PETALUMA, Calif. — As of Monday, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit is also a freight railroad.
The 45-mile, 12-station commuter railroad north of San Francisco on Monday took over the freight operations that had previously been handled by Northwestern Pacific. The Marin Independent Journal reports the move received final approval from the Surface Transportation Board on Sunday.
SMART’s board decided to buy out the freight operator in 2020, seeking to gain full control over its route [see “Bay Area’s SMART may buy out Northwestern Pacific …,” Trains News Wire, May 20, 2020], and earlier this year approved use of almost $1.5 million in state grants on freight-related infrastructure projects [see “Digest: Biden Administration policy change …,” News Wire, Feb. 18, 2021]. The freight operation brings an additional 21 miles of right-of-way under SMART’s control.
SMART’s board will meet July 21 to discuss plans for the freight operation. In the interim, it is in discussion with Northwestern Pacific to provide interim service to the five customers the freight carrier had been serving.
Have you seen Northwestern Pacific’s motive power lately?
Just use Northwestern Pacific as the contract freight operator already…it’s not rocket science, keep the existing freight operator doing what they’ve been doing…handling the freight.