Passengers Ride the Rails Once Again

A passenger train pulled to a stop in Creekside for the first time in a year and a half Wednesday, heralding the future for tourist travel in the Sea to Sky corridor.

Linked together on the railway line were cars from Rocky Mountaineer Railtours and Whistler Railtours; the two companies bidding for the chance to revive train travel to Whistler and beyond.

Earlier this year both companies submitted proposals to CN and BC Rail to start a tourist train service, which would run from Vancouver to Whistler and then carry on up to Prince George. Neither one has been awarded the contract yet.

"This is just an opportunity for the two proponents to see what the rail is like and to kind of experience for themselves the track and scenery," said Graham Dallas, director of communications, public affairs and advertising for CN.

When asked if CN and BC Rail could choose both proponents for the service, Dallas could not comment.

"At this point I can't speculate on that because it's still very much a confidential process," he said.

Though so much remains up in the air, John Haibeck of Whistler Railtours was upbeat about Wednesday's train trip.

The whole goal was to understand what the tourist experience would be riding the rails up to Whistler, he said.

"It was a beautiful ride up, absolutely gorgeous," he added.

At Creekside, Whistler's Mayor Hugh O'Reilly jumped on board for the return trip to Vancouver.

Source: Pique Newsmagazine, June 18,2004