To the Editor,
Re: Directors question support for railway, June 2.
Yes, it would be nice to have a functioning railway but just how practical is it going to be to achieve this? The public has been treated to a great deal of spin regarding this question over the years.
The cost of bringing the line back to safety requirements seesaws from high to astronomical depending on who one asks. How many people would use it as passengers? Will the railway be competitive with bus transport? Will those who already use buses actually change their choice of transportation? What commercial/industrial customers will use the rail facility? Can the railway, after all these questions have been answered, actually run profitably, especially when the servicing of massive debt is considered?
Until all these questions have been realistically addressed, no money should be spent on what could so very easily turn out to be yet another boondoggle.
Garry Bradford
Nanaimo