Bn Jettisons 314 Miles Of Rail Inland Northwest Track Is Part Of 4,000 Miles To Be Sold Nationwide

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. officials say 314 miles of rail lines will be up for sale in the next several months.

The lines include routes running between Lewiston and Moscow in Idaho, and Pullman, Palouse and Bovill in Washington.

Bids are not yet officially open.

The decision will affect grain, fertilizer and timber rail transport, could mean progress on a proposed Palouse bike path and is giving hope to those who have been pushing for the reopening of the Moscow-Arrow Junction line.

It is causing concern among Palouse farmers who depend on rail service for transporting grain.

Burlington officials based at Fort Worth, Texas, said the lines are not yet for sale, but bidding will proceed over the next four months.

The lines are the region’s share of 4,000 miles of track the company is shedding nationwide.

According to James Jackson, Washington Department of Transportation state rail program technical expert, the package is worth an estimated $5 million to $8 million.

If a small regional rail company’s bid is selected, the outlook for Palouse rail transport is positive. But BN could take steps to abandon the track if no bidder steps forward to acquire the rail lines.

Port of Whitman County consultant James Weddell said officials are optimistic that will not happen.

Weddell said Walla Walla-based Blue Mountain Railroad has expressed interest in bidding on the package.

Central Washington Railroad and Montana Rail Link also are prospective bidders.