Rails and Trails

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Trails are one of the simplest ways to improve quality of life.  They get people moving, reduce stress, and create safe, social spaces that connect communities without the noise and danger of traffic.

Trails provide a reliable route for commuting, training, or just clearing your head. On Vancouver Island, pairing cycling trails beside the rail corridor takes this idea even further, offering long, continuous routes that link towns and regions while preserving space for rail. It’s a win for active transportation today and smart infrastructure planning for tomorrow. 

Existing sections of trails beside rails along the E&N interconnect with other recreation and access trails. That helps create a cohesive network of community trails in the regions that have built them. As more trails are built to extend the 67km along the tracks we have today, connections are made to existing trails.  For example, the Trans Canada Trail that runs from Victoria to Nanaimo can be connected in Shawnigan Lake!

Using a bridge built to carry heavy trains as a pedestrian bridge comes with high conversion and maintenance costs, and would only serve to prevent trains from running on the corridor. Instead, like this bridge near the rails in Haslam Creek, a pedestrian bridge can be built for much cheaper and that retains the rail bridge for future trains!

Modern trains can carry bikes, many more than a bus can. By having multi-use trails built alongside the tracks, extending the 67km we already have, travel on Vancouver Island becomes an integrated and pleasurable experience.