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Invest now in rail bed

The B.C. Liberals must be getting desperate for photo ops and votes, resurrecting the E&N rail line.
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Governments around the worlds are making investments in rail as part of modern transportation strategies, says letter writer. (NEWS BULLETIN file)

Re: NDP leader addresses election issues in Nanaimo, March 14.

Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals must be getting desperate for photo ops and votes, resurrecting the E&N rail line. Oh, right, they weren’t resurrecting it. They were resurrecting talking about it and studying it. They must be hoping it would be enough to acquire a few more votes.

Is this what Clark thinks about Vancouver Island voters? Just talk to them, don’t have to deliver anything. While billions are being spent on infrastructure on the mainland, Vancouver Island, not so much.

The B.C. Liberals have been in office since the turn of this century and they simply have left the train line to deteriorate. In Europe during this time, rail lines are being built to speed people and more goods around Europe, spending as much as $17 billion to decrease the time it takes for goods to travel from Genoa to Amsterdam. China has ‘bullet trains’ like Japan taking commuters quickly and efficiently. B.C. has one- and two-hour commutes to get from one municipality to another. God forbid the SkyTrain breaks or there is an accident or snow storm on the Malahat.

The E&N trail bed is still there. While Vancouver Island still has the room, this rail bed needs to be upgraded and doubled (yes, real jobs). By the time politicians decide to do it in 50 years it will be 25 years too late. Vancouver Island needs to be able to move people and goods up and down the Island if it is to be competitive with the mainland and other parts of the world. We the taxpayers of Vancouver Island need to be awarded our fair share of tax dollars for our infrastructure, not just what the B.C. Liberals think is politically expedient.

E.A. Foster

Nanaimo