Coal trains through White Rock likely won't run much longer
Frank Bucholtz photo No matter what happens in today's provincial election, one result of the campaign will likely be an end to trains hauling thermal coal for export to Asia travelling through White Rock, Surrey and Delta. An export ban or $70 per tonne carbon tax will probably end shipments through Westshore Terminals in Delta. No matter what the result of today's provincial election is, there will be significant changes on one important local issue – the export of thermal coal. This issue has got a lot of attention in the past few years, due to concerns about coal train traffic through White Rock and South Surrey, and the growing emphasis on climate change. An even bigger issue was the proposal for a coal export terminal at Fraser Surrey Docks, which almost certainly will not go ahead now. Curiously, it was not environmental concerns that pushed export coal to the forefront in the election campaign. It was the long-anticipated U.S. government decision ...