Home Business & Economy Travel & Transportation Urban light-rail idea presented to Langford council

Urban light-rail idea presented to Langford council

2 to 3 km stretch of light-rail would *not* need to be in a straight line & could handle variable grades.

light rail, langford, west shore
Urban light-rail proposed for the west shore, *not* on the E&N corridor.
BC 2024 Provincial Election news analysis

Monday August 21, 2023 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated August 22, 2023]

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends


An urban ultra-light rail pilot project is being proposed for the west shore. It would require a length of 2 to 3 km, and the target area is through three west shore municipalities: View Royal, Colwood and Langford.

urban rail
Urban rail presentation to Langford council, Aug 21, 2023.
think eco, urban rail, langford
Urban rail presentation to Langford council, Aug 21, 2023.

View Royal and Colwood have already heard presentations from ThinkEco Power Systems and seem to be favourable, and the company is hoping that Langford will be on board, according to presenter Stephen Kong, at this evening’s City of Langford Regular Council meeting.

city of langford, council meeting, aug 2023
Mayor and Council at their August 21, 2023 Regular Council Meeting. [Zoom]

Langford Mayor Scott Goodman asked the presenter if the 2 to 3 km stretch needs to be in a straight line, and if a grade can be accommodated. Answer: the route doesn’t have to be straight, and a reasonable gradient can be accommodated.

langford, traffic

The test vehicle to run on the light-rail line would be “environmentally acceptable bi-directional”.

Funding aspects:

Kong said that the federal government prefers if a few municipalities are on board for the project, as part of funding consideration.

ThinkEco Power Systems Corporation of Vancouver is privately funded.

CRD is focussing on E&N:

A presentation has also been made to the Capital Regional District (CRD) but apparently the CRD is focusing on the E&N Corridor scenario with the Island Corridor Foundation (which requires significant First Nations input and collaboration, a process which continues to take time).

If this private project were to proceed, it could meanwhile allow for some progress and leadership on providing rail-based transportation on south Vancouver Island.

ist main, wildfire
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===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:

Island Social Trends has been reporting on west shore news since 2008 (formerly MapleLine Magazine 2008-2010, Sooke Voice News 2011-2013 and West Shore Voice News 2014-2020, then Island Social Trends since mid-2020). News is posted daily at IslandSocialTrends.ca .

mary p brooke, headshot, july 2023
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke,

Editor is Mary P Brooke, B.Sc., Cert PR.

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