QUEENSBURY, N.Y. — Officials in New York’s Warren County are considering proposals by three operators to restore rail service between Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and North Creek.
NewYorkUpstate.com reports that Denver-based short line holding company OmniTRAX, Las Vegas-based United Rail, and Florida-based Railnet International have submitted proposals to operate the route. Iowa Pacific Holdings operated the line for seven years before halting service last year; it retains ownership of part of the route; Warren County and the town of Corinth, N.Y., own the remainder.
The county solicited requests for proposals to resume passenger and freight service on the line. OmniTRAX is primarily interested in traffic removing mine tailings from a former lead mine on the route, spokesman Ron Margulis told the news site. “Passenger and other freight would be secondary.” The United Rail proposal would market excursions from rail stations along the route, and is part of a partnership also seeking to find new tenants for a former paper plant that would generate freight traffic.
The news site could not reach Railnet International for comment. On its website, the company describes itself as a corporation “that specializes in the designing, building, operation, and maintenance of railroad systems.” The four projects described on the site are all in Africa.
