The City of St. Thomas has formally cancelled its long‑standing London and Port Stanley Railway (L&PS) extension project, redirecting the remaining budgeted funds into an infrastructure reserve while continuing efforts to persuade CN Rail to permit reconnection of the heritage route.
Money moved, but campaign to reconnect continues
On Tuesday, city councillors voted to scrap what staff and council described as an unrealized, decade‑old plan to extend or reconnect the former L&PS line. The decision releases $285,000 that had sat on the city’s books for years and returns it to the municipality’s infrastructure reserve fund.
Mayor Joe Preston told media the move is intended to free restricted funds for other municipal priorities until a definitive agreement can be reached with CN.
“We continue to work with CN. We’re at a stalemate with them … We’re trying to get this connection reconnected. Port Stanley Terminal Rail (PSTR) is the recipient of the connection, and we’ve been trying to help them with it,”
The plan to reconnect the L&PS corridor has been on and off the city’s agenda for more than a decade. St. Thomas originally approved $500,000 for the project in its 2016 budget, with $166,000 of that coming from federal funding, according to city reports. Administration notes some funds were redirected in 2017 toward rail‑trail active transportation projects when it became apparent the full project would not proceed at that time.
CN position unchanged, city seeks support
City staff reported that CN’s position on authorizing a connection to its corridor has not changed. The report states CN continues to refuse authorization for the L&PS to reconnect to the CN network. The matter remains unresolved despite ongoing advocacy, including support from Member of Parliament Andrew Lawton.
While council voted to formally cancel the municipal project, officials emphasised the city has not abandoned efforts to rejoin the former route. If CN were to change its position, the city indicated it would be prepared to find necessary capital to complete the connection.
- Funds released: $285,000 moved back to infrastructure reserve.
- Original allocation: $500,000 approved in 2016, including $166,000 federal contribution.
- Current status: CN has not granted approval for reconnection; advocacy continues.
Local implications: heritage, tourism and active transportation
The Port Stanley Terminal Rail operates a tourist train along the former L&PS tracks between St. Thomas and Port Stanley. For proponents, reconnection to the CN network would restore a historic rail link that could have heritage and tourism benefits for both communities.
City staff said they will report back on potential passive recreational uses for the unused rail corridor land now that the formal city project has been cancelled. Much of the previously allocated funding was redirected in the past toward rail‑trail and active transportation initiatives, reflecting a local appetite for multi‑use greenways where rail reinstatement is not feasible.
| Year | Action | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Project approved | $500,000 (incl. $166,000 federal) |
| 2017 | Partial redirection to rail‑trail projects | Not specified |
| 2026 | Remaining funds returned to reserve | $285,000 |
Mayor Preston said the city will keep advocating for a solution that satisfies safety, liability and operational concerns raised by CN while remaining open to repurposing the corridor if a rail reconnection cannot be secured.
For many residents, the issue sits at the intersection of heritage preservation, local economic opportunity and competing uses for limited municipal dollars. The city’s choice to move the funds into an infrastructure reserve indicates an intent to retain flexibility to respond to future opportunities or pressing municipal needs.
City staff will return to council with options for passive recreational use of the land and continue to report on discussions with CN and other stakeholders as the situation develops.
