Saving Cape Breton rail line 'a tall order'

Nova Scotia’s minister of transportation says it will be tough to save the money-losing rail line in Cape Breton, but not impossible.

The minister’s railway advisory committee held its first meeting this week.

Geoff MacLellan says the company that owns the line between St. Peter’s Junction and Sydney plans to apply to abandon it at the end of the month because it's losing money.

“We've got to create traffic, so we've got to give it every effort and make sure we leave no stone unturned to try to figure out how we keep this line on the ground.  That's what we're focused on. It certainly is a tall order. I don't think it's impossible,” said the Glace Bay MP.

The government says Genesee and Wyoming, which owns the rail, has indicated about 10,000 railcars would have to run on the line annually to be cost-effective.

As it stands, only about 500 cars use the line every year.

The company is expected to file for abandonment on Oct. 1.

The minister’s 15-member advisory group, which includes business people who use the rail line, municipal administrators and representatives of government agencies, is meeting with Genesee and Wyoming mid-October.

"I mean, people question the viability of this line because there's only 500 cars, but have we made every effort to market this line?  Have we made every effort to increase traffic? That's what the question becomes and I think that before we answer those questions we've got to get to work and roll up our sleeves and see what options are out there,” MacLellan said.

The minister says the group will explore possibilities for keeping the line open, whether it's with Genesee and Wyoming Inc., or with someone ele willing to take over.