Free the Train!

Trains for our City!



Here in Nanaimo, the time has come to seriously consider the implementation of a major transit policy directional change,. We are fortunate to have, running the entire length of our City, an accessible track system. Moreover, due to its present under utilization, we can easily establish a local green energy powered transit system that will benefit everyone in the City.

Today we could buy several used train coaches and put them into service, going from the north to the south and all stops in between. This would allow us to synchronize our road based transit, with these trains and it would reduce congestion on the busy north south road corridors of Nanaimo. Benefiting even those whom do not use public transit, by reducing the number of transit vehicles going north and south. These trains would be small, efficient and frequent. Future coaches, would be sourced on island, from the shipbuilding and heavy industry sectors, both presently underutilized and high motivated with an excellent workforce skill set..

To move people east and west, small, fuel efficient van type vehicles, like those in Vancouver, would be used. In areas and times of high peak travel, such as the Vancouver Island University routes, large conventional buses would continue to move large numbers of passengers. The trick here is to gather the rider ship data and carefully plan around the evident patterns that emerge.

I feel it is time we all came onboard to foster real discussion and initiatives. Low start up costs, we have the tracks, excellent benefits to the local and regional economies, more money available for other City projects as we realize the savings from our transit efficiency programs, are just a few of the benefits we could manifest. What do you think?