The B.C. Government released a Freight Assessment Dec 2022!
What is the freight equation?
The freight is the foundational reason we need the Vancouver Island Rail Corridor Restored, the passenger service is social and economic relief for Vancouver Islanders.
The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (Business) have identified the Island's rail needs from the beginning!
in 2015 they produced a video
MovIng Forward 2015 - VIEA - YouTube
and every year the updated content includes a professionally phrased "WE NEED RAIL!"
2020SOTI-Report-WEB-New.pdf (viea.ca)
Automated on and off loading of cargo from containerships to railways has become "easy" and providing an alternate path around the islands circled in red above for shipping will protect the sensitive areas of our waterways from increases in the number of container ships moving through that area as demand increases.
There are highly sensitive shipping areas
The decline of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population is linked to threats such as noise and disturbance from boats, and reduced availability of their preferred prey, chinook salmon, as well as chum and coho salmon. Chinook salmon are a vital food source for Southern Resident killer whales but wild populations have declined dramatically in recent years. To address these threats, we are implementing management measures to protect salmon and to minimize disturbance from vessels. We have also initiated actions to reduce the threat of contaminants.
Minimizing impact on sensitive ecosystems
Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2022 management measures (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)