CN9634 wrote:I'm told CSX is seriously interested in the Low Road. Sounds as though it has less obstructions relative to double stack clearing. I guess when you have to rebuild everything from the ground up anyways you can pick the most long term advantageous line.
I heard that CSX is going to also reopen the Mountain Division to haul unit water trains to Montreal.
But in all reality, for the cost of the Lower Road rehab, it would be about the same to get the clearances up on the back road. To my knowledge CSX doesn't like to lease trackage and the state doesn't like to sell (Irving has made several attempts to purchase the exMMA trackage). But I really don't see this ever happening, as the legislature passed a bill last summer to convert the Lower road into a trail, which its just pending approval from an engineering firm before it goes out to bid. As part of the bill which was passed that paved the way for every state owned piece of track in Maine to have a trail group fighting to remove it, the legislature added some fine print which makes it much easier for trails to be built. And on the flip side, so the state doesn't waste millions on a trail that might have to be torn up before its lifespan is over, should the rail line be reactivated, the legislature added some criteria for line reactivation. Although I don't think its been fully worked out yet, I know that it mainly hinges on what the public wants, which I highly doubt anyone in the growing towns along the route have any interest in freight trains going by. There was also some previsions that required the railroad to haul x amount of tonnage from industries located directly on the line, to be a Canidate for reactivation but I think that wording was removed. At the end of the day, you will see bicycles and walking clubs going down the Lower Road before you ever see another freight move.