The Railway City’s Unfinished Business: Why St. Thomas Matters for Canada’s Passenger Rail Revival

In St. Thomas, Ontario, abandoned railway tracks and crumbling infrastructure serve as a poignant reminder of what once defined the city’s identity. The “Railway City” moniker now seems ironic, given the decline of the very thing that brought prosperity to its residents. Yet, amidst the rusting remains, a glimmer of hope flickers – a determination to revive passenger trains and reclaim the railway heritage that was lost.

The Elgin County Railway Museum is nestled in the heart of the city, where Wil Zufelt, Railworks’ driving force, passionately advocates for restoring the former locomotive shops. His vision is clear: transform this neglected space into a vibrant hub, pulsing with life and activity. But it’s not just about aesthetics; Zufelt wants to revive the city’s heart, making St. Thomas a thriving center once more.

Canada’s railway saga is marked by passenger trains losing revenue to cars and trucks in the mid-20th century. As historian Thomas Blampied notes, this led railways to abandon routes and dismantle infrastructure. The rails were either sold for scrap or left to rust, leaving behind a patchwork of neglected tracks and empty lots.

The legacy of this decline poses significant challenges to Canada’s efforts to revive passenger rail services. Anthony Perl, a transportation policy expert at Simon Fraser University, highlights the difficulties in revitalizing a network optimized for long-distance freight hauls. Railways have significant control over their infrastructure – an advantage no other industry enjoys.

CN’s reluctance to restore the missing connection between London and Port Stanley is a stark example of this control. The Canadian Transport Agency’s 1990 order requiring CN to rebuild the diamond remains unfulfilled, a testament to the railways’ influence. Perl suggests that ownership of the tracks comes with the authority to dictate what infrastructure remains or disappears.

As Canada moves forward with initiatives like Alto and the restoration of Northlander service, it’s crucial to recognize the complexities at play in communities like St. Thomas. While some argue that passenger trains are a luxury, others see them as essential for regional connectivity and economic growth. In St. Thomas, where the railway industry once thrived, the people are determined to reclaim their heritage and revive the heartbeat of their city.

The story of St. Thomas serves as a microcosm for Canada’s broader struggles with passenger rail revival. It demands that we confront the consequences of decades of infrastructure dismantling and reevaluate our priorities in transportation policy. The power dynamics at play, while complex, underscore the need for nuanced decision-making – one that balances competing interests and considers the long-term implications.

In St. Thomas, a town torn between its railway legacy and current realities, lies an opportunity to redefine what it means to be a Railway City. As residents push forward with their campaign to restore passenger trains, they’re not just fighting for a nostalgic revival; they’re advocating for a brighter future – one where the city’s core pulses with life, and the tracks that snake through its landscape become a symbol of rebirth rather than neglect.

The fate of St. Thomas hangs in the balance, as does Canada’s own passenger rail aspirations. Will we prioritize infrastructure preservation or opt for efficiency and cost-cutting? The answer lies not in the tracks themselves but in the hearts of those who believe that railways can be a unifying force, connecting communities across this vast country.