Mayors from Squamish and 100 Mile House in British Columbia are advocating for the preservation of the railway that connects the South Coast to the Interior. CN Rail handles maintenance on the line stretching from Squamish to Exeter, northwest of 100 Mile House. In July 2025, the company notified authorities of its plan to end operations on this segment.
100 Mile House Builds Business Case for Rail Revival
100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney revealed that her community collaborates with nearby municipalities to develop a strong business case for retaining the line. The town has engaged a consultant to explore viable options. “Rail is safer, it’s more efficient, and we really need to save this rail line and find some new providers,” Pinkney stated.
The route passes through an industrial park in 100 Mile House, supporting sectors like forestry. Although the oriented strand board plant closed in 2019 and West Fraser shuttered its lumber mill late last year, Pinkney emphasized untapped potential in local fibre resources. “We are definitely open to some other kinds of fibre uses, whether that’s pellet plants or some kind of biodiesel,” she added.
Pinkney highlighted the affordability of industrial land compared to coastal areas, positioning the town as attractive for small manufacturers. She also sees prospects for passenger rail and tourism. “It’s not just about industry, it’s about tourism, it’s about safety, getting more trucks off the road would be better for everybody, if we got back to using the rail system again,” Pinkney explained.
Squamish Calls for Provincial Involvement
Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford underscored the district’s deep ties to the railway, once a key seaport and repair center. “A lot of our economic development work sort of highlights this aspect of having this access to international markets via the deep seaport and the rail network,” he said.
Hurford urges stronger provincial leadership and a structured process for input from trackside communities. “Every community along the way has a story to tell about their interaction with the rail, either historically or their aspirations for such,” he noted. “I really think it’s important that all those pieces get surfaced and an appropriate decision gets arrived at. And we don’t just leave this to a federally mandated process.”
CN Rail’s Stance and Regulatory Oversight
CN Rail spokesperson Ashley Michnowski stated that the company engages with governments, stakeholders, and customers during the transition. “As a leading supply chain enabler, CN makes operational decisions in a manner that is beneficial to both our customers and our supply chain partners,” Michnowski wrote. Operations continue normally as goods move to market.
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit requires CN to uphold infrastructure—including tracks, ties, bridges, and vegetation—throughout the discontinuation process. Oversight falls to the federal Canadian Transportation Agency under the Canada Transportation Act. Agency media relations manager Vincent Turgeon confirmed CN updated its three-year plan on July 11, 2025, to include discontinuation intentions. Further steps would trigger public reports, including offers to sell, lease, transfer the line, or provide it to other governments.
