Inquiring Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm interested in what the forum thinks SMART is
> going to do with
> its ownership over "NWP Co Freight Assets" which
> is what it bought.
>
> The Board hasn't decided anything on this issue,
> nor has staff presented
> anything other than "updates."
>
> Three questions:
>
> 1) Will SMART contract freight operations with
> existing NWP Co. rail engineers
> and staff?
>
> 2) Will SMART continue to earn revenues from the
> parked tanker cars in Schellville
> or will politics prevail and force them to give up
> the revenue stream, whatever that
> might be?
>
> 3) Is it SMART's intention to eventually shut
> down the freight operations? In particular, if
> it is losing money (net), won't it be forced to?

These questions have been discussed for almost a year now. SMART will continue to contract with NWP Co until the end of this year. Just guessing but SMART will continue to store tankers in Schellville while NWP Co is the operator.No one really knows SMARTS intentions to run a freight railroad. .They do want control of the line to Lombard.It has been whispered the industries offered a freight spur at half cost have all turned down the offer. A marketing survey SMART commissioned to determine potential freight traffic( after the RR was purchased) from Windsor south will probably come up with zero new business . SMART had a great idea .Let buy a freight railroad and then see if there's any new business.