BY WENDY ELLIOTT

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com

A concerned group of rail proponents, politicians and economic development staff met last week to discuss the future of the rail line east of New Minas.

Kings CED staff member Leo Deveau, who has been working on a business retention and expansion initiative, had met with ACA Co-operative to hear concern for the rail service and its impact upon their operations. Visiting the Windsor and Hantsport Railway, he learned of operating challenges, including derailments.

Deveau stresses that the firm is doing fine on its services from the gypsum mine in West Hants to Hantsport. “They just don't see a sustainable business model for the line west of Hantsport. That's not to say that couldn't change.”

According to Deveau, the rail line and the provincial government may have to determine if it’s in their interest to partner in some way to ensure the line is maintained.

“Essentially, the rail line is looking at closing the line west of Hantsport-to-New Minas. It’s no longer financially viable for them in light of the upkeep costs, safety concerns about the stability of the Avonport/Hortonville rail bridge, and for their rail crews.”

The company is making every effort to assist the clients it serves currently in Kings County, Deveau said. In addition to ACA, the line also serves the Frito-Lay plant. Although no closing date has been established, it will probably be by the end of the summer. However, the company has no intention of tearing up the track or selling it off, he added.

The Kings CED Agency plans to undertake an immediate first phase impact study. MLAs David Morse and Mark Parent say they hope the economic development department will fund a larger second phase review of rail service (serving both freight and passenger needs) from HRM to the Valley.

Wolfville town councilor Bill Zimmerman, a strong proponent of re-establishing passenger rail service, told his peers after attending last week’s meeting that a wide-ranging re-examination of transportation and infrastructure is needed.

Morse agrees that a holistic study of transportation in the Valley is a good idea. He noted how Kings Transit once had trouble running to Berwick and soon will take passengers from Windsor to Weymouth.

Parent said there are no means to forestall the shutdown of freight services, but he’s glad the line isn’t being abandoned given highway congestion and the environmental impact of vehicles.