The BNSF's sold the Trinidad-Belen line to the state of N.M. The nearly 300 miles purchased for $75 million will be done in three stages. The first portion was sold to the state last Tuesday 10th --- the 51 miles from Belen to Bernalillo, for $50 million. Once it obtains its insurance, the state will be free to begin its commuter trains; they own the track. The second sale will be the 48 miles between Bernalillo and Lamy, one year from now, on Jan. 10, 2007, for $20 million. The third and last portion, the 200 miles between Lamy and Trinidad will be done on Dec. 5, 2008, for only $5 million. (That's an average of just $25,000 per mile, even with CTC between Trinidad and Springer, and double track on the north side of the pass.) The state also bought 13 acres of yard land in Albuquerque, as well as land in Las Vegas, Belen and Raton. BNSF may still use the line for its freight operations and will pay for and do all maintenance on the line between Lamy and Trinidad for the next 3 years.
I hope that state surveyed the land for pollution problems. Such as at any engine facilities. Otherwise there could come an expensive cleanup bill..... Boxcab E50
The attempts to sell this line date back to the early 80's and late 70's. BNSF insisted on the purchase. The state wants to run the commuter trains with un-certified, non-union engineers. Hopefully this will also save the York Canyon sub. If Bill Richardson wants to really help the economy of NM he will get some tax incentives or other financial incentives going to assist the mining companies make the necessary improvements to the mines and get them reopened. Jobs are few in the Raton Basin. Good ones are rare. While coal mine jobs may not considered by many to be good they are much better than moving or welfare.
Wgat was BNSF thinking? This is one of the nations most well-known routes. And what about the emloyees that have dedicated their careers to be BNSF #1 safety team throught the BNSF network. Yeah York Canyon is gone; however, BNSF could still use the Raton Sub for intermodel traffic, the SW Chief, Grain Traffic, empty unit coal from Arizona; oh and what happened to the "BALJ" twice daily manifest. There is a lot of traffic that could be routed over Raton. What will happen after December 2008? Will BNSF still use the route? I think the State of New Mexico will only use the Lamy, NM to Belen, NM portion of the whole 300 miles and all of us here in North NM will be left in the cold as with everything else. Hopefully someone from the BNSF administration could see this.
They're probably thinking "why didn't we do this 97 years ago?" Don't fret. It's quite probable that BNSF will continue to use the line. It could even turn into an MRL whereas BNSF will regret the decision, but nevertheless I'm sure BNSF will still keep a vested interest in making sure the line stays open...at least until that third and fourth mainline gets finished...hehe.
