(The Associated Press circulated the following story on January 18.)
HELENA, Mont. — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway is postponing planned abandonment of two branch lines in northeastern Montana, Department of Transportation Director Dave Galt announced Friday.
BNSF previously announced it would seek to abandon lines from Plentywood to Scobey and Glendive to Circle early this year because the lines are not profitable.
The railway now plans to postpone filing the abandonment petitions until after June 30.
“This will give the state six months to study the lines and develop a list of options for retaining rail service in these areas,” he said.
A study already has begun and meetings are scheduled from Jan. 20-23 at Plentywood, Scobey, Wolf Point, Circle and Glendive.
The public meetings with commissioners in affected counties “will provide much of the information needed to analyze the viability of keeping the rail lines open,” Galt said.