Geoff McNeill, head of Nanaimo Harbour Links Corp., said he may have a transportation alternative for people attending the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
According to the Daily News, McNeill envisions transporting people by passenger ferry from Vancouver’s downtown convention centre to Squamish, which would take about 45 minutes. Passengers could then complete the trip from Squamish to Whistler by rail.
McNeill told GamesBids.com he has sent his proposal to the Ministry of Transportation twice, but has not yet received a reply. He said, “we strongly need their support because the tracks are B.C. Rails”.
But he has not yet talked to the Vancouver 2010 Bid committee.
He said the new ferries will have to be acquired or built and “it is likely the rail component, Squamish to Whistler, will need some upgrades to allow for a higher speed train and a larger terminal in Whistler. The expensive part of the railroad to upgrade is from West Vancouver to Squamish.
“Larger passenger volumes for the two weeks that the Games would be accommodated by short-chartering in more ferries and trains”.
McNeill told GamesBids.com there was still lots of time to plan accordingly and the number of vessels and trains used is simply a matter of logistics.
McNeill added, “I think it is going to be viewed in a favourable light. It would be a spectacular journey. It would be world-class. There would be nothing like it in the world”.
