Part of the E&N Railway will be opening in less than two weeks, but Cowichan residents will still be waiting months to see the rail cars pass through the Valley. Nanaimo's Heritage Station is getting a new lease on life after a fire nearly burnt it to the ground several years ago. 

According to the Island Corridor Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer, Graham Bruce, Canada’s newest restored railway station is ready to open.  

“It’s all completed, it’s a beautiful building,” he said. “Of course the building itself has to adhere to all of the Canadian heritage standards, and it has, so it’s got the old and the new.”

Bruce explained it was possible to restore the building after the Young Professionals of Nanaimo raised $400,000 and VIA Rail gave $900,000.

 “The landscaping, the grass, the paved rocks around the patios—people are really going to enjoy it.”

There’s even an Irish restaurant pub inside the building. The grand re-opening of the Nanaimo Heritage Station is July 25, with festivities planned for the entire day, including mini train and bumper car rides for kids. 

Bruce wants reconstruction on the line itself to start in October with the aim of having passenger service up and running between Victoria to Courtney by May 2013.

Photo: Courtesy of Island Corridor Foundation

Similar Stories

• Railway Funding on CVRD Table
• Rail Group Asks Districts for $3.2m to Fix Line
• E&N Rail on the Right Track with Comox Approval
• Duncan Shop Owner Frets Freight Rate

Most Viewed Stories

• Former MLA dead in float plane crash
• Morgan Freeman falls asleep on live TV!
• Morgan Freeman falls asleep on live TV!
• Yellow Point death now ruled homicide
• This Van Halen guitar solo by 14-year-old girl will melt your face off