A funding package totaling over $2.2 million has been committed to study whether the former Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway can host light passenger rail travel between Victoria West and Langford, according to federal and regional officials. The federal government is contributing $500,000 through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, while the Capital Regional District has added $1.7 million, funding that will be administered by the Island Corridor Foundation to evaluate corridor planning, land use, and community engagement by the end of 2027.
Federal Funding and Timeline for the Victoria-West-to-Langford Rail Study
The federal investment of $500,000 arrives via the PacifiCan Build Communities Strong Fund Local Impact Stream, which directs $136.3 million to British Columbia communities over four years, according to federal announcements. Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Stephanie McLean stated in Esquimalt that she and Victoria MP Will Greaves have pushed the file forward, noting the studies will begin in the new year and conclude by late 2027. McLean said the process will test whether passenger rail is viable or if the conversation needs a final closure, adding that the federal government wants to back projects using Canadian resources and workers to build connected communities.
Did you know? Trains originally began running on the E&N rail corridor between Esquimalt and Nanaimo in 1886. Regular passenger service was halted in 2011 due to track deterioration stemming from deferred maintenance.
The Reconciliation Corridor Initiative and First Nations Partnerships
The studies form part of the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative, a multi-party agreement signed in December 2025 by the Esquimalt and Songhees nations alongside the municipalities of Victoria, Esquimalt, Colwood, View Royal, Langford, and the Capital Regional District. Esquimalt Nation Chief Jerome Thomas stated that the original rail corridor lands were taken without consent, impacting local families, the environment, and the ability to generate wealth from their lands. According to McLean, the project must move at the “speed of trust” in partnership with the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations to identify economic opportunities and remediate reserve lands. Roughly 500 meters of abandoned tracks currently bisect the Esquimalt Nation’s 19.3-hectare reserve between Esquimalt and View Royal, prompting regional leaders to explore alternate routes that avoid cutting through the reserve.
Addressing West Shore Traffic Congestion and Regional Growth
Commuter rail is being evaluated as a direct response to traffic congestion between the West Shore and major employment hubs like CFB Esquimalt, the Esquimalt Graving Dock, and downtown Victoria. McLean noted that she was delayed by about 45 minutes traveling nine kilometers through the “Colwood crawl” to reach the funding announcement. A Capital Regional District travel survey from 2022 recorded nearly 100,000 daily trips between the West Shore and core areas, with West Shore population growth projected at double the rate of the core region. Without transit improvements, a report released last year warns that traffic jams along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor could become an all-day occurrence within 25 years.
Expanding Infrastructure and Future Rail Prospects
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins pointed to major federal investments, including $1.1 billion to replace aging A and B jetties in Esquimalt and expand military housing, as a driver of explosive local growth that supports roughly 1,280 jobs. Desjardins noted that technical assessments, environmental reviews, and realignments are already underway with CRD grant funding. While past proposals looked at revitalizing the entire 289-kilometre route from Victoria to Courtenay and inland from Parksville to Port Alberni, officials suggest that a successful Vic West-to-Langford light rail segment could serve as a phased model for the broader corridor, following recent examples like the return of 10 acres of corridor land to the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation in late 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money has been committed to the rail feasibility study?
The federal government is providing $500,000 through PacifiCan, and the Capital Regional District has contributed $1.7 million, bringing the total commitment to more than $2.2 million.
Who is conducting the technical studies?
The Island Corridor Foundation is conducting the feasibility and technical studies, working alongside local governments and the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative led by the Esquimalt and Songhees nations.
When will the feasibility study finish?
The studies are scheduled to begin in the new year and conclude by the end of 2027.
Why was passenger service on the E&N railway stopped?
Passenger service was halted in 2011 due to track deterioration caused by a lack of maintenance.
What are your thoughts on restoring passenger rail?
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