Northern railroad nearing abandonment
The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway will soon be forced to abandon its tracks in northern Maine, and one state official says it's unlikely the state will buy them.
The railroad company will abandon 241 miles of track between Millinocket and Madawaska this spring, a process that began in August, citing a $5 million annual loss on operating the tracks, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. The company has asked the state to buy the tracks for $20 million, and lawmakers in August submitted a bill that would authorize a bond to fund the purchase.
But Ed Mazurek, D-Rockland, co-chair of the Legislature's Transportation Committee, told MPBN it was unlikely the state would go through with the purchase. "The state is not in a position to lay out money to buy a railroad at this particular point," he said. Other rail projects, like the extension of the Amtrak Downeaster from Portland to Brunswick and a western mountains train, will likely take priority, he added.
Other state transportation officials could not be reached for comment. The state already owns about 320 miles of rail lines, with only about 80 in active service.
Go to the article from MPBN >>
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments