Vancouver Island just received a gift of hope! On Dec 11th, 2025, the Songhees and Esquimalt (Kosapsum) Nations agreed to advance a shared vision exploring passenger rail on the Langford to Victoria section of the E&N!

Clearly the Restore Island Rail campaign is keeping the railway on the radar for our leaders! Let's keep it growing!

The agreement establishes an indigenous led exploration of how to realign the corridor to fit the needs of the Lekwingen Nations. The partners will explore broader opportunities such as transit-oriented development and economic development opportunities for the Nations at key areas along the corridor, including on reserve lands where desirable. Unused sections would be returned the Nations.

I want to congratulate everyone involved for finding a path forward for this extremely important corridor.

This relates to 13km's of the 289km of railway on the South Island.  Let's hope a similar agreement can be made with the Cowichan Tribes, because the next natural stop for rail would be Duncan on its way to Nanaimo.

Petitioner
Warren Skaalrud
President of Restore Island Rail