New freight customers for the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Rwy.

Apparently the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway on Vancouver Island has picked up 3 new freight customers. Two are unloading their product to truck in the Wellcox yard in Nanaimo and the third is using the old chemical transload in Parksville. There are also rumors that the Pulp Mill in Port Alberni could be going back to rail some time this year.

So whats the status on this line now? Do they still operate?

Yes the E&N is still hanging on. The Island Corridor Foundation should assume operations sometime in the near future. RailAmerica is the current operator. The rumour is that Southern Railway of BC ( Washington Corp) will take over as service provider. Even Canadas last operating logging railroad (Canfors' Englewood division on northern Vancouver Island) has changed hands recently. For its size, there is a lot going on here.