Southern Railway of British Columbia Ltd. (SRY Rail Link) recently completed what the regional characterizes as one of its most ambitious capital improvement undertakings: the Annacis Island Track Capacity Improvement Project. Launched in summer 2020 and originally estimated to be completed in 2022, the CA$7.2 million project (highlighted in the video below) was finished ahead of schedule.
The three-part project involved adding 1.2 miles of track on Annacis Island, re-configuring the network in key areas to reduce bottlenecks and add track capacity, and upgrading track to a heavier standard. In September 2021, SRY Rail Link established a second rail yard on the island.
The Canadian government provided CA$3.6 million for the project under the National Trade Corridors Fund. The work will enhance the performance and efficiency of the railroad’s network, and position the regional for continued long-term growth on the island, SRY Rail Link officials say.
“This is a legacy project for [us] and a notable accomplishment given its scale and complexity,” they said in an online post.
SRY Rail Link operates 125 miles of track and interchanges with BNSF Railway Co., CN, Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad. Southern Railway of Vancouver Island Ltd. — a related company — operates 120 miles of track on Vancouver Island.
Video and photo courtesy of SRY Rail Link
