Returning rail traffic to Cape Breton will benefit N.L.

Due to the proximity of N.L. to the markets that serve the island, the people of N.L. must absorb a higher freight cost than most Canadians.

The purpose of this correspondence is to bring to the attention of all the people of N.L. that there may be substantial savings in freight costs to the island if rail service is restored to Cape Breton, thus providing a cheaper method of shipping goods to and from Port Aux Basques.

The N.L. Terms of Union with Canada guaranteed an all-rail rate to Port Aux Basques.

This provision was not extinguished in the 1988 Roads for Rails Agreement. Once rail freight reaches Port aux Basques, local truckers could distribute the goods throughout the province.

Canadian National Railway (CN) promotes that rail is the most fuel-efficient and the most environmentally-efficient way to move freight over land.

Rail is three times more ecologically beneficial than trucks.

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) states in “How Railways Can Be Part of Canada’s Climate Change” that a single freight train is capable of removing over 300 trucks from our congested roads and highway networks and that rail can move one ton of freight 215 kilometres on a single litre of fuel. Trains are four times more fuel efficient than trucks.”

Further, CN’S statistics indicate that a transport truck traveling 1,000 kms produces approximately 100 tco2e.

Imagine the benefit to the environment by removing some trucks from the highways.

This would also make the roads safer and reduce the damage to our highways.

It would be reasonable to request that CN leave freight bound for N.L. and Cape Breton on rail to North Sydney based on environment concerns.

The changeover would be of no cost to Marine Atlantic but should offer cost savings to N.L. businesses. A reactivated rail line could trans-load goods to and from other major centres in North Sydney for further shipment to N.L. and Cape Breton.

More than 100,000 commercial vehicles (mostly transport trailers and containers on chassis) are carried by Marine Atlantic annually.

A percentage of this cargo alone is enough to make the Sydney rail line commercially viable.

The collaboration of N.S. and N.L. does not require a financial commitment from Newfoundland.

The important point is for N.S. and N.L. to realize that by working together on restoring the Cape Breton railway, there will be a mutual benefit.

“More than 100,000 commercial vehicles (mostly transport trailers and containers on chassis) are carried by Marine Atlantic annually. A percentage of this cargo alone is enough to make the Sydney rail line commercially viable.”

Roger Taylor Sydney, N.S. Scotia Rail Development Society