SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has asked the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to stay a decision expected any day now on the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway’s plans to abandon the Cape Breton section of its rail line, the Halifax Daily News reported.
The regional municipality argued in the application Tuesday that the viability of the Cape Breton part of the rail line was impacted by the actions of Nova Scotia Power Inc. and its affiliates.
The application requests a stay of the board’s decision until an audit is conducted of the transfer of the surface assets of the Cape Breton Development Corporation to Nova Scotia Power Inc. and its Emera affiliates, and the negotiation of an operations contact between Nova Scotia Power and Logistec Stevedoring for the operations of those assets.
The Devco assets included the former International Piers and a rail line to the Lingan power station.
The regional municipality’s application also asks that the board reopen the rail hearings for further evidence and argument.
Mayor John Morgan said yesterday that, in almost every scenario in which the rail line was likely to be saved, the handling of Nova Scotia Power’s coal was a crucial part of enabling the rail line to continue.
“So, the decision-making process with respect to that was crucial with respect to whether or not we were going to be able to maintain the line.”
The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway has applied under the province’s Railways Act to abandon and discontinue service on the 98-mile St. Peter’s Junction to Sydney portion of its line by the end of October.
The railway said the Cape Breton portion of its rail line has been losing money with the demise of its two former major customers, Devco and Sysco.