Cowford wrote:Where do you see any possible demand?
Cowford,
About two years ago now I was staying in Jackman and drove over to Greenville to go skiing at Big Moose Mountain. I had been out there before but never to ski. The mountain is absolutely fantastic skiing terrain. I have often read on this thread and elsewhere about all of the Canadians who used to come to Greenville to ski at this resort. I understand this certainly doesn't mean there will be thousands of passengers per month going to Greenville but apparently there has, in the recent past, been passenger demand to travel to Greenville.
Keep in mind Greenville is about as close to a four season vacation destination in Maine as it gets. They have a very healthy tourism industry there that seems to do well regardless of the season. If anything with the ski resort not being fully operational they do far less business in the winter than they used to. I really see passenger rail service to this area as enabling the tourist economy here. In particular for travel to and from Canada the railroad is a far better mode than ME-27 through Jackman and ME-15 through Rockwood.
That's the line that I'm thinking along. I also believe strongly that the presence or lack thereof of passenger service to/from Greenville and Canada is a big part of the reason why the ski resort isn't doing as well as it could. There are numerous other potential reasons as well but I really think the loss of the
Atlantic Limited affected Big Moose disproportionately.
Maybe NNEPRA & MDOT could come up with a 'deal' for PQ and VIA. They run a train to Montreal from Portland and VIA agrees to resume
Atlantic Limited service. In turn Maine funds track improvements as needed along the route of the
Atlantic Limited and PQ/VIA arranges for funding for improvements along the PQ SLR to Montreal as needed.
Alternately NNEPRA could simply start negotiations with VIA for an interline agreement and then make some kind of power pool arrangements. Or they could agree that VIA provides equipment for the northern line and NNEPRA/Amtrak provides equipment for the southern line.
As far as PTC goes I understand that it's required on lines carrying HAZMAT or passengers. If this is the case then MMA may be required to install it anyways.