QB 52.32 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:53 am
It's too soon to take anything completely off the table. Railroading is a long game with smart people making long-term plans. We'll just have to wait and see.
Mr. QB, we both know "they ain't dumb" at either 1200 N Peachtree or 500 Water, I've known "a few of 'em along the way" from both during my eleven year railroad career ('70-81).
I think we also know that the "Commonwealth of Tax-----" seems to have pols that know how "pull the strings" in favor of passenger rail projects. There also seems to be a cadre of voters to "egg 'em on". Even as far back as July 8, 1958 when George said "I can't afford the Old Colony anymore, so I'm shutting it down" some pol out there with a "name ending in K" pulled the strings and the OC ran on - at least for another year. I'm sure another "pol with a K" ensured that the Amtrak electrification project moved ahead, and lastly it was inexplicable as to why "suddenly" through BOS-CHI Coaches and Sleeper were returned to the Amtrak Lake Shore. It sure wasn't for operational efficiency.
So all told, Chessie might sense that the B&A could be "taken" from her for some E-W passenger train fantasy. Just compensation under the Fifth Amendment? Who knows.
Should that come to pass, in addition to the value of her property, would the "taking" also cover the cost to rebuild the PAS to an FRA Class 4 property?
It seems like all this could be a waste simply to have some passenger trains that could easily be a "rerun" of the Commonwealth's venture into those over the New Haven Pittsfield-Canaan. It would also upset the established Surf Board doctrine of balanced competitive rail.
Finally, regarding Mr. Barlow's "95% report", one must wonder how much of the 5% deficiency to handle "double stacks" represents the PAS.