Province intends to keep railway between Squamish and 100 Mile House in public ownership

British Columbia’s Minister of Transportation and Transit is committed to keeping the rail line between 100 Mile House and Squamish in public ownership. On Monday, July 13, Minister Mike Farnworth [...]

Province intends to keep railway between Squamish and 100 Mile House in public ownership Published 12:36 pm Monday, July 13, 2026 British Columbia’s Minister of Transportation and Transit is committed to keeping the rail line between 100 Mile House and Squamish in public ownership. On Monday, July 13, Minister Mike Farnworth issued a statement on the rail corridor, which has been the subject of much public attention since CN Rail announced its intention to schedule the line for discontinuation in July of 2025. Over the last several months, a task force of representatives from local governments across the rail line’s route has advocated for it to be protected and not decommissioned.

“This corridor has long connected communities and supported economic activity throughout British Columbia,” Farnworth said. “I know communities, businesses, tourism operators and workers along the rail corridor between Squamish and 100 Mile House are looking for certainty about what comes next.” Farnworth explained that on Saturday, July 11, the advance notice period concluded and CN can now advertise the railway to interested operators that want to take over the operating rights.

This will only happen if CN decides to move forward with the federal discontinuance process. The province is currently waiting for CN Rail to take this step. In the meantime, Farnworth said he will continue to engage constructively with CN.

“Our government is committed to protecting the long-term public interest. The lands and rail infrastructure are owned by the BC Railway Company, a Crown corporation, and we intend to keep this rail corridor in public hands for the benefit of British Columbians,” Farnworth said. “Although CN has not used this section of the corridor for freight operations since 2020, it remains an important asset with potential future value for communities along the route.

CN remains responsible for maintaining the rail infrastructure throughout the federal process.” This announcement comes after Columbia Rail, a small private rail contractor from the United States, has been in talks with CN for the last several months about taking over the railway. This deal has been negotiated by Peter Scholz, a private consultant hired by the Northern Development Initiative Trust.

In his statement, Farnworth noted his ministry and the BC Railway Company have also been engaged in talks with industry partners to “better understand future opportunities for the corridor.” He noted the rail line is more than infrastructure but an asset that could be used to support the future movement of goods, strengthen supply chains and create economic opportunities throughout the region, assuming that “commercially viable operations can be established.” “Our focus remains on following the federal process, engaging with CN and partners and ensuring the interests of British Columbians are protected every step of the way,” Farnworth said.

“We will continue to work with communities, industry partners and First Nations and provide updates as more information becomes available.” Mayor Maureen Pinkey, who is a member of the BC Rail Alliance, welcomed this news from the province. She noted they have spent the last six months working to keep the rail line active.

“It’s a very big economic driver in our province and a necessity that really needs to be maintained properly,” Pinkney said. “There has been so much diversion onto our highways, breaking them down at a higher cost to maintain and making them not as safe as they could be.”