Or they could be renegotiating the lease to allow UP overhead traffic (gets them their mainline relief valve) and have a shortline operator handle the local freight rights. This is exactly how CSX structured the lease of its Piedmont and North Mountain Subdivisions to the Buckingham Branch Railroad here in Virginia.

CSX (and predecessor C&O) historically has used this line for westbound empty coal and grain trains, and had locals to handle a small amount of carload freight traffic along the route. They leased the whole thing to the BB, dispatching and all, and pay the BB a fee for the trains they operate over the line. Infrastructure and operations are the responsibility of the BB, and line qualified CSX crews handle the empty trains without a BB crew or pilot.

I could easily see an arrangement such as this working out well for the West Valley line.

Mike Derrick
[www.shortlinesusa.com]