Railroad could provide a boost for NEK

It has been close to two decades since the Northeast Kingdom had viable and reliable through rail service, connectin- to the rest of the US. As the service deteriorated over the last 20 years, the number of customers also dwindled. On the Wells River to W bite River Junction line there is exactly one active customer, in Bradford.

But that situation is changing, said Bill McGee of the Northern Vermont Railway.

"We just finished negotiating the terms of an operating lease," he said.

That agreement covers the Wells River to White River Junction section. Northern Vermont already operates the Wells River to Richford section.

The lease agreement still requires approval by a selection committee of the Agency of Transportation, the Secretary of Transportation, the Transportation Board, the Joint Fiscal Committee of the Legislature and the governor.

"Frn- optimistic that by September 1st, we'll be able to begin operations," said McGee.

The Northern Vermont Railway has been operating the Wells River to Richford line for six years, connecting

to railroads in Quebec and can provide links across to Maine and western Canada.

"We have approximately 15 active customers from Richford to Wells River," said McGee.

Although the existing Northern Vermont Railway can provide connections through Canada for products being shipped to or from other parts of the United States, that circuitous route also includes the added cost and inconvenience of border crossings and customs issues. The new lease linking to White River Junction is really significant "because it connects Vermont to the rest of the world," said McGee.

McGee is not predicting any overnight changes or immediate

economic boom. The lease agreement is for 10 years, with an option

for another 10 years, said McGee. That means the Northern Vermont

Railway will have some time to improve infrastructure and build

customer base, "and it's going to take some time," said McGee.

The track is generally in good condition, according to McGee.

"The road is not too far gone, but it's heading in that direction," he said. "It's been 20 years since any capital was put into this line" and five years since there was any maintenance at all on the Wells River to White River Junction section. "The rails are in relatively good shape. Cross ties and drainage is the issue."

But McGee said he believes his company will be able to make the entire operation viable.

"We're primarily going to be concerned with saving the railroad," he said. "It's as close to gone as it could be and once a railroad is gone, it doesn't come back."

The railroad could provide a big boost to economic development in the Northeast Kingdom, McGee said. Railroads can provide a competitive alternative to trucks, especially for shipping heavy and bulky goods, like logs and lumber.

"It can and will be" beneficial to industry in the region, he predicted. And as the railroad is able to build its customer base, it will be able to run more trains and offer improved service.

As a side interest, McGee said the company also intends to run some passenger excursion trains. That could also help tourism in the Kingdom. It has already done some passenger excursions on its existing tracks that have been well received.

Copyright Boutin-McQuiston, Inc. Aug 01, 2000
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