City of Vancouver loses Arbutus Rail Corridor fight

The city of Vancouver lost their battle over the Arbutus Rail Corridor in Supreme Court today.

“We applaud the decision,” Martin Cej, assistant vice-president of public affairs and communications at CP Rail said about the B.C. court’s decision.

“It’s been our contention right from the beginning that if we’re going to reactivate that line it needs to be clear, it needs to be clean and it needs to be safe.”

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For years, city officials have been fighting with Canadian Pacific Rail over how the 11-kilometre stretch of rail and green space will be used. The city wanted the corridor to remain a greenway but when the two parties could not agree on a price, CP Rail began to clear the corridor in August.

READ MORE: Rail company wants tracks on Arbutus Corridor cleared of property

The city and CP Rail attempted to negotiate again but talks eventually broke down and the city eventually filed an injunction in October 2014 to block any further attempt by CP to re-activate its dormant rail line; which transects the tony Westside community.

Today Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson denied the application saying the city cannot claim any property interest in the corridor.

Cej said going forward CP will be evaluating the decision and decide on how and when to reactivate that work.

At this time, it is unclear when clearing work will resume.