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The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) has landed an operator for the former E&N Railway line on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. ICF reached an agreement with Southern Railway of British Columbia Ltd. (SRY) to operate freight and passenger trains between Victoria and Courtenay. SRY launched service on July 1.

A Washington Cos. subsidiary, SRY is providing freight- and passenger-rail services under the name Southern Railway Vancouver Island Ltd. The 125-mile SRY also operates freight trains in B.C.’s lower mainland and the Fraser Valley, and interchanges with Canadian National Railway Co., Canadian Pacific Railway, BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad in New Westminster, B.C.

“We will now be able to offer a scheduled, seamless freight service from points on the island through our interchanges with the main transcontinental carriers in concert with our sister [ferry] company, Seaspan Coastal Intermodal,” said SRY Vice President of Business Development Ken Doiron in a prepared statement.

Earlier this year, the non-profit ICF purchased the 181-mile E&N Railway’s right of way from RailAmerica Inc. for $850,000 in cash and a $300,000 promissory note. The foundation is managed by 13 First Nations groups and six Vancouver Island municipalities.