Alberni Line

The Alberni Line is a 38.8 mile railway line of the British Columbia Railway (BC Rail) on Vancouver Island running from Parksville on the Central Coast Line to Port Alberni, where it connects to the Central Island Trunk Line.

History
After extending their mainline from Nanaimo to Courtenay in 1890, the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway (E&N) looked westwards to the fine harbour at Alberni, opening a line from Parksville, 24 miles north of Nanaimo, to Port Alberni in 1892. The opening of this line helped to develop the town as a port, and spurred the development of forestry in the Alberni Valley, led by the Alberni Pacific Logging Company and its railway, the Alberni Pacific Railway.

In 1978 the BCR acquired the E&N, and at that time the Parksville–Port Alberni line was named Alberni Line.

Freight
Freight traffic on the Alberni Line has declined somewhat over the years; at present there are only two scheduled freight trains, a through train between Port Alberni and Nanaimo carrying goods to and from the ships, and a wayfreight between Courtenay and Port Alberni.

Passenger
There are only three passenger services that operate on this line, two once-daily Express and one twice-daily Local.

The various categories of passenger service are defined by the Ministry of Labour, Industry & Railways in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport & Communications; these categories are applicable to and used by all railways providing passenger service in British Columbia. Like all other railways in BC, ticket prices for BC Rail passenger trains are based on the Ministry's Schedule of Railway Fares. Exempt from this are the Victoria Metro trains, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Victoria Transit System.

Regular Express
Express trains stop more often than Limited Express trains, but do not make unscheduled stops. The BCR operates only one international regular Express train, the rest are all on domestic routes. The short-trip surcharge is applicable to all travel between Victoria and Ladysmith or between Nanaimo and Langford. There is no baggage service on Vancouver Island trains, other than the on the Pacific Coast Limited.


 * 11/12 Kuthkahchulth (BCR): Victoria Union – Port Alberni
 * One daily return trip with first and second class chair cars and a cafeteria car; no baggage service. Intermediate stops: Esquimalt, Langford, Shawnigan, Cowichan, Duncan, Chemainus, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville


 * 17/18 Clayoquot Limited (BCR): Nanaimo – Tofino
 * One daily return trip with a cafeteria car; no baggage service. Intermediate stops: Parksville, Port Alberni, Sproat Lake Landing, Long Beach (summer only)

Local
Local trains are passenger trains that make scheduled stops at all stations and halts.


 * 1111.1-2/1112.1-2: Cowichan – Port Alberni
 * Two daily return trips, second class only with seat-side drink and snack service.

Route
● - Scheduled Limited Express, Express, Rapid, and Local stop ▲ - Scheduled Express, Rapid, and Local stop ♦ - Scheduled Rapid and Local stop • - Local stop; Rapid trains stop only with advance booking | - No passenger service