The District of North Vancouver Council will consider formally supporting the re-establishment of passenger rail service along the Sea to Sky corridor at its meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026.
A report from Councillor Lisa Muri asks Council to send a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Transit expressing support for exploring a Sea to Sky Rail network. The letter would signal North Vancouver’s interest in participating in provincial discussions on the corridor’s future.
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Muri’s report comes in response to a recent announcement by Canadian National Railway that it plans to decommission part of its line running north from Squamish through to 100 Mile House. That decision could return control of the railway corridor to the Province of British Columbia, creating what Muri describes as a time-sensitive opportunity for local governments to weigh in.
She notes that the region has seen significant growth in both population and tourism in recent decades, adding pressure to Highway 99 and raising concerns about congestion among North Vancouver residents. The corridor was historically served by a BC Rail line that remains in place today, though it is currently used only for limited freight and tourism operations. The potential transfer of corridor control to the province in 2026 represents the first opportunity in decades to seriously revisit passenger rail service on the route.
She says neighbouring municipalities, including West Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler, have already advocated for increased regional transit in the corridor, as have elected provincial and federal representatives from the area.
Council will have two options before it on Monday: approve the motion and direct staff to send the letter to the minister, or decline to support it. If approved, the move would position the District to participate in upcoming provincial conversations about feasibility, governance, and funding for a potential rail network.
JUST DO IT!!!!!
It is long overdue and too many lives are lost on the overcrowded S2S .
Alternatively- open the back road from Squamish to Port Moody/Coquitlam or anywhere east of the city on Highway #1.
I know it’s a watershed, but with an EV only, mandate there are no emissions.
Great idea!
When I was a kid we took the Royal Hudson to Whistler! It was so much fun to meet our friends that had cabins in Whistler.