To the Editor,
Now that our city owns part of the E&N Rail line (through the Island Corridor Foundation), we should elect a council that will make use of it. Rail is 50 to 75 per cent less energy intensive than road traffic.
If we purchase an engine to pull a couple of cars hourly from the mall at Chase River to Woodgrove, we could remove at least four busses from the roads.
If traffic increases, we can add more cars. Bus traffic can then concentrate on the east-west routes.
We could even refurbish one of those old steam engines to make the route a tourist attraction. Our Nanaimo Young Professionals already have some experience in putting antique trains on the track profitably.
Jim Erkiletian
Nanaimo