(The Clarion Ledger posted the following article by Arnold Lindsay on its website on March 27.)
JACKSON, Miss. — A group of state lawmakers on Wednesday pledged to support any reasonable resolution to keep two segments of Canadian National railway from closing if the company’s study indicates that would be their best alternative.
At a meeting called by lawmakers, great concern was expressed over a Canadian National proposal to close the Natchez to Brookhaven route and a part of the Grenada district where they say traffic will plummet when International Paper in Natchez shuts down this summer. The closure represents the worst-case scenario and is only one of several options.
Some degree of activity is scheduled to continue at the Natchez site, but no one has said yet how much will continue.
Wayne King, general manager of Canadian National in Mississippi, told the group of more than 30, the company would continue to work with state officials in hopes of a favorable outcome.
Rep. Mary Ann Stevens, D-West, said she agreed with Butch Brown, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, who said rail lines must remain open and they must be upgraded to accept reasonable loads and speeds.
Some members of the body questioned the lack of needed upgrades on portions of the lines where they say traffic moves along at a 10-miles-per hour pace.
In the past, state officials have been able to acquire abandoned portions of rail lines and keep them open for the better good of the state, whose economic growth is stifled anytime train service is limited or cut off, Stevens said.
“I think maybe they got the message today that we’re not going to sit by and let it happen because of the economic impact it would have on this state,” Stevens said.
Rep. Donny Ryals, D-Grenada, was highly critical of the lack of what he deemed adequate repair on the line, but pledged his support to see that it remains open.
“The handwriting’s been on the wall a long time,” Ryals said. “We as a Legislature are willing to do whatever it takes to keep it open.”