Discussions

Railway line closures continue!  
 
Today in the Globe and Mail CP Rail gave notice of the sale or iscontinuance of railway lines. One is 51.6 miles in Saskatchewan-the other 45.7 in Alberta. Not too long ago I heard about a community that wanted to save a line-but according to CP it was too little too late re coin etc.  
 
We know why these lines get closed-- If the users do not “use them” they lose them . Fair game So CP wants to pack their bags and leave so long bucko. Here is my question(s)  
 
CP and others were given yes given that land and all the right aways at the get go. Those railways were given prety well a monopoly and made a ton of coin off of it.  
 
Now we still force the phone companies to subsidize the rural service re higher costs etc with the profits they make from urban service so letting these railways off is inconsistent. Why do we allow that??  
 
If CP or CN wants to close down lines then it should revert the land and all that is on it back to the Feds. If some private company like Cando can do better- give it to them. The rail bed lines etc is no longer wanted by the majors. The fact those steel lines are there etc is due to the monopoly given them- yes paid for by CP and such but as in all companies any infrastructure upgrades etc is a tax write off over a period of time. - If the line is to be no longer used- well all the municipalities and towns along that line should choose what to do with it. Scrap value from it should be shared amongst them.