The idea of a suburban train between Quebec and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré raises interest in Quebec and a certain skepticism on Côte-de-Beaupré.
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The project which is still embryonic has been revealed by The newspaper THURSDAY. Led by Railway Charlevoix, he aims to restore the railway between the Palais station and Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, to allow the passage of a suburban train which would transport workers and travelers.
The mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, was also met by the promoter. Thursday, his office confirmed these discussions.
“We have indeed had constructive exchanges with the promoter. We are always open to studying projects that contribute to fighting congestion in the large Quebec region, “said his press secretary, Cedrik Verreault.
In a good eye
The interest is also present on the side of the minister and federal deputy of Louis-Hébert, Joël Lightbound, who was ready to analyze the project. “If it reduces congestion on the Dufferin-Montmorency highway, we can see it with a good eye,” said press secretary Victor Kandasamy.
On the side of the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, her cabinet sent the following reaction: “Currently, no project was officially presented to the Minister or the Ministry of Transport. When the promoter will be ready to submit his project, we will rigorously analyze him as is the case for all the projects presented to us. ”
On the Côte-de-Beaupré, the reaction was mixed. The prefect of the MRC and mayor of the Ange-Gardien, Pierre Lefrançois, deplored not to have been requested by the promoter for a meeting and wanted to know more.
End of life useful?
“We thought that the railroad was made at the end of his useful life, we even hoped to make a cycle path,” he said. Stressing that there are a lot of unknowns and that the state of public finances is not at best, he doubts the feasibility of the project.
On the Côte-de-Beaupré development side, the director general Bernard Paré said: “On our side, we work in collaboration with railway Charlevoix in order to develop a cycle path at the edge of the track. We thus want to reduce the risks and nuisances generated by the train. The idea of a suburban train has been expressed to us, but, for the time being, we have no project in this sense. The need remains to be demonstrated. “
