By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Freight rail service will be the focus of a meeting Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Northeastland Hotel.
The gathering, hosted by the Maine Better Transportation Association, will begin at 6:45 p.m.
“Rail in Maine received a big boost in 2011 when the state purchased 233 miles of rail line in Aroostook County that was threatened with abandonment. The state entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of J.D. Irving to operate the freight line. Since then, more than $30 million in public funds have gone into the rail line,” said Maria Fuentes, MBTA spokesperson.
Speaking at the meeting, entitled “Riding the Rails: An Update on Aroostook Freight Rail,” will be Ian Simpson, general manager of Irving’s rail holdings, including Northern Maine Railway, Eastern Maine Railway and New Brunswick Southern Railroad.
“Two years down the line, Simpson will talk about the rail operator’s efforts to bring the line to profitability and offer updates on investments made by the state and by Irving. He also is sure to talk about Irving’s recent agreement to purchase 28 additional miles of Aroostook rail line from the line’s former owner, Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway,” said Fuentes.
For more information, call Fuentes at 622-0526.
