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EsperantoCN Rail Spur Line
Because a Canadian National Railways spur line runs through the constituency of Halifax Fairview, and because the CN main line forms the constituency's eastern boundary, I occasionally get railway-related questions. For questions related to the main line, please go to
Spur Line Updates
August 11, 2009
CN Rail Chester SpurMotion Passed
Today, HRM Council passed a motion to purchase the CN Rail line.
By next summer, we should see a crusher dust trail, and by 2011, there should be an asphalt multi-use trail.
You can read the resolution by clicking here.
To read Mayor Kelly's letter to residents near the Chester Spur about the purchase, click here.
The Coast has done an article about the purchase. Click here to read it.
February 10, 2009
Negotiations Ongoing
Last Friday I was told that a CN Rail representative will be visiting Halifax this week to continue discussions with HRM about purchase of the rail spur. Although negotiations have been slow, everyone is still hopeful that the rail spur will eventually become a recreational trail.
March 10, 2008
CN Rail Update
The Halifax Regional Municipality did not, before the statutory deadline of March 6th, put forward an offer to purchase the rail line. Council's discussion was held in private, which is normal procedure when discussing potential land purchases, so there is no public information about their deliberations.
This does not mean, however, that the dream of a recreational trail is dead. Now that the deadline has passed, CN is free to discontinue rail service at any time. However, CN still faces the problem that there are few, if any, viable purchasers apart from HRM. I know that HRM believes the purchase price ($3,306,739) is too high, and that there is room for negotiation. I expect that HRM and CN will continue discussions and negotiations over the coming weeks and months, and I still expect that HRM will eventually purchase the line.
In the meantime, my task is to try to make HRM's decision easier by persuading the provincial government to step forward to assist HRM in its purchase decision.
I would like to thank our local councillors, Russell Walker and Linda Mosher, for supporting purchase of the line.
February 25, 2008
CN Petition Delivered to HRM
Yesterday the results of the on-line petition were delivered to HRM, via its consultant and staff. As of Sunday, February 23, 2008, when the compilation was done, there were 1131 non-duplicate signatures on the petition. A big "thanks" to Bruce Lusby, who sponsored the on-line petition, and to everyone who signed it.
The Trident Cafe & Booksellers on Hollis Street had a hard-copy petition at their checkout as well. I picked it up yesterday and hand-delivered it to HRM's consultant. There were another 111 signatures! Thanks to Trident for joining in the effort.
February 19, 2008
CN Rail Spur Open House
Thanks to everyone who attended the HRM Open House last night at St. Lawrence's Church Hall. What a great turnout on a very wet and windy night. There's obviously strong community interest in the future of the rail line.
For anyone who wasn't able to make it, HRM will be holding another Open House about the rail line on Thursday, February 21st, starting at 9:15 am at the Empire Theatres, 190 Chain Lake Drive, in the Bayers Lake Industrial Park.
February 8, 2008
CN Rail Spur Open House and Petition
Today I sent another update to the area surrounding the CN Rail Spur Line. Read the mailout here.
Open House
HRM is holding an Open House on Monday, February 18th, from 6 p.m. to 8.45 p.m., at St. Lawrence's Church on Dutch Village Road. The meeting notice is on the other side of the letter. You may already have received notice directly from HRM.
This Open House is an excellent opportunity to have all your questions answered, and to let HRM know how you feel about the future of the line.
Petition
A Fairmount resident has started an on-line petition, supporting conversion of the rail line to a recreational trail. Based on the response I've received to my letters, there is overwhelming support for this option. If you would like to join the petition, you can find it here: www.ipetitions.com/petition/cnr_trail. Or simply go to www.ipetitions.com and type CN in the search box. The on-line petition will be followed up on some streets with a paper petition.
If you'd like to distribute the petiton, you may print off the paper form via a PDF file here. Get it back to us by February 15th so it can be presented to HRM council.
For more information go to the CN Railway page or click the link at the top right of the page for more information and updates.
January 17, 2008
Mailout to Area Surrounding the CN Spur Line
On Monday I sent another update to the area surrounding the CN Rail Spur line. You can read it here. Highlights include:
- CN has issued formal notice of abandonment of the spur line.
- The federal and provincial governments have declined CN's offer to sell the line to them.
- The purchase price of the line is $3.6 million.
- HRM's deadline to tell CN whether it wants to purchase the line is March 6, 2008.
- HRM is working to develop a plan for an "Active Transportation Corridor" that would connect to the Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea trail.
- HRM has issued a Request for Proposals for a development plan and plan for public meetings. Click here for the Request for Proposal. The closing date was January 10.
January 7, 2008
Update on the timeline
Today I received an email from a CN rail official. The following is the current status of the Chester subdivision abandonment process:
CN received no responses to its advertisements seeking buyers interested in purchasing the line for the purpose of maintaining rail service. As a result as per the regulatory requirement, CN offered the line to the various levels of government as well as the public transit authority. Offers to governments were issued on November 01, 2007.
The deadlines for the various levels of governments to respond indicating their interest in purchasing the Chester Spur are as follows:
- Federal Government - December 03, 2007
- Provincial Government - January 03, 2008
- Public Transit Authority - February 04, 2008
- Municipalities - March 06, 2008
October 29, 2007
Update and Mailout
Today I sent another mailout to the area round the CN Spur Line. You can read it here. Highlights include:
- Steps 1, 2 and 3 of the legal process to discontinue the spur are now complete.
- The next step is for CN to offer to sell the line to the federal government, the provincial government, the urban transit authority, and the municipal government.
- CN hasn't yet sent the letter of offer. Once it does, the recipients have time to respond. It may be up to 120 days before all have responded.
- I have been assured that the Municipality will hold a public meeting.
- One option for the railbed is a public trail that could connect to the Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea trail (BLT).
August 22, 2007
I submitted my Chebucto/Parkview News article today. it'll probably be in print in early September. The topic is the CN Spur Line.
Future of rail line presents opportunity, says Fairview MLA
CN is in the process of abandoning the rail line that runs from behind the Joseph Howe Superstore…more
August 20, 2007
I recently received some emails from CN Rail and from the Municipality about the CN Spur Line.
August 1, 2007
I've added some news stories, links to council minutes and other documents where the CN Rail Spur was discussed. They are listed in chronological order on the right, and include:
- Jan 30/07: HRM Council Report on CN's application to abandon the Spur Line
- Feb 2/07: BLBA requests meeting over rail line abandonment
- Jun 19/07: Minutes of the HRM Council Meeting where the Spur Line was discussed
- Jun 25/07: Halifax too small for commuter trains: HRM official (Daily News)
- Jul 31/07: Group fights for rail line preservation (Chronicle Herald)
July 20, 2007
I received a letter from the Minister of Transportation replying to my letter from July 3rd. Click here to read it.
July 10, 2007
CN Rail has applied to discontinue use of the rail spur that runs along Joseph Howe Drive, around the Fairmount and Fairmount Ridge subdivisions, and out to Bayers Lake. Although this is not a provincial issue (at least not directly), I know the application for discontinuance will be of interest especially to homeowners who live beside or near the line. Naturally there will be questions about the future of the line. I am trying to gather as much information as I can about how an application for discontinuance unfolds, and what local homeowners can expect. I will post more information on this site as I receive it.
CNR Spur Line Mailout
Yesterday I sent a mailout to the areas around the CN Spur Line. You can click here to read the mailout. On July 3rd I sent a letter requesting more information about the CN Spur Line developments to the Minister of Transportation and Public Works. You can read it here.
Today I received an email the Department of Transportation and Public Works about the Lakeside Spur Line. The text is below.
Discontinuance of Railway Line Operations and Railway Track
Brief outline of the Canadian Transportation Agency, Transfer and Discontinuance of Railway Line Operations and Railway Track process and description of the rail lines.
CN began the federal Canadian Transportation Agency transfer/discontinuance process by listing the rail line in their three year network plan (12 months prior to notification). CN is proceeding with the following process:
- The railway line issues a Notice for offers from "interested parties" to operate the rail line, interested parties are required to respond within 60 days. CN issued the Notice June 01, 2007 (response end date July 31, 2007);
- If there are no expressions of interest the rail line is offered for purchase simultaneously to governments; with offers accepted in the following order:
- The federal government can make the first offer if the railway line crosses a provincial boundary, first nation Reserve, or there is an outstanding aboriginal land claim (does not appear applicable in the case of Chester Sub.);
- The provincial government is next with 30 days to respond (Aug.30, 2007*);
- Municipal government, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM will have a subsequent 30 days to accept the offer (Sept. 25, 2007*).
*Approx. dates for the Canadian Transportation Agency - Discontinuance process.
Rail Line Description:
CN reported the following tonnages on the rail line.
Year: Car Loadings
2005: 304
2004: 379
2003: 319
2002: 253
2001: 208
CN’s primary rail customers on the Chester Subdivision (4.6 miles) are Taiga Forest Products and Clarke Transport in the Bayers Lake Industrial Park. Their main customer on the Lakeside Spur (0.5 miles) is Russel Metals Inc.
CN Lakeside Spur Line
This line used to run all the way down the South Shore, but now it terminates at the Bayers Lake Industrial Park.
In October 2004, a constituent on Westerwald Street pointed out that the CN right-of-way along Joseph Howe Drive was overgrown and dirty. I contacted CN and on October 21, 2004, I was pleased to see a CN work crew cutting the overgrowth and picking up the garbage. It now looks 100% better. The constituent told me this is the first time the right-of-way has been cleared in at least 10 years.
A constituent on Walton Drive expressed a concern about the future of the railbed if the line is abandoned. I asked CN what their future plans for the line were.
Thanks for your voice message.
The spur line you referred to serves Bayers Lake Industrial Park. We have only a few customers remaining, and the line sees limited use. Nonetheless, we have no immediate plans to discontinue it. Of course, on light density lines and spurs this is subject to change on very short notice.
However, because it is an active line, your constituents need to exercise every precaution when crossing the line at approved crossings and refrain from trespassing.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by telephone or return e-mail.
Scott Roberts
Assistant Vice-President
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