Canadian Pacific has revealed plans to bring rail cars back into the Arbutus corridor for the first time since 2001.
The railway company sent letters to Vancouver residents living along the corridor alerting them that it’s ready to restart operations on its land.
“We will commence transporting and storing rail cars on the tracks in the coming weeks. We ask for your cooperation in staying off the railway corridor for safety reasons,” reads the letter, which was signed by CP government affairs director Mike LoVecchio.
CP added that it’s illegal to walk or cycle along the 11-kilometre railway line, and asked residents to report any trespassers.
It was nearly a year ago that the railway ordered locals to remove gardens and sheds from the corridor, then moved in with bulldozers to destroy what was left over.
The City of Vancouver has spent years negotiating on the future of the land, which it wants to use for a greenway and potentially as a public transportation route, but the price of acquiring it has been a sticking point.
CP argues the corridor should be appraised based on the value of adjoining properties, which it said would make it worth around $400 million, while the city wants it valued based on its intended uses.
