stash Wrote:
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> It would seem to be a priority to grow the freight
> business between Watsonville and Santa Cruz.
> Otherwise I'm unsure of what the railroad will
> haul other than an occasional passenger train.
> Passenger service doesn't pay the bills. Maybe the
> taxpayers subsidize the railroad; and that's where
> the money is. Class I track isn't much of a
> standard; they should set their sights higher
> (especially if there are public dollars
> available).
>

Stash,

Watsonville is where the freight traffic is and where the greatest potential growth is. Until the structures past MP 3.3 are rebuilt, which will most likely take all of 2013, it is pointless to try and establish freight customers past MP 3.3. Probuild has personally told me they would like to resume rail deliveries, but will obviously have to wait until the structures South of them, that are in need of repair, are rebuilt.

BTW, Michael Gresham from Iowa Pacific gave an excellent address to the SCCRTC on October 4th describing their near term business plan.