The Answers!
Author: Northern Snowman
Date: 06-22-2020 - 14:25
Watco leases (from UP) the line from CPN 456 at Nampa to just east of Hillcrest (MP B443). The purchase part is Watco's desire to buy it because UP often considers to sell stuff.
The City of Boise owns the track from MP B443 east to near Orchard.
Boise Valley Railroad signed an agreement with the City of Boise to do light maintenance on the city owned track. The city has also brought in contractors to do work on a couple of occasions to prep the track ahead of new storage contracts. The City of Boise has made a couple million over the years off storage car contracts.
The first couple of miles of city track were also used for MotivePower track tests with speeds approved up to 20mph (because track warrant or other normal authority isn't in effect). All the city owned track is passable, weed sprayed, and inspected every month or so. UP owned track section is currently listed as out of service on bulletins, possibly because of car storage.
As for bringing Amtrak back, the current Amtrak leadership and Idaho government are the biggest hurtle. Watco and BVRR would most likely work with and allow Amtrak service. I don't see Watco or BVRR putting a stop to new service.
I would count on commuter trains operating on the line before Amtrak comes back.