Clearing of Arbutus rail corridor to resume Tuesday says CP

Less than a month after a BC Supreme Court judge ruled the City of Vancouver has no claim to the Arbutus rail corridor, CP Rail has announced it will resume clearing it.

In a statement issued Sunday, CP Rail said brush clearing will resume Tuesday at West 70th Avenue and continue northward.

The railway says it expects the work to take about four weeks. After that it says it will proceed with any necessary track-related upgrades.

Before putting trains on the track, CP says it will ensure the appropriate regulatory approvals are in place.

The railway is also warning residents to stay away from the lands along the Arbutus Corridor for their own safety.

"It is neither safe nor legal for anyone to use CP’s land along the Arbutus corridor as a commuter route (walking,
running, cycling), for storing personal goods, or for gardening (planting or removal)," said the CP Rail statement.

The latest development comes after months of sparring between the City of Vancouver and CP Rail.

This most recent battle began last May when CP announced it planned to reactivate the track along the Arbutus corridor after more than a decade.

The rail line had become an urban greenspace popular with gardeners and cyclists. After serving notice, CP began bulldozing sheds and gardens in August. 

The city stopped the work with a court injunction.

While both sides waited for the judge's decision, they tried to work out a deal for the land, but neither side could agree on a price.