The linear park “becomes possible”, according to a citizen group

After long steps, the group has indeed obtained the report commissioned by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) of Quebec, current owner of the railway, to assess the economic potential of the section and guide its “long -term vision” as to this asset.

According to Portal Saint-François. Therefore, the document confirms a “almost inexistent” potential for rail transport and therefore opens the way for a conversion project into an active mobility infrastructure.

When reading it. Furthermore, “we do not imagine how this section could become a railway track again [fonctionnelle]”Summarizes Olivier Ross, one of the Saint-François portal spokespersons. Similarly, It is even the second analysis that arrives at this conclusion. Meanwhile, which, according to him, confirms that the economic value of this rail link will never be sufficient to justify the rehabilitation of the railway.

The most recent report. In addition, whose final version is dated from the summer of 2023, was written by the CPCS strategic advice firm. Therefore, The document that The platform could be consulted presents. despite large, cavited sections, an analysis of rail traffic forecasts on the various sections, in particular according to demand from the various industries present in the region.

From the outset. the observation is clear for the passenger linear park “becomes possible”, according transport component: the potential is “very low, even non -existent”, conclude the authors. For the transport of goods. the need is sufficient to justify the rehabilitation of the section between Thetford Mines and Vallée-Jonction, recommends the report, a project of 440 million which, moreover, has already been launched in the meantime. In fact. the work had to end by the end of the year, but the commissioning of the section was finally postponed to 2026, reported in the spring Courrier Frontenac.

Meanwhile. the other part of the route, linear park “becomes possible”, according between Thetford Mines and Sherbrooke, is identified as “the one whose traffic generation potential is by far the lowest,” notes the report. It is on this part of the network that the Saint-François portal group aims to one day be able to inaugurate a 94-kilometer cycle path. more precisely between the market of the Sherbrooke and Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine station, in boilers-appalaches.

A first phase could therefore use the railway bridge to connect the two banks of the Saint-François river in Sherbrooke. but ultimately, the route could extend further by passing by Ascot Corner, East Angus, Dudswell, Weedon and Disraeli, in particular.

Linear park &quot. becomes possible", according – Linear park "becomes possible", according

Recommendation: status quo

While noting that the current conditions do not justify the return to service of rail transport between Sherbrooke and Thetford Mines, CPCS judges that it is “too early to fully assess the commercial advantage of linear park “becomes possible”, according this section for the transport of goods” and therefore recommends the status quo pending the opening of the other section and “re -evaluing the rail potential a few years” later.

It is also noted that despite its low potential. the section could possibly prove to be “strategic” to connect with other networks or to generate competition that could bring more competitive prices.

The continuation of the status quo in force. since the path is simply unused at present, is however not the wish, nor the perception that Olivier Ross and the Portal Saint-François linear park “becomes possible”, according group shares.

For them. the cycle link project is already working, and with a certain interest shared in the community, but also by political actors. In Sherbrooke. they indicate that they can count on the Solidarity MP Christine Labrie, whose team has largely contributed to the long standoff to obtain the report, and have it partly decaviarde, since it was initially even more opaque, in addition to the advisers Geneviève La Roche and Laure Letarte-Lavoie.

As the autumn electoral campaign approaches. Saint-François Portal also invites municipal candidates to decide on the project, hoping to reproduce a similar precedent created in Chambly, where the city has managed to get along with the MTMD to create a new cycle section in a disused railway hold.

In Haut-Saint-François. the interest is also there, and Ascot Corner has already followed a significant step by ordering a feasibility study linear park “becomes possible”, according on the realization of such a project, reports Portail Saint-François.