an interesting twist that might not add up to much right now but in ma gl ch 161 apparently massachusetts has the right of first refusal for any railroad property located in mass that is for sale. local west mass legislators are supposedly pushing for mass dot to utilize that law to purchase at least fitchburg to greenfield and possibly all the way to north adams. i would question if the stb would allow this and or whether mass dot has enough money to buy the property right now. but i wouldnt complain about it if it actually came to pass.
I doubt very much whether the STB would challenge the right of Massachusetts to a right of first refusal on lines within the Commonwealth but the price is Pan Am's to set and *that* is something the STB would defend to the very end.
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