How about - If we (the taxpayer) invest the capital - we get equity ownership in the line; just the same as anyone else investing would.

Ha! - Don't hold your breath - The pigs are at the trough big time!

The useless government in Sacramento will happily give it all away. And not for what the voter intended by prop 1B either - which was state investment in corridors heavily impacted by freight traffic. Yea, that meant public passenger corridors impacted by frequent daytime freight traffic. That's what the people were told in the voter pamphlet, anyway - but that ain't what we are getting. Surprise! Surprise!

There might have been some justification for public investment in freight railroading; if the railroads would at least fulfill their "Common Carrier" obligations (receive all traffic and promtly deliver it - any load at any distance) instead of sluffing the less renumerative off to truckers.

But why should the taxpayer invest if the public will not get such benefits - Mark my words; the U.P. will not do this, nor will they allow additional passenger trains over the hill - they will simply maximize their profits by way of this public investment, continuing to turn away all but the cream of the traffic, and then pocket it all for themselves.

NUTS!

OPB