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Passenger rail RFP delayed

The deadline for companies to bid on the passenger rail service between Vancouver and Whistler has been pushed back by one week. According to the Ministry of Transportation, the Request For Proposals is now due on Monday, Feb. 16.

The deadline for companies to bid on the passenger rail service between Vancouver and Whistler has been pushed back by one week.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, the Request For Proposals is now due on Monday, Feb. 16. Originally the RFP was due on Monday, Feb. 9.

The process was pushed back one week because a Process Monitor was appointed at the end of January to ensure fairness in the bidding process.

Ministry officials could not comment on how many companies have bid in the process to date other than to say that there has been interest.

At least two companies are expected to submit RFP’s in this process. They are Whistler Railtours and the Great Canadian Railtour Company.

John Haibeck, the main proponent of Whistler Railtours, is also the developer of the Nita Lake Lodge in Creekside. Along with a boutique hotel, that development will also bring a $5 million brand new train station to Whistler.

The Great Canadian Railtour Company already has a hand in passenger rail service with the Rocky Mountaineer.

The companies cannot comment on the process due to confidentiality agreements.

Hope for a passenger rail service on the Whistler to Vancouver line was revived in November. It was part of the $1 billion package deal to lease the BC Rail lines to the freight rail company CN Rail.

The government has yet to announce when a passenger rail company will be selected.