In the early part of this century, three separate railway systems served the Saanich Peninsula. These railways opened up the area for passenger and freight traffic and provided a link with steamboats and ferries to the mainland.
The Victoria and Sidney Railway Company commenced operations on June 1, 1894 with a passenger excursion from Victoria to Sidney. Included in the trip was a picnic and dance in the "pine", - a park like section of land reserved by the company for such events. On June 18, 1913, the British Columbia Electric Railway held an inaugural run on its new route from Victoria to Deep Bay (now Deep Cove).
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This line did not run directly into Sidney, as the Victoria and Sidney Railway's franchise disallowed any other railway within one mile of the town. However, a passenger platform was provided one mile up Beacon Avenue. The third line, the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway (C.N.R.), opened on April 30, 1917 from Victoria to Patricia Bay, serving the eastern section of the Peninsula. Despite ambitious starts, all three railroads experienced financial difficulties as the years passed, due in part to declining passenger and freight traffic and increased competition from bus services. The Great Northern Railway acquired control of the Victoria and Sidney Railway stock in 1902, but financial troubles continued and the railway operated in receivership from 1913 until it closed in 1922. The last passenger run to Sidney took place on April 30, 1919. Under the same competition the British Columbia Electric Railways closure was inevitable, and it ceased operation in October, 1924.

The last passenger run to Patricia Bay on the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway was made in 1919 but the movement of freight continued. Running rights were obtained over two and a half miles of the Victoria and Sidney's track from Sidney north to the Canadian Northern Pacific's track. Two or three freight trains a week used this route; however, even this line was finally abandoned in 1935, closing the last rail link between the Saanich Peninsula and Victoria.