
The letter also noted that CN will be retaining the portion of the railway in Squamish from Mile 0 to Mile 43, as well as from Mile 257 to 312.90 in Lillooet.
In his letter to Minister Mike Farnworth, dated Aug. 22, Hurford said the District urges the ministry to convene consultations with the municipalities, regional districts, and First Nations that will be impacted by CN’s move.
“These rail corridors are vital infrastructure with far-reaching benefits that are at risk,” he wrote.
He added that economic development, regional mobility, and climate resilience were areas that were at risk.
“Reliable freight access supports local innovation, product distribution, and market access - especially critical given current trade uncertainties,” he said.
“While discontinuance may open the door to future passenger rail use, removal of rails and ties would make restoration prohibitively expensive. Preserving and maintaining the infrastructure now protects long-term transit options and aligns with the Ministry's commitment to safe, affordable transportation,” he continued.
“Continued rail access to Squamish's port is essential. The line proved critical during the 2021 floods, offering supply chain redundancy in challenging terrain—a necessity in building resilience to climate change.
Hurford's letter is attached to council's agenda for its Sept. 2 regular meeting.
The Squamsih Chief has reached out to the ministry for its response and will update this story if and when we hear back.
