BC Rail
BC Rail (reporting mark BCOL, BCIT) is a railway in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | North Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Reporting mark | BCOL, BCIT (formerly PGE) |
| Locale | British Columbia |
| Dates of operation | February 27, 1912–present |
| Successor | Canadian National Railway (under operating lease) |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 1984 (Tumbler Ridge Subdivision) |
| Length | 2,320 km (1,440 mi) |
| Other | |
| Website | https://www.bcrco.com/ |
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Chartered as a private company in 1912 as the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE), it was acquired by the provincial government in 1918. In 1972 it was renamed to the British Columbia Railway, and in 1984 it took on its present name of BC Rail.
Until 2004 it operated as the third-largest railway in Canada, providing freight, passenger, and excursion rail services throughout BC on 2,320 km (1,440 mi) of mainline track. It was designated a Class II Railway until 2004, and remains a Crown corporation today. It also ran the Royal Hudson services, as well as the premier's private train.
In 2004, the freight operations (including a vast amount of land, buildings, and all rolling stock) of BC Rail were leased to Canadian National Railway (CN) for an initial period of 60 years, with the exception of the Deltaport Spur, for the price of $550 million.
BC Rail remains an operating Crown corporation today. It retains ownership of the entire rail bed stretching from Prince George to North Vancouver, as well as ownership of other assets leased to CN. BC Rail retains significant real estate investments throughout BC, and a 40 km (25 mi) stretch of track from Roberts Bank Superport in Delta to Langley. The planned sale of this 40 km (25 mi) stretch was cancelled after the initial BC Rail scandal.
From 1978 to 2000, BC Rail was highly profitable, posting profits in every year throughout that period.