Mr. Keach put fourth the bid procedures and they were approved by the court. However, he went back through and made some amendments after Irving made it clear they only wanted from Millinocket to Seaport. Further, there was talk (and a pph article) about abandoning the m oosehead and Mr. Keach proposed some amendments to the bid procedures that clarified the lots as described in the document I linked. There was a lot of back abd fourth between Keach and the Irving rep during the last hearing where Irving tried to prevent the amendments from going through. Keach said that the best public interest would be protected with a purchase of the whole line with the intention to run it, even if it wasn't the highest bidder. He also thought 'cherry picking' the lot or estate would be against public interest and set a precident that other interest parties could do the same.Irving protested with the claim that they would be forced to purchase a line that would not make money (i.e. the Moosehead) but Keach used the stalking horse as an example that someone would want to run the entire line and he doesn't believe that someone would do so of they didn't think the line could make a profit. Sorry this post isnt as thorough and clear as itnshould be but im sitting at a tire shop in Auburn waiting for the car (with a great view of the tracks).
The long and short of it is Keach and the court approved bit procedures that would require a successful bid to be for the Maine lot, Canadian lot or Newport sub lot as well as all or a combination of the above. So while some (Irving) claimed a successful bid would force them to pick up a line they don't believe will be profitable (which is a separate debate within itself) the court approved the amended bid procedures that will do just that.
If you want to know more, purchase a copy.of the latest ANR&P