2 February 2011
Lanark Renfrew Counties Mull Over Buying Ottawa Valley Railway Bed
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Political representatives from Renfrew and Lanark counties gathered in front of Parliament
Hill on 9 Dec 2010 to let the federal government know that they want the Ottawa Valley Railway line saved. |
Lanark County Ontario - Lanark and Renfrew counties are considering buying the rail bed
underneath the Ottawa Valley Railway line.
"Whether they are interested in buying the rail bed, that's up to council," in Lanark and Renfrew Counties, said former Mississippi Mills mayor Al
Lunney, who is representing Lanark County, following a meeting with representatives from Canadian Pacific Railway last week.
"We have to accept (that), from my perspective, neither Lanark County or Renfrew County is in any position to be owning and operating the rail line,"
which is valued at $50 million.
Lanark County council held a special meeting on the issue yesterday, 2 Feb 2011.
"We will probably explain to council exactly what information we have and then it will be up to the councils themselves where they go with it," said
Lunney.
Lunney stated that the "big movers and shakers" at Canadian Pacific Railway, from their Vancouver and Calgary offices, met with him and
representatives from Renfrew County in Perth on 28 Jan 2011.
"They were very open and honest with us," said Lunney.
"It was a great meeting... there was a lot of information exchanged. We now know more about how the process works."
The final deadline for submissions for interested parties to buy the rail line is this Saturday, 5 Feb 2011.
CP told Lunney that they would still be open to meeting with a buyer for the line after that date, provided the rails are still intact.
"I don't think they are going to start tearing lines up in this kind of weather," said Lunney.
Desmond Devoy.
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