Rail removal starts soon

by Wayne Moore CASTANET - Sep 3, 2015 / 5:00 am

Two Lake Country residents exercised their first right of refusal to purchase sections of defunct rail line crossing their properties. Meanwhile, negotiations between local governments and the property owners continue over the fate of the former CN Rail line. The sale of the nearly 50-kilometre corridor between Kelowna and Coldstream was concluded June 1, at which time two landowners, including former Kelowna councillor Colin Day, exercised their right of first refusal. That right allowed them to purchase the portion of the corridor which ran thorough their Crawford Road properties on the east side of Wood Lake. Day, contacted by Castanet Wednesday afternoon, said negotiations are slow, but continuing. At issue for him is the fact the proposed multi-use rail trail being proposed by member municipalities would sever his property in two. "It opens the question: where is our legal access? Where is the access to the lakeshore?" said Day. "Under the Canada Transport Act and the Railroad Act, when the railroad cut off the property, they had to provide lakeshore access." Day said the original corridor is just three feet from his house, on the side the bedroom is on. It would bisect 700 feet of property. "This has been our family home for over 30 years. We've raised the kids and the grandkids here," said Day, who insists he is trying to protect the property, not only for his family but for future generations. With the complexity of any agreement and resale, Day said the process will likely take some time to complete. He adds he is in favour of the corridor, but wants to protect his rights. Work could begin as early as this month on remediation of the rail line. According to conditions within the purchase, CN has 12 months from the date the deal was signed to remove all rails and ties and up to another six months to complete any environmental remediation. The City of Kelowna's chief negotiator, Doug Gilchrist, said work on removal of the rails and ties will begin as soon as CN awards the contract. That could happen sometime this month. Track removal will begin at the Kelowna end and work north. While that process is taking place, Gilchrist said communities will begin working behind the scenes on the next step. "We are working on figuring out what the community outreach will be. Planning, design, construction and that sort of thing. We will put together a similar committee to what we had in the past to do that type of exercise," said Gilchrist.