Rail sale sought

Officials in the North Okanagan are pushing to resurrect a rail line between Armstrong and Sicamous.

The tracks have gone unused for months and while that's impacted local businesses, there is fear the long term effects could be dire.

The Okanagan Valley railway stopped operating on the 13 km line, owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, at the end of August.

Enderby's mayor is concerned the company will eventually abandon the track altogether.

Most affected by the closure have been Sure Crop Feeds in Grindrod and Okanagan fertilizer in Enderby. Both used the rail line for years as a cost effective way to move their product.

Tucks have taken over from the trains and costs are expected to increase as a result.

Sure Crop Feeds is in negotiations to buy the line from CP, with the Enderby Chamber of Commerce working on an economic impact report to support the sale.

Officials are hoping the government will step in and put pressure on CP to sell the line or by offering incentives to any prospective buyer.