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STB releases environmental review for proposed Utah coal line
8 Years have passed since the initial IES for a project that essentially involves relaying rail on a previous DRG rail line coupled with a new short segment to reach it. The previous connection was covered up by a landslide and the creation of a lake that necessitated the boring of a new tunnel on the DRG mail line. WTF took so long?
Likely the 08-15 Great Recession
Lawrence you know it takes along time to get nothing done. More government waiste and over reach. Yeah WTF IS RIGHT
Building essentially through a waste land.
This line would connect with the former UP, not the former DRGW, and is mostly new construction. What took so long is that this is a boondoggle of 6 county governments hoping to get grant money to build a coal railroad when no more coal railroads are being built.
Whether the line should be built or not, it shouldn’t take 8 years to make a decision. This reminds me of the Union Pacific-Rock Island merger!
Michael, The UP is still alive and a very active railroad. The original rail line in question diverged from Thistle, UT which at the time was the DRGW main to SLC. However I find myself in error somewhat as the new line is designed to be completely new. It will diverge from the UP main line at Juab UT and proceed southerly to a point south of Salina UT completely ignoring using any portion of the DRGW branch that went on south to Marysvale UT. It would probably have already been built if they had just planned on relaying rails on an old DRGW line from Nephi UT thru Salina UT. Penny wise and pound foolish, is a saying that comes to mind.