The Unprofessional Iconoclast Wrote:
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> The most newsworthy tidbit of this story is a
> politician who is asking for a rail line to be
> restored as a rail line. Ordinarily, they're in
> the same boat as the rails-to-trails people and
> are advocating that the rail line be converted to
> a hiking and biking trail.

Yes, your generalization is unprofessional. There are, in fact, many politicians who support rails-to-trails, rails-with-trails and keeping freight and passenger trains in existing rail corridors.

Although, there are several highly publicized examples in New York and Washington states of politicians supporting those who want active railroad lines to be converted to trails, the reality is that the majority of abandoned or dormant railroad lines have little hope of being restored to rail transportation usage as evidenced by BNSF's lack of enthusiasm for reopening the line over Homestake Pass.

However, those who despise rails-to-trails, rails-to-trails advocates and the politicians who support them will take great comfort in knowing that there are many in Congress who also have a dim view of rails-to-trails. They come from one or both of the following camps:

1) Federal transportation funding should only be used for highways and aviation. Any federal funding for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, public transportation and Amtrak is a frill which diverts from from road and aviation.

2) When railroads cease using rights-of-way which were acquired through easements, the land should revert to adjacent property owners.